16

Sports Forum / LC Cole back in the SIAC

« on: March 09, 2022, 07:51:38 PM »

https://footballscoop.com/thescoop/the-scoop-wednesday-march-9-2022

Allen (D-II - SC): LC Cole has accepted the defensive coordinator job at Allen. Cole, the former head coach at places like Tennessee State and Alabama State, spent the last several years as a high school coach in Alabama, most recently at Park Crossing HS (AL).

17

Sports Forum / Re: Top Five D2 HBCU Basketball Women’s Programs

« on: February 13, 2022, 06:29:22 PM »

since SSU rejoined the SIAC, Benedict and Tuskegee have been a thorn in our sides

18

Sports Forum / NCAA DII postseason bracket leaves out Savannah State

« on: November 14, 2021, 09:21:16 PM »

NCAA DII postseason bracket leaves out Savannah State, jumped in rankings by Lenoir-Rhyne

Nathan Dominitz
Savannah Morning News


The Savannah State football team's season is over after the Tigers, with one of their best records in years, were left out of the NCAA Division II postseason on Sunday.

The Tigers came into the weekend ranked No. 8 in Super Region Two, with the top seven teams in each of the four regions nationally advancing to the playoffs for 28 berths total. SSU was idle this weekend after 10 straight weeks of games, but hoped the 8-2 overall record and 5-1 mark in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was impressive enough for the top seven.

Mars Hill, No. 6 in the most recent region ranking, fell to 8-3 with a 26-19 loss to Wingate on Saturday, likely creating an opening in the top seven.

When the NCAA DII selection show Sunday revealed the region's bracket, previous No. 9 Lenoir-Rhyne (8-2) was the new seventh seed.

"Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, (but) I'm not on the committee," Quinn said. "The biggest thing is I think we had a good enough resume at 8-2. We were an 8-2 team ahead of Lenoir-Rhyne and then they picked the 8-2 Lenoir-Rhyne team over us that was behind us in the rankings.

"I'm grateful for the year we had. I'm disappointed we didn't get in. I think we should have been in. I'm sure there are a bunch of other coaches that feel the same way I do."

Savannah State held a watch party for the 5 p.m. Sunday selection show with players, coaches, staff and families. Quinn said everyone was excited and having a good time until the bracket was revealed.

"It was a lot of fun up until the announcement, then it was like a funeral at that point," he said.

He thanked the seniors for their contributions of the past, and then talked with the underclassmen about the program's future. But this season also must have been dissected in discussions.

Lenoir-Rhyne has won six straight games, and has wins over Mars Hill 31-16 and Wingate 31-6. The losses were at current No. 6 seed Newberry, a 9-2 team, 28-21; and at UVA Wise, a 5-6 team, 35-28.

Quinn credited Lenoir-Rhyne for successfully campaigning to make the DII playoffs.

"They've got a good reputation. We're an up-and-comer," he said. "The committee said our league (SIAC) is not as worthy as the SAC 8 (South Atlantic Conference) is to be in the playoffs."

Savannah State's two losses were in the season opener at No. 1 seed Valdosta State, a 9-1 team, 53-7; and at No. 4 seed Albany State, a 10-1 team, 30-0 on Oct. 23.

"Obviously, our losses were factored heavier than our wins were," Quinn said.

Albany State went on to win the East Division ahead of SSU and a berth in the league championship game Saturday, when it beat Miles 31-0. 

Valdosta State (9-1), which was No. 2 in the most recent AFCA coaches national poll, earned the bye as the region's top seed despite losing Saturday at West Florida. No. 2 Bowie State (10-1) will host Lenoir-Rhyne (8-2); and No. 3 and defending national champion West Florida (9-1) will host Newberry (9-2). VSU will host the winner of 2 vs. 7 on Nov. 27.

Newberry and Lenoir-Rhyne represent the South Atlantic Conference, Albany State the SIAC.

