BCSP IX-47: BCSP Notes

BCSP Notes . . .

Changes at VSU, BSU
Virginia State Athletic Director Derek Carter has resigned to take the same position at Bowie State. Peggy Davis, VSU's women's basketball coach and senior women's administrator, has reportedly been named as Carter's replacement.

Literacy Classic tickets selling
The San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau (SJCVB), in conjunction with the Literacy Classic Organization, announced Wednesday (July 2) that group tickets for the long anticipated Literacy Classic are selling fast. Alumni and other groups interested in purchasing group tickets, which consist of 20 tickets or more, are urged to purchase tickets sooner rather than later. The Literacy Classic brings the San Jose State University Spartans head-to-head with the Grambling State University Tigers on August 23, 2003 at 3:00pm, at Spartan Stadium.

"The Literacy Classic is an opportunity for San Jose to reveal itself as a coveted destination," said Dan Fenton, president and CEO of the SJCVB. "Literacy Week and the game itself are expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors. The success of the game and the week will help demonstrate the appeal of San Jose in hosting major events."

Literacy Week and the Literacy Classic are expected to draw 65,000 attendees from out of state and throughout the Bay Area. The August 16 opening of the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, a collaborative effort between the City of San Jose and San Jose State University, will kick-off Literacy Week, a week-long of events and festivities that promotes literacy and academic achievement.

The Organizing Committee hopes the Literacy Classic will be successful enough to become an annual event. San Joseans not familiar with games such as the Literacy Classic should expect a fun-filled and festive week. Some of the events scheduled to occur include a Greek Show, Gospel Extravaganza, multi-cultural festival, and an appearance by the distinguished Grambling State University Drumline during the halftime show. For more information on events held during Literacy Week, visit the Literacy Classic web site at www.literacyclassic.org.

"The response to the Literacy Classic has surpassed our expectations," said Andre V. Chapman, President of the Literacy Classic Organization. "We are hearing from groups all around the country who will be attending and helping make this one of the most significant events in the South Bay in many years."

The Literacy Classic Organization is a nonprofit entity, which aims to raise literacy awareness and generate capital to fund regional programs that support literacy and academic achievement. Team visits to children's hospitals and readings with Bay Area youth are included in the activities.

Literacy Week culminates on August 23, 2003, with the inaugural Literacy Classic, marking the first NCAA college football game of the 2003 season. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2 and will include a special halftime performance by the world-renowned Grambling Tiger Marching Band.

Jackson State in Women's NIT
The Jackson State Lady Tigers finished the 2002-03 season with a 23-6 overall record and a first-place tie in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (15-3). Because of their accomplishments, the team now takes its game to the national stage.

The Lady Tigers were announced along with 15 other teams to play in the 2003 Preseason Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). Games will be played on host campuses for each round with the first-round beginning Friday, November 14. The championship game will be played on November 23.

Jackson State will take on the Lady Rebels of the University of Mississippi. Last season, the Lady Rebels finished with a 12-16 record and 1-13 mark in the Southeastern Conference. The contest will mark the 15th time these two programs have met. The last time JSU played Ole Miss was during the 1991-92 season. The Lady Tigers lone win against the Lady Rebels came during the 1980-81 season when JSU beat Ole Miss, 73-42. Out of 14 meetings, Ole Miss leads the series, 13-1.

"It will be a great opportunity for the state of Mississippi, Jackson State, and the community to have to state schools participate in the preseason NIT," said JSU head coach Denise Taylor.

On the floor, Jackson State will feature seniors center Amie Williams (6-7, Cleveland, Miss.) and point guard Latesha Lee (5-6, Bastrop, La.). Williams finished her inaugural SWAC campaign by being named Newcomer and Defensive Player of the Year. She also led the nation in blocked shots, averaging 5.1 blocks per contest while finishing 11th in the country in rebounding.

Lee has been the floor general for the Lady Tigers for the last three seasons. She was first in the SWAC in assists (4th nationally) and second in steals (13th nationally) and was named first-team All-SWAC this past season.

As a team, the Lady Tigers led the nation in field goal defense (32.2 percent), blocked shots (8.3 per game), and finished ninth in scoring defense allowing 55.0 points per game.

The tournament serves as the kickoff for the women's collegiate basketball season. This year's field features seven teams who played in the NCAA Tournament. In last year's Preseason WNIT, No. 4-ranked Kansas State captured the title with an 88-66 victory over No. 14 Penn State. Kansas State went on to a 29-5 season.

Norfolk State SID
Norfolk State University has announced that Interim Sports Information Director Matt Michalec has been hired as the full-time SID. Michalec, a 2002 magna cum laude graduate of Old Dominion University, has served in his current position since January 1.

"I'm excited to get the full-time SID position," Michalec said. "I think our office has made some good progress over the last six months, and we can continue to serve NSU well."

"Matt did an outstanding job in publicizing and promoting the NSU athletics program during his interim tenure," said NSU Athletics Director Orby Moss. "He quickly achieved a level of familiarity with our program in addition to developing productive relationships with the media. We are confident that Matt will continue to have a positive influence on our athletics program."