BCSP Notes . . .

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) has announced that Chowan University, a four-year, private university, will be joining the conference for its 2008 football season. Chowan will initially enter the conference to participate in football only.

Chowan is located in Murfreesboro N.C., positioned in the Northeast region of the state. The region is home to the CIAA's Elizabeth City State University and a short distance from the Hampton Roads, Newport News and Virginia Beach areas, that is a hotbed for CIAA fans and alumni.

"Our vision for the CIAA is to grow all aspects of the conference including educational synergies, athletic competition and to create a dynamic mixture of culture, history and geographic relevance," said Leon G. Kerry, commissioner of the CIAA. "We feel that Chowan University joining our football program is a great step on that path."

Chowan University is currently a Division I member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), and a Division II member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) of which the CIAA and its school are members as well.

"Chowan University is thrilled at the opportunity to become a part of the CIAA football culture. We look forward to developing a relationship with the conference and its athletic programs," said M. Christopher White, President of Chowan University.

"The CIAA member institutions are excited to have Chowan University and the Hawks join the Conference's football member teams," said Dr. Dianne B. Suber, Chair, CIAA Board of Directors. "Chowan University's membership affirms the CIAA's commitment to building a diverse and competitive Conference and represents a new chapter in the CIAA's history of blazing new trails and raising the bar in NCAA Division II sports."

Florida A&M chooses its new hoops coach

Florida A&M University announced last week the appointment of Eugene Harris as the school's new head men's basketball coach.

The new Rattler mentor was formally presented at a 1:00 p.m. news conference Thursday at the Galimore-Powell Fieldhouse as the successor to former coach Mike Gillespie, who was fired this summer following his arrest on stalking charges . Harris comes to Florida A&M with an extensive resume as an assistant coach on the collegiate level, having worked stints at schools in the Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference and the Sun Belt Conference.

Prior to accepting the FAMU appointment, Harris was a member of the men's basketball staff at Georgia State University in Atlanta.

NC A&T, NCCU chancellors issue joint statement about post-game incident

A near on-field brawl after North Carolina Central's hard-fought 27-22 football win over rival North Carolina A&T Saturday night in Greensboro has prompted the chancellors of the schools to issue a joint statement that somewhat calls into question future athletic contests between the two institutions.

NCCU players ran on to the field to celebrate after a last-minute interception preserved their close victory before a packed house of over 19,000 at A&T's Aggie Stadium. Their celebration became ugly however when the Central players chose to begin jumping up and down on the A&T Bulldog logo painted at midfield. Several A&T players took offense to the action and charged the field to confront the NCCU players. A 45-second video posted on NBC17.com, a Triangle N. C. area television station that was at the game, shows players pushing and shoving each other while a security officer sprays pepper spray to disperse them as coaches from both teams attempted to get their players under control. There are no helmets being thrown or swung.

The near-melee brought back painful memories of a highly publicized brawl between the two teams at a basketball game at A&T in 1989 that caused a suspension of hoops contests between the two schools. Subsequent meetings between the schools' basketball and football teams were played at neutral locations. Those games have gone off without incident. Saturday's game was the first on-campus basketball or football game between the schools since the 1989 incident.

The short statement, jointly released under the names of A&T Chancellor, Dr. Stanley F. Battle and NCCU Chancellor, Dr. Charlie Nelms reads as follows:

"North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and North Carolina Central University are two leading historically black institutions in America with successful graduates making a difference in the state, nation and world. Since 1924, the N.C. A&T Aggies and the NCCU Eagles have competed on the football field in an unprecedented rivalry. The behavior displayed at Saturday's 79th competition did not demonstrate what either of our universities represent or promote. We have met with the teams and coaching staffs and have reiterated to them the importance of proper athletic conduct, good sportsmanship, and team spirit. Both squads have been fully briefed concerning appropriate actions university representatives must exhibit for the betterment of our institutions. Presently, we have not made a decision regarding the future athletic events between our teams but we are jointly collaborating as sister institutions to decide the best course. The primary factor in making our final decision will be our responsibility to our students."

© 2007 Azeez Communications, Inc.

Return to Front Page