"Obviously, our league is not held in high enough regard yet," Quinn said. "We had some other good wins. For whatever reason, those weren't taken into consideration. We weren't given the opportunity to get into the playoffs, so obviously (we're) disappointed. I'm new to this process, our team is. We've got to find a way to win nine or 10 games instead of eight to make sure we get in this time next year."

Now Savannah State is in the conversation when the committee meets each week to rank the region's teams.

"It's baby steps," Quinn said. "I'm not big on moral victories. You're either in or out. We're outside looking in, so that's bittersweet. I felt like we have a good enough football team that we can compete with anybody if we played well. Obviously, in our two losses we played poorly. We needed to win the Albany State game to get in."

Playing Valdosta State, a perennial power and one of the top teams in the national rankings all season, toughened SSU's strength of schedule. Quinn said an in-state opponent from a powerful conference like the Gulf South is a better strategy than scheduling an FCS program, as zero consideration is given to by the committee to games outside of DII.

"We played the best team (Valdosta) in America according to everybody; we picked the hardest one," Quinn said. "We've got to be smart in who we schedule. We've got to play those guys in the regular season or playoffs at some point — them and West Florida and West Georgia."

Quinn also has long argued that the SIAC allow teams to play an 11-game schedule, giving all of them one more chance to add a victory.

SSU has felt on the other side of SIAC decisions such as in 2019, when it went 7-3 overall and 5-0 in the league to win the East Division but did not play for the SIAC title. League members had voted before the season that because SSU was transitioning to DII and not eligible for the playoffs, should it happen to win the division, another team would represent the East.

The SIAC canceled the 2020 fall sports season because of the COVID-19 pandemic when SSU figured to have a strong team returning.   

"The biggest thing we've got to do is win," Quinn said. "The other stuff is out of our hands. Obviously, it's been disappointing the decisions over the last couple of years that went against us. I give our guys credit. Our team's been competing and finding a way to win.

"We've got to just keep winning and force it where people can't keep us out of things. For the committee to not pick us, that was their decision. We've just got to come back with a better body of work next time. We've also got to know how to work our end of it to make sure we're highlighted and we're in the forefront of people's minds to be selected like some other schools were."

Nathan Dominitz is the Sports Content Editor of the Savannah Morning News and savannahnow.com. Email him at ndominitz@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @NathanDominitz

https://www.savannahnow.com/story/sports/college/football/2021/11/14/savannah-state-tigers-not-selected-ncaa-division-ii-playoffs/8619210002/

19

Sports Forum / ga southern hires former southern cal coach

« on: November 04, 2021, 07:31:10 AM »

https://www.wsav.com/sports/new-details-emerge-about-georgia-southern-head-coach-clay-heltons-contract/


New details emerge about Georgia Southern head coach Clay Helton’s contract

Sports
by: Andrew Goldstein   
Posted: Nov 3, 2021 / 06:20 PM EDT   / Updated: Nov 3, 2021 / 06:20 PM EDT   



STATESBORO, Ga. (WSAV) – Georgia Southern found the new leader of its football program Tuesday in former Southern California coach Clay Helton.

Athletic director Jared Benko promised in the wake of prior head coach Chad Lunsford’s dismissal to think big in search of his next head coach. New details from Helton’s contract reveal exactly how big Benko went.

Helton’s deal is for five years, starting Nov. 1, 2021, and running through 2026. It begins with a baseline salary of $700,000 and increases by $50,000 each year of the deal up to a $900,000 salary in year five.

The figures confirm reporting by Yahoo’s Pete Thamel, who reported Tuesday that Helton would earn an average of $800,000 per year over the deal’s length.

Helton’s average salary is more than a 15 percent raise over Lunsford’s base rate of $680,000. However, it is a significant downgrade from what he made at USC. The Trojans paid Helton more than $4.8 million in 2019-20 alone, per Los Angeles Times reporter Ryan Kartje.

