4C
SPORTS/®()e Cfiarlotte ^o«t
Thursday, May 20, 2004
For the Week of May 18 through May 24, 2004
Denver Broncos Photo
OUABBE SHARPE: Former SIAC,
SHARPE NFL star calls halt to out-
standing gridiron career for
IVIOvES shot at broadcasing.
T CIAA EXPANSION, HEADQUARTERS MOVE
LIKELY ON HORIZON; JSU GETS TOP RECRUIT
Howard University Photo
OLIVER: Shows his
form in winning Georgia
Tech Invitational.
13.81.
UNDER THE BANNER
WHATS GOING ON IN AND AROUND BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS
OLIVER OLYMPIC QUALIIFIER:
Howard University senior i lO-meier hurdler David Oliver
has qualified for the 2004
Olympic Trials which will be
held in Sacramento, Calif., on
July 18. Oliver clocked in at a
time of 13.55 in the 110-meter
hurdles to capture first place at
the Georgia Tech Invitational
I * » weekend. It was a per-
Bs I,* IHNHB.i Oliver, a two-time
All-American and school and
Mid-Eastern Athletic
Conference record holder in the
event. His previous best was
It was the best feeling I have every felt," said an
excited Oliver. "After the race, I was on Cloud Nine trying to
soak everything in." Added Howard track and field coach
Michael Merritt, "David has competed against much better
competition this season and it has certainly helped improve
his times. And 1 think last year’s success has also played a
role in his confidence and preparation." Oliver, who earned
All-American honors in last year’s NCAA Outdoor champi
onships and Indoors this year, will compete in the NCAA
Ea.st Regionals on May 28-29 in Gainesville, FI. He becomes
the first Olympic qualifier for Howard in 16 years.
SHARPE TURN: Record-breaking tight end
Shannon Sharpe, a former three-time SIAC player of the
year at Savannah State, has decided to end his football play
ing career to take a job replacing Deion Sanders on CBS's
"The NFL Today" pregame show. Sharpe, 35, announced last
month that he would return to the Denver Broncos for his
15ih season but apparently changed his mind after the net
work offered him Sanders' spot opposite Jim Nantz, Boomer
Esiason and Dan Marino on the popular show. Sanders, who
had collected $1 million in the final year of his deal, recent
ly turned down the network's offer of $ 1.3 million to contin
ue on the show. Sharpe, who was scheduled to make
$760,(KX) with the Broncos this year will earn between
$800,(K) and $900,000 annually from the network over the
next three seasons. "Shannon Sharpe has a great opportunity
in television and I know he will‘be a great success because
of his intelligence, attitude, preparation and perseverance,"
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Monday. "He has always
been outstanding on and off the football field, and he'll be a
great addition to CBS." Sharpe is one of the most outspoken
and loquacious players in the league and has also been one
of its best on the field. He owns all-time NFL records for
tight ends in receptions (815), reception yardage (10,060)
and touchdowns (62) and has three Super Bowl rings, two
with Denver and another with Baltimore. The future Hall of
Famer was again outstanding la.st season, getting 62 recep
tions for 770 yards and eight touchdowns, second only to
Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez in the AFC.
VSU PREZ TO D-2 COUNCIL:
Eddie N. Moore, president of Virginia State University
since 1993, has been elected to
serve on the NCAA Division II
Presidents Council. Moore's
term began with the Council's
April meeting in Indianapolis.
Before becoming Virginia
Stale's 12th president, he served
as treasurer of the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
Moore began his career in the
private sector in 1971 with Gulf
Oil Corporation. During his 14-
year tenure with Gulf Oil. he
rose to direct major components of the corporation's
accounting and budgeting functions. He entered the public
sector in 1985 as the assistant comptroller for accounting and
reporting for the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 1988, he
was selected to ser\'e concurrently as the university comp
troller for the College of William and Maiy- and the treasur
er of its endowment association. In 1990. Moore was
appointed stale treasurer.
€
VSU Photo
MOORE: To assume
spot on NCAA Division II
President's Council.
OA2EE2 Commumcatons, Inc. VOL. X. NO. 41
CIAA says expansion in its plans
LUT WILLIAMS
BCSP Editor
The Central Intercollegiate
Athletic Association (CIAA) has
decided to open its doors to expan
sion.
The 12-member conference's
Board of Directors completed a
strategic plan at its May 1I-12
meeting in Duck, N.C., that effec
tively set the table for the league to
attract more teams.
Along with increased televi
sion and media exposure and acad
emic enhancement, the board iden
tified expansion as a major priority
for the immediate future. The vote
for expansion was unanimous.
"We thought we needed to
strengthen the conference and posi
tion it for more success and
growth," said Dr. Mickey Burnim.
chancellor of Elizabeth City State
University and chairman of the
CIAA Board of Directors.
Burnim said the conference is
looking at adding up to four insti
tutions.
"We want to attract institu
tions that will add value to and
contribute to the long-term viabili
ty of our conference," he said. "As
we evaluate potential members, the
conference will only consider
inviting institutions who share simi
lar academic standards, athletic
progress and values."
