UNDER THE BANNER
What's Going On In and Around Black College Sports
SMITH TO LEAD ASU SOCCER: Alabama State University has selected Jodie Smith to head the Lady Hornets' soccer program. "Jodie has a great background," ASU Interim Athletic Director Ron Dickerson said. "Not only has he been a part of several winning programs, Jodie also has a track record of producing student athletes who have great academic success." Smith comes to ASU from Auburn University Montgomery, where he served as an assistant coach for the nationally-ranked men's and women's teams. Smith has served as head soccer coach at Piedmont College, Georgia State and Mercer. Smith's 1997 Mercer team won the Trans Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship, and he was named TAAC coach of the year. "I'm excited be a part of Alabama State," Smith said. "I had a chance to see the team play during a spring tournament and I was surprised by the talent I saw. When I learned the position was open here, I pursued it and I'm very happy to have the opportunity to lead this program." Chief among Smith's immediate goals are to increase campus and community awareness of the program and the number of players on the team. "We will recruit players from a variety of backgrounds," he said. "We want to attract players from in-state. We'll add to the international players we already have," Smith said. "We'll look like a mini-United Nations." Smith believes the ASU soccer program has great potential. "I really believe things are in place that will allow us to be successful," Smith said. "While we may have some struggles along the way, I think that in two or three years we can be in the position to challenge for conference championships."
SIAC FOOTBALL KICKOFF: The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) will be hosting its annual Football Kick-Off Luncheon on Friday, July 20 at the Holiday Inn Conference Center (130 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, Ga). The time is set for 12:30 pm. All ten conference head football coaches will recap their 2006 campaign and talk about different topics concerning the upcoming season. Albany State and Tuskegee were co-champions and up-and-coming Lane was third after going 0-10 in 2005.
© 2007 Azeez Communications, Inc.