    From July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020, USC paid head football coach Clay Helton $4.813 million, according to the university’s federal tax return. Helton was paid $4.569 million over the previous year.
    — Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) May 17, 2021

Helton has the opportunity to earn more than his base salary through performance incentives. He would earn $25,000 for a Sun Belt championship game appearance or $50,000 if the Eagles actually won the game.

In addition, Helton would receive a bonus of $25,000 if Georgia Southern reached any kind of bowl game. A Sun Belt Coach of the Year Award would net him $10,000.
Helton’s contract includes performance incentives that are far more lucrative than the university offered to prior head coach Chad Lunsford.

The incentives in Helton’s contract are much higher than those contained in the last year of Lunsford’s contract. Lunsford would have earned just $10,000 for a conference championship and $7,500 for a bowl appearance, although that figure would increase to $13,500 for a bowl win.

If Georgia Southern terminates Helton without cause at any point prior to the conclusion of the contract, the university will be responsible for paying the remainder of his salary. Georgia Southern is currently paying Lunsford’s buyout until the end of 2022, which is estimated at roughly $1 million.

In addition to his salary and incentives, Helton will receive other benefits, including a company car, membership at the Forest Heights Country Club in Statesboro and a $25,000 moving stipend.

Helton will be formally introduced at a press conference at 4:14 p.m. Thursday at Bishop Field House. There will be a pre-press conference Eagle Walk at 3:45 p.m.

20

Sports Forum / Augusta Univ. men's basketball program

« on: October 28, 2021, 08:12:19 PM »

https://www.wsav.com/news/augusta-university-mens-basketball-coach-suspended-for-ncaa-violations-assistant-coach-fired/

The Augusta University (AU) men’s basketball team will start the season without head coach, Dip Metress on the sidelines while he serves the remainder of a six week unpaid suspension for NCAA violations. Metress is suspended for the first five games of the season for his role in a former Jaguars’ assistant coach taking a online test for a player in March of 2021. O’Neal Armstrong, the second-year assistant coach cited in the violations, was fired from AU on August 30, 2021. The player in question is no longer listed on the AU men’s basketball team roster.

21

Sports Forum / olympic history?

« on: August 03, 2021, 11:21:35 AM »

Many HBCUs have had track stars compete in the Olympics such as Tennessee State, Morehouse, FAMU and countless others.

This year, Savannah State has two former members of their women's basketball team with Nigeria. One is playing (Ezinne Kalu) and the other is one of the assistant coaches (Jessie Kenlaw).

Has any other HBCU had someone from their school compete in Olympic basketball as a player and/or coach?

22

Sports Forum / Savannah State Grad To Play In 2020 Tokyo Olympics For Nigeria

« on: July 22, 2021, 02:17:38 PM »

Ezinne Kalu To Play In 2020 Tokyo Olympics

TOKYO, Japan – Former Savannah State women's basketball star Ezinne Kalu will lead the Nigerian women's basketball team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics beginning next week.

For only the second time in the African nation's history, Nigeria will be represented in women's basketball on the world stage. Kalu, an American-born dual citizen, was a pivotal part of the D'Tigeress' journey to Tokyo.

Nigeria qualified after winning the 2019 Federation Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) Africa Championship. Nigeria beat Senegal 60-55 for the FIBA title. Kalu led her team with 13.0 points, 3 steals and 3.2 assists in the championship game and was named the MVP of the tournament.

Following two wins in the Africa pre-Olympic qualifier, Nigeria closed the 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia with a 76-71 loss to team U.S.A. Nigeria will get another chance at the No. 1 team in the world. They open the Tokyo Olympics against the U.S.A. on Tuesday, July 27 at the Saitama Super Arena to open Group B play.

"If you told 21-year-old me that I'd be playing for a national team or in the Olympics I would look at you like you had three heads," Kalu said. "That's huge! I am just a young girl from New Jersey who went to an HBCU and now I am going to be playing in the Tokyo Olympics."
 
The D'Tigeress' are ranked No. 14 in FIBA's World Ranking. They are one of the most successful teams the African country has ever produced. At the 2018 FIBA World Cup, according to USAB.com, they became the first African nation to advance to the medal round at a top FIBA women's event. They are ranked No. 1 in FIBA Africa.

