BCSP Notes . . .
Make room for Prairie View
Southwestern Athletic Conference upstart Prairie View A&M has joined defending MEAC champion South Carolina State in the Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision Top 25.
Henry Frazier's Panthers of Prairie View (5-1), the No. 2 team in the BCSP rankings, received 269 votes to take the 25th spot in the poll released Monday evening. It's the first time ever for the Panthers in the regular season poll. The team finished 9-1 a season ago and was ranked 25th in the final poll.
South Carolina State (6-1), who has been ranked in the Sports Network poll since the beginning of the season, is up to 10th in the latest poll. The Bulldogs are the No. 1 BCSP team.
UMES joins the ECAC
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore has joined the Eastern College Athletic Conference. The announcement was made by Commissioner Rudy Keeling and President Dan Mara.
The ECAC is the nation's largest athletic and the only multi-divisional conference in the country with approximately 300 Division I, II, and III college and universities. The ECAC membership covers 16 states and stretches from Maine to North Carolina and westerly to Illinois.
"We are excited we are still expanding, and that colleges and universities see the value of our services," said Commissioner Keeling. "The ECAC continues to deliver an enormous return to its members - providing championship opportunities, officiating services, and award recognition through our player of the week and all-star programs."
UMES will continue to be a member of the MEAC, as the ECAC is considered a secondary membership.
Established in 1938, the ECAC, a non-profit service organization, sponsors nearly 100 championships in 37 men's and women's sports and assigns more than 4,400 officials in 12 sports. It also administers nine affiliate sports organizations and six playing leagues.
Cheyney hires two track coaches
Cheyney University has elevated its' cross country and track and field programs with the full-time hiring of Marc Harrison and James Williams. Harrison will direct the women's cross country and track and field squads while Williams will coach the men's cross country and track and field program.
"In today's culture of the NCAA stressing work/life balance, Cheyney hired two individuals to lead the six NCAA sponsored sports (cross country, indoor track and outdoor track)," stated China Jude Cheyney University's Director of Athletics.
Most recently, Harrison served as the head of the University of the District of Columbia Cross Country and track and field program. Williams served as the men's and women's cross country and track and field coach at Cabrini College. He has guided the Cavalier men since the 2007-08 season and was given the additional responsibilities of the women in 2009.
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