SNUBBED, AGAIN: Grambling senior QB Bruce Eugene has to be wondering what it takes to win the Sports Network's Walter Payton Award given to the best offensive player in NCAA Div. I-AA football. The 6-1, 270-pound senior finished in the top three for the award, named for the former Jackson State and NFL running back great, in 2002 after throwing for over 4,500 yards and 43 touchdowns, and followed that up with another top three finish in 2003 when he tallied 34 TD passes and over 3,800 yards. But in this his senior year, after missing all but one game of last season with a knee injury, he's putting up his best numbers yet but has been left off the final ballot. It was announced Monday that Eugene finished fourth in voting for the award. The three finalists, who will travel to Chattanooga, Tn., on Dec. 15 for the I-AA College Football Awards, are Brown senior RB Nick Hartigan, the I-AA rushing leader who led Brown to a 9-1 record and Ivy League title rushing for 1,727 yards and 20 TDs, Eastern Washington senior QB Eric Meyer who passed for 3,616 yards and 26 TDs while leading the Eagles to a share of the Big Sky Conference title and New Hampshire sophomore QB Ricky Santos who has passed for 3,200 yards and 33 TDs while leading New Hampshire to the Atlantic 10 title, the No. 1 ranking and a spot in the I-AA quarterfinals. After Eugene's performance at Saturday's Bayou Classic where he threw for 418 yards and six TDs before a national TV audience on NBC, the New Orleans native has 3,693 passing yards, 46 touchdown passes and only four interceptions with one more regular season game to play. Eugene leads all of I-AA in passing efficiency and total offense. While all three Sports Network I-AA awards are named for black college products, only two black college players, Grambling State RB Walter Dean in 1990 and Alcorn State QB Steve McNair in 1994, have won the Payton Award since its inception in 1987. Two black college players, NC A&T defensive end Chris McNeil in 1997 and Bethune-Cookman safety Rashean Mathis in 2002, have won the Buck Buchanan Award that since 1995 has been given to the Division's best defensive player and named for the former great Grambling and NFL defensive lineman. The Eddie Robinson Award, since 1987 named for the legendary Grambling head coach, has never been won by a black college coach.

MILES' SLOAN PASSES: Miles College President Dr. Albert J. H. Sloan died Friday, Nov. 25 at a hospital near Birmingham after complications from an earlier surgery. Sloan, 63, was the 12th president of Miles and was chairman of the SIAC Council of Presidents. After receiving his baccalaureate from Albany State, Sloan earned the Master of Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center. He pursued further studies at the Miles Law School in Birmingham, where he earned the degree Doctor of Jurisprudence. He returned to Miles in 1971 and served as professor of religion and philosophy, public relations director, team teacher for NASA, Dean of the Chapel and Dean of Students before assuming the presidency. Dr. William E. Lide, SIAC Commissioner stated "Dr. Sloan will be missed not only as my boss but also as a very close and dear friend. His vision not only for his institution but also for the conference is a precious gem, and it is our honor and duty to continue his mission of making this land a better face for the leaders of tomorrow. The SIAC Conference office and all the member institutions of the SIAC will surely miss him. Dr. Sloan was a great teacher, leader and most importantly a great friend." Services were to be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 1st at Boutwell Auditorium in downtown Birmingham. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. All flowers should be sent to Smith and Gaston Funeral Home, 102 6th Avenue, SW, Birmingham, Al., 35211. For additional information please call the funeral home at 205-322-3581.

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