Kalu played for Savannah State for five years. She holds the NCAA Division I school record for most career points (2,119) and led several of the most successful women's basketball teams in school history during her career.
 
During her time as a Lady Tiger, she was named to the 2015 All-MEAC Tournament Team; 2015 All-MEAC First Team; 2014 MEAC Preseason Player Of The Year; 2012 All-MEAC Preseason First Team; 2012 MEAC All-Conference Team.
 
In 2015, Kalu earned her bachelor's degree in history from Savannah State. She was immediately recruited to play professionally in the European basketball league. Kalu has played for the Nigerian national team since being recruited in 2011 while a student-athlete at Savannah State. For the last six years, she's had incredible success on both international stages.
 
She was named the 2016 Guard of the Year Portugal 1st Division; Captain of the Nigeran National Team 2016-17; 2017 Afro-Basketball Tournament Champion; 2017 Defensive Player of the Year Budapest 1st Division; 2018 Co-Captain of Nigerian Team; 2019 MVP of Afro-Basket Tournament; 2019 Afro-Basketball Tournament Champion; 2020 Top 12 Best Player of Africa; 2020 1st Team All-French Player; 2020 1st Team All-Imports France League; 2020 Guard of the Year France 1st Division.
 
Currently, she plays for the French team Landerneau Bretagne Basket. She signed with the team in 2019 and averaged 15.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists in the 2019-2020 season. 

https://ssuathletics.com/news/2021/7/21/womens-basketball-alumna-ezinne-kalu-to-play-in-2020-tokyo-olympics.aspx

23

Sports Forum / Peach Belt Welcomes Savannah State as Associate Member for Women’s Golf

« on: July 22, 2021, 02:13:55 PM »

Peach Belt Welcomes Savannah State as Associate Member for Women’s Golf

AUGUSTA, GA – The Peach Belt Conference Board of Directors is pleased to announce the addition of Savannah State University as an associate member for women’s golf. The Tigers will begin competition in the PBC this fall and participate in the 2022 women’s golf tournament.

“We are excited to welcome Savannah State as an associate member,” said PBC commissioner David Brunk. “Special thanks to athletic director Opio Mashariki and president Kimberly Ballard-Washington for making this historic move for the women’s golf program. We feel that Savannah State will be a significant addition to our women’s golf championship and we are very pleased to provide them a conference home.”

Savannah State Athletics began in 1902 with a football game on Thanksgiving Day. Over the last 119 years, the Tigers have earned championship titles in multiple divisions and conferences across several of its programs. Savannah State has produced professional baseball players, basketball players, football players and multiple Olympic athletes. Today, the Tigers field 15 men’s and women’s sports competing at the NCAA Division II level. Twelve programs are members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).

“We’re very excited for our women’s golf program to be included as an associate member in the Peach Belt Conference,” Savannah State Director of Athletics Opio Mashariki said. “This is a milestone for the program and a great opportunity for our young ladies to compete for a championship, weekly awards and recognition in a competitive and successful conference. Thank you to Commissioner Brunk for his efforts in this move. We look forward to a prosperous new era for our women’s golf program.”

The Savannah State women’s golf program began in 2000 and has operated as an independent competing on the NCAA Division I (2000-2019) and NCAA Division II (2019-Present) levels. The Lady Tigers will compete in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) beginning with the 2021-2022 season. It is the first conference affiliation for Savannah State women’s golf. Since inception, the Lady Tigers have won seven tournaments and made eight appearances at the PGA National Minority Championship (PGA Works Collegiate Championship).

The Peach Belt began women’s golf as a league championship in the 2009-10 season. 13 PBC women’s golfers have been named All-Americans in that time and PBC teams have competed in the last nine NCAA regional events with five individuals qualifying for the National Championships.

