SWAC Spring Meetings Yield Big News
SWAC.org
NEW ORLEANS -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference annual meetings were held in New Orleans as league presidents, chancellors, athletic directors and others gathered May 28-30 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans.
Several important items were discussed, affecting all of the league sports. Among the items on the agenda were two major announcements regarding the future of the conference football championship game and basketball tournament and the selection of a new chair for the Council of Presidents and Chancellors. Also, the 2013 SWAC Commissioner's Cup winner was crowned.
Significant Notes from the SWAC Spring Meetings
TSU President John Rudley Named Chair of SWAC Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors
- Texas Southern President Dr. John Rudley has been named Chair of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors for 2013-2015. Dr. Rudley is the 11th president of Texas Southern, the third largest public Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the nation with a student enrollment of more than 9,700. The University is located in Houston, Texas, the fourth largest metropolitan region in the country. As the new Chair of the Southwestern Athletic Council (SWAC) of Presidents, Texas Southern University's President Dr. John M. Rudley has shared his vision for the conference while taking over the reigns of the organization for this year. Branding of the SWAC and helping student athletes graduate on time head the top of his list of priorities "We must do a better job of telling the many stories of our successes, "Rudley began. "Our student athletes have made strides in every arena; entrepreneurship, the music and entertainment industry, research, science and technology, politics, and from classrooms to boardrooms.
SWAC Football and Basketball Championships Headed to Houston
- The Southwestern Athletic Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors voted unanimously on Thursday at the annual conference spring meetings to relocate the 2013 Toyota SWAC Football Championship and 2014 Basketball Tournament to Houston, Texas for the next three seasons. The football championship game will be held at Reliant Stadium (Above-Top), 2013-16, while the basketball tournament will be housed at the Toyota Center 2014-16. The 2013 Toyota SWAC Football Championship is scheduled for Saturday, December 7, while the basketball tournament is slated for March 11-15, 2014.
Quotes regarding the move to Houston…
From SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp
“We are grateful for our 13 year relationship with The City of Birmingham and Legion Field. I also want to thank Mayor William Bell and the City Council for their continued support.”
“I would also be remised if I did not thank and acknowledge our fans and sponsors in Birmingham and Garland, much of our success was due to their contributions.”
“We are looking forward to our partnership with the City of Houston, Toyota Center and Reliant Stadium. The opportunity to play in professional venues enhances the experience of not just our student-athletes, but our fans also, which is our mission. I would like to thank our Council of Presidents and Chancellors who saw the vision and passed this recommendation unanimously.” "Now our next order of business is getting our fans to Houston to be a part of SWAC history".
From SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors Chair Dr. John Rudley
“We are very excited about having the city of Houston as a showcase for the very best of competition for the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)," said Dr. Rudley, who is president of Texas Southern University in Houston. "Houston is of course, the venue for national and international competition as evidenced by the fact that it was recently announced that Houston will be the host city for the 2017 Super Bowl.”
From Janis Schmees Burke, Harris County – Houston Sports Authority CEO
“On behalf of the City of Houston and Harris County, we welcome the SWAC Championship games," said Burke. "Our community appreciates the trust given to us in moving these championships to Houston, and we will ensure event goals are not only met, but exceeded."
From Annie Russell, Harris County – Houston Sports Authority Events Manager
“We are thrilled to bring the history and tradition of SWAC Football and Basketball to the City of Houston," said Russell. "With our passionate sports fans and tremendous community support, these events will become great traditions in Houston.”
Prairie View A&M Captures 2013 SWAC Commissioners Trophy
- For the second year in a row, Prairie View A&M has claimed the James Frank SWAC Commissioner's Cup Award for overall program success. The Panthers also won the C.D. Henry Award for the top men's team in the league. Alabama State claimed the Sadie Magee/Barbara Jacket Award for the women.