A group of NCCSIA SIDs toured the Durham Bulls Athletic Park June 13. Pictured from left to right: Adam Prendergast (Campbell), Brian Smith (N.C. Central), Eric Moore (Onnidan Group), Tom Riordan (UNC Wilmington), NCCSIA President Elect Dave Walters (Guilford), Joe Browning (UNC Wilmington), NCCSIA Publicist LeCounte Conaway (Shaw), NCCSIA President Stan Cole (Campbell), Durham Bulls Public Relations Director Matt DeMargel, NCCSIA Past President Kyle Serba.
Despite over five inches of rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm Alberto, 28 sports information professionals made it to Durham for the fifth annual meeting of the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) June 13-14. NCCSIA President Kyle Serba hosted the groups business meeting and interactive panels on his North Carolina Central University campus.
The group welcomed a panel of distinguished sports information veterans who discussed the profession and some of its challenges. Art Chase (Duke), Marion Crowe (Fayetteville State), Steve Kirschner (UNC Chapel Hill) and David Sherwood (Wingate) reflected on the importance of building relationships with the sports information directors varied constituents. Chase also addressed the challenges Dukes office has faced in light of the nationally reported incidents involving the Blue Devils mens lacrosse team.
Following a 45-minute fire alarm delay that scuttled folks into the rain, Durham Herald-Sun sports editor Jimmy Dupree addressed the group and fielded its questions. He offered insights into the inner workings of a daily newspapers sports department and discussed how sports information offices can effectively work with their local papers. The group honored Duprees visit with a gift certificate to a local restaurant.
Dupree expressed appreciation for NCCSIAs all-state teams, which were increased to seven sports during the business portion of the meeting earlier in the day. Volleyball joined mens and womens soccer, mens and womens basketball, softball and baseball as sports with NCCSIA-sponsored all-state teams. NCCSIA honors student-athletes on the college (NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA) and university (NCAA Division I) levels.
Other highlights from the full day of activity included Serbas presentation on The Automated Scorebook for Golf and the election of NCCSIAs 2006-08 Executive Board. Campbells Stan Cole, the groups president elect from 2004-06, assumed the presidency with the ceremonial passing of NCCSIAs Presidential Baseball from Serba, who remains on the board as past president. The membership elected Guilfords Dave Walters as president elect following his two-year stint as the groups secretary. LeCounte Conaway of Shaw joined the board as publicist (a position formerly known as secretary). The group returned Greensboro Colleges Bob Lowe to the treasurers post for a second consecutive term. UNC Wilmingtons Joe Browning rotated off the board after serving four years as NCCSIAs first president and past president.
Despite the rain, NCCSIAs first two-day annual meeting yielded an enjoyable social schedule. The group took an informative tour of the Durham Bulls Athletic Park Tuesday afternoon and shared food and fellowship afterwards in the nearby American Tobacco District. While rain postponed the groups trip to Wednesday afternoons Durham Bulls game, it enabled some Durham children to enjoy a later Bulls game as NCCSIA donated its tickets for the rainout to the John Avery Boys and Girls Club. In lieu of the ballgame, the group lunched in the American Tobacco District before heading for home.
Founded in 2002, NCCSIA is comprised of sports information professionals from NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and independent institutions from the state of North Carolina. The purpose of the organization is to promote collegiate athletics at all schools. Membership is open to anyone affiliated with a college, university or conference located in North Carolina, and whose area of responsibility lies within sports information.