By Bonitta Best
RALEIGH, NC - CIAA commissioner Leon Kerry is used to being on the hot seat. And this year is no exception.
For the first time in six years, the CIAA tournament is at a new location. Will Raleigh pass the muster? And what's taking so long with those tickets?
The conference, itself, is at a crossroads. The 1998-99 football season produced too many blowouts and too few competitive games. Is expansion in the future? If so, when? Who? And how can the conference keep the schools it have?
During a visit to Raleigh last month, Kerry discussed the challenges ahead to maintain the CIAA's competitiveness. And in the short-term, the progress of the tournament.
Q: It's time for that million dollar question: Is expansion in the league's future?
A: We want to expand. The $64 million question is who and where. Benedict has sent a letter in to us and wants to come into the CIAA. The Board has not met or discussed it. If I had my wish I'd go with two (teams) because we lost two. We're looking and trying to make sure it's a right mix for the CIAA.
Q: What do you say to critics who say football in the conference is eroding?
A: Basketball makes the money. Football can make the money. We were about to turn football around with the championship game when they got rid of it. When we got rid of the championship nine years ago, we said it was the worst thing that we ever did because it weakened football.
Q: Speaking of, why not play all conference games? Is it a money issue?
A: They (athletic directors) say economics. They say they need the money to help pay for athletics. My question is the teams they play for don't do that. It's a farce. It's been a thorn in our side and that's why we're going back to the championship (game).
Q: A championship game would mean two divisions, correct?
A: Yeah, we had two divisions once before. Ever since we got rid of the championship game nine years ago, we haven't gone to the NCAA II playoffs. We're not playing each other, and football is not where we want it to be. We hope that when we go back to two divisions and do a championship game that will bring the excitement and enthusiasm back to CIAA football and give schools the opportunity to play some other schools they want to play. We hope this will put us back into the Division II contention as far as playoffs, along with the Pioneer Bowl.
Q: Are you worried over any other schools leaving? The name that keeps popping up is N.C. Central.
A: I'm not worried about NCCU but I am worried about NCCU. When you've been Division I and come back, it doesn't make sense to go back again. But, they're doing other sports and they're adding on. If they ever get competitive in football and basketball, it'll probably be a different story. Hopefully by that time, we'll have maybe a two-tier conference and do a whole lot of things. You have to have an imagination. I feel that if they could do it (go Division I again) and be successful, they would do it. I really do.
Q: About the upcoming tournament, are there any sponsorships available?
A: Yeah, a small company can still come in and be a part. We are reaching out as far as we can in getting people in this area to participate and do different things for the CIAA. We have a minority sponsor list that's been good for us.
Q: A rumor circulating on the Internet is that Raleigh hotels are charging $100 a night. Is that true?
A: I don't know what the average price is but the key thing in Raleigh is you can go from $35 a night up to $155. There are so many hotels, they can stay anywhere they want to stay. We're not mandating where people stay. Some of the headquartered hotels do approach $100 and up, but that's the way it's always been. I doubt if the average is $100. They are not gorging us or raising the prices on the CIAA. As a matter of fact, they lowered it in most cases.
Q: Fans are complaining that last year this time they had their tickets in hand. What's the holdup?
A: They can buy tickets but they can't get them in their hands because they haven't been printed. And the reason they haven't been printed is because the board of directors has not approved the prices. There is a problem with the vendor area being open and the upper level being open and as soon as we get an answer on what we can't do, we'll print the tickets.
Q: Will the women play in the same place as the men?
A: Yeah. Let me tell you what the deal is. When they do the auxiliary building next year, they're going to play there. I couldn't have the women play in a different place that was not the same as the men. It's a gender equity thing that I don't want to hear. As long as it's fair, we don't have a problem.
Q: Finally, is a special dedication being planned for coach John McLendon?
A: We'll probably dedicate this tournament to coach McLendon. The tournament book is in his honor and with board approval, we'll probably do the Hall of Fame in honor of John, make it the John McLendon CIAA Hall of Fame. But we're working on it. It's hard to imagine a CIAA tournament without coach McLendon.