SSU will compete in the 2022 Peach Belt Championships April 15-17. Further details about the championship will be released in the coming weeks.

https://peachbeltconference.org/news/2021/7/22/peach-belt-welcomes-savannah-state-as-associate-member-for-womens-golf.aspx

24

On the Sidelines and In The Stands / Gabriel Arnold named Director of University Bands at Savannah State

« on: July 20, 2021, 03:28:32 PM »

https://www.sinfonia.org/2021/07/16/brother-gabriel-arnold-named-director-of-university-bands-at-savannah-state/

Brother Gabriel Arnold named Director of University Bands at Savannah State

Congratulations to Dr. Gabriel Arnold on being named the Director of University Bands at the Savannah State University!

In this role, Brother Arnold will direct the Savannah State University Band Program including the Powerhouse of the South marching band, pep, ja--, and symphonic wind ensemble bands in rehearsals and performances. He will provide leadership in recruiting band members and music majors, coordinating auditions and scholarships, and maintain active and collaborative relationships with university Athletics, Advancement, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs as well as public schools and band programs throughout the state of Georgia and beyond.

“As a native son of Georgia, I am so excited to lead the Powerhouse of the South! I look forward to infusing my core values of excellence in musicianship, strong character, and high academic achievement into the Savannah State University Band Program,” he said.

Dr. Arnold received his Bachelor’s, Masters’s, and Doctoral degrees in music education from Florida State University.  Before receiving his undergraduate degree at FSU, Dr. Arnold served in the United States Marine Corps from 1994 – 1998 where he played tuba with the Quantico, Virginia, and Okinawa, Japan, Marine Bands. He also achieved the rank of sergeant and served as band leader and supply noncommissioned officer.

During his undergraduate years at FSU, he performed with the Marching Chiefs where he was awarded rookie of the year, tuba section leader, head drum major, and the Manley Whitcomb Scholarship. In 2001, Brother Arnold was initiated into Phi Mu Alpha by the Epsilon Iota Chapter while attending FSU.

Dr. Arnold has served as director of bands at Pebblebrook High School, Osborne High School, and assistant director of bands at Southwest Dekalb High School, all in Georgia. Under his direction, the bands consistently performed superior ratings at concert and marching band festivals. He has also won outstanding teaching awards and presented at the Cobb County District-wide music teacher conference.

Recently, Brother Arnold presented Effective Band Director Techniques for teaching in Title I Schools at the Midwest Clinic, Hawaii Music Educators Conference, and California All-State Music Educators Conference. He has also published articles for the Florida Music Director, Smart Music Blog, and Music for All Newsletter.

With more than 18 years of experience teaching music, Arnold transitions to Savannah State from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, where he was Director of Athletic Bands and Assistant Professor of Music since 2018.

An extension of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Savannah State University Band Program provides the excitement of tiger pride at university athletic events and showcases the enrichment of student life. The Powerhouse of the South marching band is an award-winning band and the most visible of the SSU bands, performing regularly at home and selected away football games, parades, and Battle of the Bands competitions. The marching band accepts invitations to perform throughout the Southeast.

Congratulations, Brother! We wish you all the best in your new role at Savannah State University.

25

General Discussion Forum / Florida Memorial University faculty seeks president’s removal

« on: July 20, 2021, 03:09:37 PM »

https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/florida-memorial-university-faculty-seeks-president-s-removal/article_d1d8983c-e422-11eb-b477-6714bd22229a.html

 Florida Memorial University faculty seeks president’s removal

    Miami Times Staff Report Jul 13, 2021 Updated Jul 14, 2021



On the heels of Florida Memorial University’s accreditation being placed on probation, university faculty has reported a ‘no confidence’ vote in president Jaffus Hardrick to the board of trustees.

The vote took place over the weekend via SurveyMonkey. All participants met off campus via Zoom, fearful of retaliation. According to a source within the faculty, the vote was unanimous among the 34 faculty members who participated; 20 others did not participate.

Last week, The Miami Times reported that FMU has been placed on a 12-month “Probation for Good Cause” by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) for failure to comply with federal, state and financial standard requirements.