With a significant alumni base
spanning the East Coast, expansion
plans will be focused geographically
northward as far as Pennsylvania and
as far south as Georgia. Burnim
added that gaining a foothold in mar
kets like Atlanta, Wa.shington. D.C.,
and Philadelphia would fit the pro
file.
"We currently have one of the
most successful basketball tourna
ments in the NCAA - Division 1 or
Diision. II," said Burnim. "Most of
our tournament games and some of
our regular season games are already
on television. If we want to be more
attractive to TV networks, we need
more games in more populated mar
kets."
The CIAA is comprised of 12
colleges and universities located in
Maryland, North Carolina and
Virginia.
At least two conference schools.
North Carolina Central University
in Durham and Winston-Salem
State University have publicly
expressed interest and an intention to
pursue NCAA Division I classifica
tion, which would include i-AA sta
tus in football. That would effective
ly end their association with the
CIAA which plays at the Division II
level.
The plans of those schools did
not really effect the decision to pur
sue expansion, said Burnim.
"We've been working on the
strategic plan for over a year. We
watched the ACC (Atlantic Coast
Conference) last year as they active
ly recruited schools that they
thought would add value to their
conference. They had specific crite
ria.
"Rather than react, we wanted
to be proactive. Over the last decade
we've lost two great, institutions,
Hampton and Norfolk State. We
realize that other schools are look
ing to move up to 1-AA, but the
main thing for us is to know where
we're going and how we're going to
get there."
Burnim noted that there have
been inquiries by other institutions
about joining the CIAA.
The proposed expansion may
spark the interest of several
Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs) that are simi
lar to CIAA institutions.
The University of the District
of Columbia in Washington, D.C.,
Lincoln University or Cheyney
BURNIM: Elizabeth City chancellor
and conference board chairman is
the designated spokesperson for
the CIAA on the expansion issue.
University in Pennsylvania and
Benedict College in Columbia, S.C.,
could be at or near the top of that list.
Barber-Scotia, a member of
the Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference (EIAC). may also be
interested.
Benedict reportedly sought
membership in the CIAA before
joining the Southern Intercol
legiate Athletic Conference
(SIAC), another Division II confer
ence, in 2002.
Also seeking CIAA headquarters, Hall of Fame
Raleigh plans expanded fundraising for CIAA
■ ERIC N. MOORE
Special to the BCSP
Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker and the
city's CIAA Tournament Steering Committee
have announced plans for an expanded fundrais
ing effort for activities related to the Hampton-
based conference, including the relocation of the
conference headquarters.
Plans call for the construction of a CIAA
Hall of Fame and headquarters office in Raleigh
and for funds to cover financial commitments and
operations costs for the 2005 CIAA Basketball
Tournament in Raleigh.
Contributions from the City of Raleigh,
Wake County and private donations from area
businesses, organizations and citizens have cov
ered expenses for hosting the tournament.
The Steering Committee has fallen short in
its local private fundraising efforts for the tourna
ment, so they are asking the City Council to allow
it to enter into an agreement with Sports
Properties Inc. (SPI) to conduct the fundraiser.
"We’ll let (Assistant City Manager)
Lawrence Wray and his staff call on local folks
while SPI goes after regional sponsors," said
Meeker at a Tuesday morning press conference
in his office.
Steering Committee members estimate they
will need to raise $5.7 million. Of that amount,
$4.7 million would go toward construction of the
Hall of Fame and headquarters office with the
remaining $1 million used to fund expenses
associated with hosting the 2005 Tournament.
The Tournament has been held in Raleigh since
2000 and v.dll complete its current commitment
at the RBC Center in Februaiy, 2005.
CIAA Commissioner Leon Kerry could not
be reached for comment involving the office
relocation.
City officials expect Raleigh to be a strong
candidate to host the event from 2006-2008
when the CIAA considers bids for future tourna
ments.
"The Hall of Fame and headquarters office
proposal is not tied to the bid for the 2006-2008
tournaments," said Meeker. "We just feel-that it
is good business sense to have the CIAA."
The CIAA Basketball Tournament's eco
nomic impact on the area has grown to an esti
mated $11.5 million making it the largest income
generator among sports entertainment events and
conventions held in Raleigh. The tournament’s
total economic impact over the last five years
was an estimated $47.8 million. Tax revenue
generated over this period is estimated at $3.8
million, including $983,304 from the 2004 tour
nament.
The CIAA headquarters has been in
Hampton since moving from Richmond in 1976
under the leadership of Bob Moorman, the
CIAA's first full-time commissioner.
"A headquarters is a headquarters is a head
quarters,” said Steering Committee member
Lewis Myers. "We see spring championships and
other conference activities coming to the area
with the headquarters located in Raleigh."
BCSP Hoop Notes nJSlf
Jackson State coup
Jackson State University of
the Southwestern Athletic
Conference has officially signed a
hometown product considered one
of the slate of Mississippi’s most
coveted basketball players.
Provine High School standout
guard and 2003
Mr. Basket-ball.
