BCSP Notes . . .
SWAC all-sports award to Jackson State
The Jackson State
University Athletic Department has earned
the Southwestern Athletic Conference Dr. James Frank
Commissioner's Cup Award for all-sports competition for the third
consecutive year and the women's Barbara Jacket/Sadie Magee Sports
Award for the fourth consecutive year. On the men's side,
Grambling State claimed the C.D. Henry
Sports Award.
In 2008-2009 JSU totaled 160 points as they won conference
championships in men's and women's golf, women's tennis and women's
outdoor track. Jackson State had second-place finishes in football, men's
basketball, men's outdoor track, women's cross country, women's soccer and
women's indoor track, and third-place finishes in volleyball, bowling and
softball and tied for third in men's tennis.
In the all-sports competition, Grambling State finished second (153.5 points) and Alabama State came in third (136.5 points). In women's competition, Jackson State's 96 points led all schools. Grambling State (82 points) was second and Southern (78 points) was third.
It is the fourth all-sports award for Jackson State since the award was first presented in 1991-92 and the eighth women's sports award since its inception in 1979-80.
Grambling State has claimed the men's all-sports award for the second time ever (previous 1971-72) since the award was first presented in 1969-70. The Tigers won conference championships in football, indoor and outdoor track and field, finished second in cross country and tied for third in tennis. Grambling State's 71.5 points led the way ahead of second-place Jackson State (64 points) and third-place Alabama State (60.5 points).
The Commissioner's Cup award is named for Dr. Frank, the former SWAC Commissioner (1983-1998, April 2001-December 2002) who was also the first African-American President of the NCAA while serving as president at Lincoln (Mo.) University.
The women's sports award is also named after pioneers. Jacket was the head track and field/cross country coach at Prairie View A&M (1966-1991), winning 22 SWAC titles and 12 national titles. In 1992 she became just the second African-American woman to coach the U.S. Olympic Track and Field team. Magee is the winningest basketball coach in Jackson State history and also served as assistant athletic director and coordinator of women's sports. Magee won two SWAC women's regular season basketball titles and four Conference tournament titles.
The men's sports award is named for C.D. Henry, who was an athletic administrator who among his career achievements was chairman of Grambling College of Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department (1958-74) and was the executive officer and secretary-statistician for the SWAC from 1968-73. Henry became the first African-American assistant commissioner at any conference office when he was named to the position at the Big Ten Conference 35 years ago.
Grambling to honor sports legends with Hall of Fame
Grambling University has spawned many great athletes who
have made a significant impact on the world of sports. These
extraordinary sports legends have set many records that still stand to this day.
The Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame, spearheaded by
James "Shack" Harris (former NFL Pro Bowl MVP) and
Doug Williams (former Super Bowl MVP), is dedicated to ensuring that these legends,
their memories and accomplishments are cemented into historical posterity.
On July 18th 2009 the first group of 25 legends will be inducted into the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame at the Monroe Civic Center in Monroe Louisiana.
The 25 inductees are; Willis Reed (Basketball), Tommy Agee (Baseball), Ernie Ladd (Football/Wrestling), Henry Dyer (Football), Ralph Garr (Baseball), Charlie Hardnett (Basketball), Robert Hopkins (Basketball), Lane Howell (Football), Stone Johnson (Football/Track), Willie Joseph (Football), Leglian "Boots" Moore (Football), Bo Murray (Football), Helen Richards-Smith (Basketball), Richard Stebbins (Track), Hershell West (Basketball), Willie Young (Football), Tank Younger (Football), Ralph W.E. Jones (College President and Coach), Eddie G. Robinson (Coach), Collie Nicholson (Sports Information Officer), Fred C. Hobdy (Coach), Willie Brown (Football), Buck Buchanan (Football), Willie Davis (Football) and Charlie Joiner (Football)
The induction ceremonies will also be broadcast live and will be available to fans and alumni worldwide on pay per view. For details visit www.gramblingsportshof.com
In addition to honoring these great sports legends, the event will also have an element of local community involvement through a national non-profit organization Youth United for Prosperity and the LEGENDS & KIDS mentoring program. Some of today's finest sports legends will mentor local youth to excel in business, sports, education, and community endeavors. The event will reinforce the importance of sports through education and education through sports.
MEAC Football Kickoff Luncheon
The Mid Eastern Athletic
Conference will host the annual Football Press Luncheon, Friday, July 31 at the Newport News Marriott at
City Center (740 Town Center Drive/757-873-9299). MEAC head
football coaches will be on hand to offer an inside view of the upcoming
2009 football season.
A limited number of tickets are available to the public for the press luncheon and can be purchased by calling Terria Galvez at (757) 416-7100. Tickets are $30 per seat or $300 per table (10 persons) and must be purchased by 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 24.
Media members may obtain a credential for the luncheon and/or one-on-one interviews by completing an application found here. One-on-one interviews will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. Need assistance locating the credential application? Click the credentials link located under the About the MEAC/Media Center tab.
The 2009 MEAC football season kicks off on Saturday, September 5 featuring six MEAC football teams in action including a conference match up against Delaware State and Florida A&M.
The defending MEAC Champion South Carolina State Bulldogs will kick off their season opener against non-conference foe Grambling in the fifth annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Sunday, September 6 in Orlando, Florida.
© 2009 Azeez Communications, Inc.