PAGE 10 JULY 2022
The Big Ten Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors recently voted unanimously to admit the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California to the Big Ten Conference effective August 2, 2024. Competition will begin for all conference sports in the 2024-25 academic year. "This is another big step in the ever-changing college football landscape and we embrace the change," said Penn State Head Football Coach James Franklin. "USC and UCLA are two institutions with a long-standing tradition of academic and athletic success. They will only strengthen our already very strong Big Ten Conference." “The addition of UCLA and USC to the Big Ten will enhance the conference’s existing comprehensive excellence in academics, research, and athletics,” added University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson. After receiving written applications from the two universities, Big Ten Conference Commissioner Kevin Warren, alongside conference athletics directors and the Council of Presidents and Chancellors, evaluated the applications based on a dynamic model weighting four primary principles with supporting criteria. The principles include academics and culture; student-athlete welfare, competition, and logistics; commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in sports; and financial sustainability. The model allows the conference to analyze criteria in a strategic and effective manner. “As the national leader in academics and athletics for over 126 years, the Big Ten Conference has historically evaluated its membership with the collective goal to forward the academic and athletic mission for student-athletes under the umbrella of higher education,” Commissioner Warren stated. “The unanimous vote today signifies the deep respect and welcoming culture our entire conference has for the University of Southern California, under the leadership of President Carol Folt, and the University of California, Los Angeles, under the leadership of Chancellor Gene Block. I am thankful for the collaborative efforts of our campus leadership, athletics directors and Council of Presidents and Chancellors who recognize the changing landscape of college athletics, methodically reviewed each request, and took appropriate action based on our consensus.” The Big Ten Conference has a lineage of transformation dating back to the historic meeting with seven university presidents on January 11, 1895, at the Palmer House in Chicago, Illinois. Those seven leaders created the blueprint for what grew into the modern intercollegiate sports model. Adding the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California continues the conference’s legacy of transformation and innovation in college athletics. The addition of the two universities remains subject to negotiation of final terms. The addition marks the first expansion since Maryland and Rutgers joined the conference in 2014 and increases Big Ten membership to 16 schools. USC and UCLA To Join Big Ten Conference JSU opens the 2022 season on August 27 against Stephen F. Austin at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery. The contest marks the second time JSU has played the first football game to take place in a baseball stadium in recent years, after meeting Kennesaw State in then-Suntrust Park (now Truist Park), the home of the Atlanta Braves in 2018. JSU season ticket packages remain on sale through JSUGamecockSports.com or by calling the JSU ticket office at 256-782-8499. JSU Football Tickets Single Game Sales Start August 1 Single game tickets for Jacksonville State's Oct. 15 football game against the University of North Alabama (UNA) at Toyota Field in Madison, AL are now available to purchase for Gamecock fans. Single game tickets for home football games will go on sale August 1. The Gamecocks will be playing in the first-ever football game at the home of the Southern League's Rocket City Trash Pandas. The October 15th meeting serves as a home game for the Lions, however JSU fans will benefit by both travel and venue seating capacity at the neutral site. Tickets are $30 for a reserved seat and the JSU ticket office will mail tickets out to purchasing individuals. Toyota Field will have a capacity of approximately 10,000 fans, creating a unique environment that will have everyone on top of the action. The Trash Pandas are known for a fan-experience focused production and the game will continue that tradition with special experiences available throughout the facility. The Geraldine Youth Football Camp will be held on Friday, July 22, 2022 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Geraldine High School Football Field. The event is for children in grades K-6th. The cost is $30 per child. Participants should wear shorts, a T-shirt, cleats, and bring water. The Geraldine varsity football coaching staff, along with current players will be giving personalized instructions. Geraldine To Hold Youth Football camp
Photo by Ann Nelson Photography
The DeKalb County Sports Hall of Fame recently held an induction banquet for the Class of 2022. Those joining the Hall of Fame this year include: (Standing L-R) Tracy Hulgan, Matthew Lambert, Bill Smith, and Jeff Allen; (Seated L-R) Bill Colburn, Dale Pruitt, C.M. Sanford, and Cristie Morris Brothers. 2022 DeKalb County Sports Hall of Fame Members
Photo by Ann Nelson Photography
The DeKalb County Sports Hall of Fame presented four DeKalb County students with Student Athlete Awards during the 2022 Hall of Fame induction banquet. The awards were presented to Shelby Harrison of Cornerstone Christian Academy; Kayla Beene of Collinsville; Cole Millican of Plainview; and Will Edge of Fyffe. 2022 DeKalb County Student Athlete Awards
Photos by Ann Nelson Photography The DeKalb County Sports Hall of Fame presented Jon Tidmore (left) and Stanley Williams (right) with the 2022 Coaches Achievement Awards during the 2022 Hall of Fame induction banquet. Tidmore was recognized for 30 years of continuous commitment to girls athletics in DeKalb County. Williams was recognized for 25 years services with boys athletics. They were presented the award by Mr. Harold Bouldin, VP of the DeKalb County Sports Hall of Fame. 2022 DeKalb County Coaches Achievement Awards
Alabama Soccer Starts Season on August 18 The Alabama soccer team has announced its 2022 schedule. The season features nine regular-season home competitions, including five Home Southeastern Conference match-ups. After hosting an exhibition against Vanderbilt on Aug. 13, the Crimson Tide heads to Florida to kick off the 2022 campaign against Florida Atlantic (Aug. 18) and Miami (Aug. 21). Alabama returns home to face Southern Miss (Aug. 25) and Clemson (Aug. 28) before heading on a week-long trip in Utah to face 2021 NCAA runner-up BYU (Sept. 1), Utah (Sept. 4) and Utah Valley (Sept. 6). Following its trip to Utah, the Crimson Tide returns home for three games. Alabama will host North Alabama (Sept. 11) and Chattanooga (Sept. 18) before opening SEC play against South Carolina (Sept. 15). In addition to its SEC game against USC, Alabama will host Texas A&M (Sept. 25), Ole Miss (Oct. 6), Arkansas (Oct. 20) and Florida (Oct. 23). The Crimson Tide will round out its conference slate on the road at Tennessee (Sept. 22), Georgia (Sept. 30), LSU (Oct. 9), Mississippi State (Oct. 20) and at in-state foe Auburn (Oct. 27).
The first basketball season of the Mike White coaching era at the University of Georgia will include the 2022 Sunshine Slam during Thanksgiving week. The Bulldogs will play in the event’s “Beach Bracket” along with UAB, South Florida and Saint Joseph’s on Nov. 21-22 at the Daytona Beach Ocean Center. The tournament will feature four games on each day. Reserved seat tickets will be $50 per day and good for admission to all four games on the 21st and 22nd. The event will also include an “Ocean Bracket” featuring Albany, Austin Peay, Bucknell and Presbyterian. Each bracket will operate as a separate tournament, with semifinals on Monday, Nov. 21 and championship/ consolation games on Tuesday, Nov. 22. Each day will feature two afternoon games and two evening contests. Game times and matchups will be announced at a later date. In addition to the games in Daytona Beach, one team from the “Ocean Bracket” will play a game against Georgia at Stegeman Coliseum during the 2022-23 season. White, who has averaged more than 22 wins per year in 11 seasons as head coach at Florida and Louisiana Tech, was named the Bulldogs’ head coach on March 13. Sunshine Slam Set for Nov. 21-22
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