Charlie White,
officially
signed with the
Tigers Monday.
After months of
speculation and
amid several
rumors, the 5-10 point guard chose
Jackson State over SEC power
Mississippi State.
"Most big-time players from
Jackson always seem to leave to go
to bigger schools," said White,
whose home is 10 minutes from
the JSU campus.
"That doesn’t mean it's the
right decision for me. Sometimes
they go off to another school and
things don’t go so well. I want to
stay home, play at Jackson State
and make a name for myself, the
school and the SWAC."
WHITE
Hoopscoop ranks While as the
66th-best senior in the country. Bob
Gibbons and his All Star Sports lists
him as one of the top 12 point guards
in the land.
"Charlie is a big step in bringing
back the pride in Jackson Staifs men's
basketball," said JSU head coach
Tevester Anderson, who just com
pleted his first year leading the
Tigers.
"He is not only an outstanding
player but an outstanding person. He
has great leadership and athletic
skills on the court."
Anderson had served as an
assistant at Georgia and .Auburn of
the SEC before spending five years
as the head coach at Murray State.
He was recognized as one of the lop
recruiters in the country during his
days in the SEC. recruiting the likes
of Charles Barkley, Chuck Person,
Chris Morris, Willie and Shannon
Anderson and Litterial Green.
He's brought the same kind of
deft recruiting touch in landing
While.
White averaged 15 points,
seven assists, four rebounds and four
steals during his senior season. A
two-lime all-state selection and Mr.
Basketball in 2003, White was All-
Metro and Metro Player of the Year
as a junior. •
With the Rams, White led the
metro-area school to two consecu
tive 4A state championships (32-6
in 2003-04 and 26-5 in 2002-03).
He had a career-high 33 points
against Lanier (Jackson, MS) High
School. He also played in the
Alabama/Mississippi All-Star
Game, arguably outplaying Ronald
Steele, an Alabama signee and his
state's two-time Mr. Basketball.
While headlines a group of
newcomers that will look to rebuild
the Tigers' program that finished
12-17 overall, but came on strong
late in the season.
HU hoops tour
While most college basketball pro
grams must wait until the middle of
October to begin their season, the
Hampton men's basketball team
Hampton's
Collins
will tip-off its 2004-05 campaign
with practice on August 2 in prepa
ration for a summer tour through
British Columbia.
"This summer tour will give us
a chance to see where we stand early
on and develop some team chem
istry and unity." stated coach Bobby
Collins, who will be entering his
third season as the overseer of the
Pirate program. "We have several
new players who will have the
opportunity to play and compete
while getting five games under their
belts."
Following ten days of practice,
the Pirates will embark on a five-
game tour that begins Friday, August
13 through Thursday, August 19.
"We had our choice of several
places to tour, but we felt that this
trip provided us with the best com
petition," added Collins who guided
Hampton a record of 13-17 during
the 2003-04 season.
Spring Sports Round-Up
SWAC, MEAC tennis shut out
The Texas A&M women's tennis team cruised to
a 4-0 victory over SWAC champion Southern n the
. first round of the NCAA Women's Tennis regional in
College Station, Texas Saturday.
The Aggies, who are the No. 1 seed in the
regional, look a business-like approach against
Southern and quickly clinched the doubles point
against the Lady Jaguars. The Aggies won, 8-1, at
both the No. 2 and No. 3 lines and was leading 5-3 at
No. 1 when the point was decided.
Southern completes its season with a 10-13
record.
Top-seeded Florida (23-0) raced past MEAC
champ Hampton 4-0 in the first round of the NCAA
Women’s Tennis Regionals Friday in Gainesville. FI.
"We have four freshmen girls and we drew the
nation's No. 1 team," Hampton head coach Dr.
Robert Screen said.
Hampton (17-6) ends its season in the first
round of the NCAA Championships against a team
from the Southeastern Conference for the third con
secutive year.
The University of North Carolina men's tennis
team, the tournament's lllh seed, handled MEAC
champion South Carolina State with a 4-0 NCAA
first-round victory on Saturday at the Cone-
Kenfield Tennis Center in Chapel Hill.
In the first ever meeting between the two
schools, Carolina won the doubles point from the
Bulldogs 8-3 and 8-4 and got wins in Nos. 1, 2 and
4 in singles.
LSU followed a similar path in knocking off
SWAC men's champ Southern Saturday, 4-0, in the
first round of the NCAA Men's Regional in Baton
Rouge.
LSU won the doubles matches 8-1 and 8-2
before getting wins in Nos. 1, 2 and 4 in singles.
Softball pairings
MEAC champ Bethune-Cookman and SWAC
liielist Mississippi Valley State have received auto
matic bids to the NCAA Division I Softball playoffs.
The Lady Wildcats (44-26) will face Oregon (38-19)
Thursday at 12:30 p.m. in Tallahassee.
The Delta Devilettes (31-13) plays at defending
champion UCLA (39-9). Thursday afternoon at 4:30
p.m. in the double-elimination regional tournament.