The accrediting agency’s board of trustees found that the university did not comply with Core Requirement 4.1 b (governing board characteristics), Standard 13.3 (financial responsibility), Standard 13.4 (control of finances) and Standard 13.6 (federal and state responsibilities).

It was also reported that a Change.org petition asking for Hardrick to be removed had been circulating. As of deadline, the petition has not reached its signature goal of 200. It cites reasons beyond the current accreditation probation, including increased and unreported rapes and shootings on campus; a culture of sexual harassment; a culture of intimidation and retaliation; a continued decline in enrollment; unreliable technology; and overall poor leadership.

After reviewing two reports submitted by FMU and the SACSCOC special committee, the board will reconsider the accreditation status in June 2022, when the school will mark one year of probation. The board will either remove the university from probation, keep the probation in place for another year or remove its accreditation for failure to comply.

In the last year, FMU has battled mismanagement of rising COVID-19 cases on campus and accusations of sexual harassment by student-athletes and employees. The school has also faced a severe drop in enrollment. Although it will not reveal those figures to The Miami Times, sources say it's dipped below 500.

26

Sports Forum / Columbia Housing, Allen University partner for sports, academic trade

« on: July 20, 2021, 03:06:05 PM »

https://www.wltx.com/article/money/consumer/columbia-housing-authority-allen-university-partner-sports-academic/101-b69406a0-8081-43ef-9280-e6e7e492e651

Columbia Housing, Allen University partner for sports, academic trade

Agreement could eventually lead to affordable housing solutions for university students and faculty
Author: Alicia Neaves
Published: 11:08 AM EDT July 11, 2021
Updated: 11:08 AM EDT July 11, 2021


COLUMBIA, S.C. — Columbia Housing Authority (CHA) and Allen University will formally announce plans on Tuesday that the two entities will enter a partnership agreement that might eventually lead to providing housing for students and faculty in new mixed-use housing projects.

What starting out as a smaller agreement will soon expand to impact a greater section of our community.

From now through November, CHA officials say they're lending a piece of property at The Oaks at St. Anna's to Allen University to be used as a practice field for the university's football team. In exchange, the university will offer a resident of Columbia Housing a full academic scholarship.

Construction at The Oaks at St. Anna's, on the former Gonzales Garden site on Forest Drive, is scheduled to begin in January 2022 and will eventually include 190 two- and three-bedroom townhomes for families and 95 senior apartments.

Dr. Ernest McNealey, president of Allen University, says the school is also eyeing new developments from CHA -- specifically the mixed-use housing that is slated to replace Allen Benedict Court.

That property -- bounded by Harden, Read, Oak, and Laurel streets, near the Allen University and Benedict College campuses -- is slated for demolition later this year in advance of redevelopment.

"Not all (of the development) will be for low-income people, and we have staff and faculty that travel great distances -- 80, 90 miles one way -- and we're looking for opportunities to have them closer to campus," said McNealey.

"As these projects unfold, I think it will be a good opportunity."

CHA officials said in a development committee meeting on July 8 that they are considering partnering with other schools -- including Benedict College -- as well.

27

General Discussion Forum / Kentucky State University president resigns

« on: July 20, 2021, 03:00:28 PM »

https://www.wkyt.com/2021/07/20/kentucky-state-university-president-resigns/


Kentucky State University president resigns

By Jim Stratman
Published: Jul. 20, 2021 at 10:22 AM UTC|Updated: 4 hours ago

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) - Kentucky State University President M. Christopher Brown II has resigned.

Brown submitted his resignation to the board of regents, effective immediately, at a Tuesday morning meeting.

The board immediately went into closed session Tuesday morning for two items, one discussing “litigation”, and the other, a matter discussing either the appointment, discipline, or dismissal of a personnel member.

After the closed session, Brown announced his resignation, which the board unanimously accepted, with two absences.

Brown’s resignation comes amid several lawsuits. Some board members have gone to the governor’s office with budget concerns.

