SIAC
signs agreement with ESPNU during General Assembly Luncheon
May 20, 2005
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has signed
a partnership agreement with ESPNU that includes a minimum
of seven televised games per year over the next seven years.
Commissioner William Lide and ESPNU Strategic Program Planner
Ilan Ben-Hanan participated in a signing ceremony during the
luncheon at the SIAC General Assembly Meetings. Ben-Hanan stood
in for ESPNU vice president and general manager Burke Magnus.
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| SIAC Commissioner William Lide (l)
and ESPNU's Ilan Ben-Hanan sign partnership agreement |
The agreement calls for three to four football games, two
regular season basketball games and the men's and women's basketball
tournament championship games to be televised on the newest
ESPN cable network. In addition, the SIAC will have a weekly
TV show beginning in the fall.
The first televised football game will be Benedict vs. Morehouse
on August 25 in Atlanta.
In addition to the ESPNU signing ceremony, the luncheon featured
the introduction of a new partner for the SIAC.
N Erjyzed N Ertainment founder and CEO Jacqueline Beauchamp
announced a $140,000 commitment to the conference in conjunction
with her company's new video game featuring Black College Football.
N Erjuzed is a Dallas based 3-D animation and video gaming
company devoted to developing Xbox and PS2 compatible games
targeted to urban consumers.
Beauchamp, a Southern University alum, presented a check for
$5,000 to Commissioner Lide as the first installment in the
company's commitment to the first HBCU conference to sign a
licensing agreement. The video game is scheduled to launch
in August, 2006.
The Connor Elite 12 Scholar/Athlete Program presented awards
to SIAC student-athletes at the luncheon. Sponsored by Connor
Sports Flooring International, the scholarship is based on
athletic achievements, academic achievements, non-athletic
extracurricular activities, and the student's character. The
two winners of $1,000 scholarships were Cameron Dayne of Morehouse
College and Stephanie Johnican of Kentucky State University.
Nominationas came from all SIAC schools and each student-athlete
nominated received a $100 scholarship from Connor.
Albany State University was awarded both the men's and women's
Commissioner's All-Sports Trophies. Rather than a combined
award present in previous years, this year featured two trophies,
one for men and one for women. ASU outpointed Morehouse, 34-28,
to win the men's trophy. The Lady Rams program outscored Paine,
47-17, to take the women's title.
Last year, ASU won the combined All-Sports Trophy for men's
and women's programs.
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