2008 Football Notes . . .

The Media Day activities will begin at 9 am with interview sessions from the head coaches and student athletes from all ten conference institutions. Following the interview sessions, the kickoff luncheon will begin at 11 am with remarks from the Conference office and the announcement of the preseason honors and predicted order of finish. Up-to-date news and information will be available for the nationally televised MEAC-SWAC Football Challenge on August 31 between Jackson State and Hampton.

In conjunction with the kickoff luncheon, the fourth SWAC Youth Football clinic will take place on Monday, July 21 at Birmingham's Legion Field from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The three-hour event will contain drills and instruction for Birmingham-area youth and will be conducted by SWAC football coaches.

Registration forms can be obtained by contacting the Conference Office at the SWAC Office (205) 251-7573.

MEAC to kickoff football season with July 25 Press Luncheon in Norfolk
The MEAC will host the annual Football Press Luncheon, Friday, July 25 at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel. MEAC head football coaches and various players from each team will be on hand to offer an inside view of the upcoming 2008 football season.

A limited number of tickets are available to the public for the press luncheon and can be purchased by calling Stacey Kiger at (757) 416-7100. Tickets are $30 per seat or $300 per table (10 persons) and must be purchased before 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 18.

Media members may obtain a credential for the luncheon and/or one-on-one interview sessions by completing an application or by contacting Patricia Porter at (757) 416-7100. One-on-one interviews with various offensive and defensive players from each team will begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by head coaches beginning at 10:30 a.m.

In addition to the press luncheon, the MEAC will host the 2008 Woman of the Year ceremony on Wednesday, July 23 beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Sheraton. Sponsored by the conference's Senior Woman Administrators, the Woman of the Year ceremony honors female student-athletes for their collegiate achievements in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.

Miami gets an HBCU Classic game
Howard University will take on Savannah State University in the Miami Football Classic on Saturday, September 27, 2008.

The game will be played at Traz Powell Stadium (14,000) on the campus of Miami Dade College North and it will not only serve as a showcase for the two HBCU programs, but it will also benefit the Police Athletic League of the area.

"We are very excited about being selected to participate in this classic," said Howard head coach Carey Bailey, who is entering his second season at the helm. "It is especially good that the PAL will benefit from the game. And it will give the Miami area a chance to see an outstanding football game."

The Bison will be well represented with four players on the roster from the area: Mario Alexander (wide receiver), Martin Decembert (defensive back), John Mendoza (kicker) and Terry Perry (running back).

In addition to the football game, there will be a parade, an old school tailgate party and an after-game party.

The game will be broadcast on the local ION media network and be shown by tape delay on Sunday, September 28 at 1 p.m.

The two schools last played on September 24, 2005 with Howard winning, 39-21 in Savannah, GA. The Bison hold a 3-0 lead in the series.

Southern Heritage Classic to be broadcast to American Forces overseas
Beginning this year, the Southern Heritage Classic presented by FedEx, featuring Jackson State vs. Tennessee State in Memphis at the packed Liberty Bowl Stadium will air on the American Forces Network (AFN).

American Forces Network (AFN) broadcasts to overseas U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) affiliates, outlets, and cable and satellite systems in 176 countries, U.S. territories and U.S. Navy ships at sea. The programming is determined by popularity and by the interests of its DoD military audience. The game also will air, for the second year in a row, on SportSouth, a regional Fox sports network.

For the nineteenth year, the Classic matches two of the midsouth's top university football teams in an annual heated match that frequently runs into overtime and has crowds in excess of 50,000.

SHC founder Fred Jones Jr. said, "If I could think of any audience that we'd most want to provide convenient access to watch the Southern Heritage Classic, it is the men and women who serve in our military. Making it possible for them to experience the Classic from almost anywhere in the world is an exciting development. Thanks to SportSouth for facilitating getting the Southern Heritage Classic added to the AFN programming schedule and to Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) for his assistance, too."

The Southern Heritage Classic was established in 1990 and founded by Jones, a veteran of the national entertainment industry and owner/limited partner of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. The Classic is a premier sports and entertainment event in Memphis and is produced by SMC Entertainment. More information is available at online at: www.southernheritageclassic.com.

Atlanta Classic features $10 tickets
/b>?Hal Lamar's column on HBCUsports.com, Inside Hotlanta and the SIAC, reports that the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, celebrating their 20th Atlanta Football Classic (Tennessee State vs. Florida A&M, Sept. 27 at the Georgia Dome) this year will feature early ticket sales starting at $10.

Lamar says "this is a way of doing their part to give fans a break from these criminally high gas prices and other nose bleed prices that they are influencing."

"The $10 tickets are likely to go faster than a snowball in hell so it might be wise to grab them now while they are plentiful," says Lamar. To do this, he says, visit www.ticketmaster.com or check with either school.

Lamar's column can be read at: http://www.onnidan.com/07-08/columns/inside0605.htm

Coach's wife premiers radio show
The first talk radio show of its kind, "Football Wives Who Win" launched its premier June 5, 2008 on Voice America Sports network.

The show was created by host, life coach and football wife, LaNier Turner-Frazier. Turner-Frazier is the founder of the Football Wives Network and author of "The Football Wives Playbook: 9 Plays To A Winning Life." She is also the wife of Prairie View A&M head football coach, Henry C. Frazier, III. In 2007 Turner-Frazier's husband led the Panthers to their first winning season since 1976 and best overall record since 1964 last season.

"This talk show is a much needed platform where football wives on all levels can unite, share their experiences, discuss their concerns and feel appreciated for who they are as women and all they do as wives," said Turner-Frazier.

Football Wives Who Win will unite and shine the spotlight on the wives of professional, college and high school football coaches and players and recognize football wives for their personal achievements and professional accomplishments. This empowering and motivational talk show will tackle some of the hard-hitting issues and common challenges faced by football wives and provide insight, inspiration and encouragement for football wives to become the winners they are all destined to be.

Football wives worldwide will now have a place to call their own where they will be celebrated for their behind-the-scene roles and unfailing support. Football Wives Who Win will air every Thursday at 11 a.m. PST, 1 p.m. CST and 2 p.m. EST on the Voice America Sports Network. Henry Frazier III was the first guest on the show, on Thursday, June 5th.

© 2008 Azeez Communications, Inc.

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