The board also voted unanimously, with two absences, to appoint Clara Ross Stamps as the acting president, who has been with the university since 2017. She says that progress is what she wants to focus on and building a better Kentucky State University.

“Let me just say this, that I truly understand the strength of Kentucky State University,” Ross Stamps said. “It is the people, our students, our alumni, our faculty, our staff, and our students, and all of those people who love and respect Kentucky State University.”

The board also appointed Gregory Rush as the new CFO and tabled a motion to hire an external auditor to take a look at the current financial situation of the university.

28

Sports Forum / SSU athletes required to be vaccinated under new SIAC COVID-19 policy

« on: July 20, 2021, 02:57:06 PM »

https://www.savannahnow.com/story/sports/college/2021/07/20/covid-19-vaccines-required-savannah-state-siac-athletes/8027228002/


Savannah State student athletes required to be vaccinated under new SIAC COVID-19 policy

Dennis Knight
Savannah Morning News

Student athletes at Savannah State will be required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 to participate in sports in the upcoming school year after the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced a new policy on Tuesday.

"Pursuant to this policy, all SIAC student-athletes, athletic related staff, coaches, officials, and auxiliary groups (e.g., coaches, officials, marching bands, dance & cheer) participating in SIAC-sponsored sports are required to be fully vaccinated with a CDC-authorized COVID-19 vaccine in accordance with CDC guidelines," a statement released on the SIAC website said.

Student athletes may be exempt from the requirement if they receive a campus-approved exemption for medical or religious reasons. This exemption will not excuse the student-athlete from COVID testing per guidelines established by local and county health officials as well as any additional campus requirements, the release stated.

SIAC Commissioner Gregory Moore said the rise in COVID-19 cases involving the delta variant weighed into the decision.

"In part, within the context of rising COVID-19 infection rates, student-athletes are a particularly vulnerable stakeholder group who, as a result of their athletic participation, are required to travel off-campus and compete against and interact with student-athletes on other campuses," Moore said in an email exchange. "These athletic related activities not only increase the risk of exposure to our student-athletes, but also increase the risk of exposure to their classmates and other campus stakeholders once those athletes return to campus."

Moore said it would be a campus-based decision on if there would be any COVID-19 restrictions on fans attending games. He said that scientific data was behind the decision to create the policy, which he expects to be supported by SIAC member schools.

"In light of the recent infection data, and the extremely high percentage of newly infected who aren’t vaccinated, and although I haven’t conducted a poll of SIAC stakeholders, I can say anecdotally that I’ve not encountered much resistance at all," Moore said in the email exchange. "In fact, to the contrary, the feedback that I’ve received from these groups has been overwhelmingly positive."

The SSU football team is set to start its season at Valdosta State on Sept. 4. Tiger football coach Shawn Quinn was not available for comment Tuesday, but SSU athletic director Opio Mashariki released a statement.

“In light of the SIAC’s new return to play requirements, we are reviewing our procedures to make sure they align with that of the conference. We will provide further information upon completion of the review,” Mashariki said.

Moore said that the SIAC isn't the only organization acting to protect its athletes, students and employees from COVID-19.

"More than 500 colleges and universities are requiring vaccinations of all students prior to returning to campus," Moore said. "So I think it’s important to know that the SIAC is not out on a limb alone with respect to our vaccination approach. We aren’t even the first NCAA DII conference to require vaccination. On a personal level, it's frustrating to see all of the Covid-19 conversation unfolding that is not rooted in facts or data."


Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN

29

Sports Forum / Re: SIAC MEDIA DAY????

« on: July 18, 2021, 05:07:48 PM »

I have not heard a date but word on the street is that it will be virtual because somebody failed to secure a venue to hold the event

30

Sports Forum / Re: Edward Waters approved for D-II

« on: July 12, 2021, 02:47:43 PM »

I don't think that there is any conspiracy. Commissioner Gregory Moore has received a lot of praise.

he must be patting himself on the back