The Double-A

Over the course of six months of blogging, I have come to accept the inescapable certainty of natural law. To wit, during holidays, there will be more recreating than reading. As a result, I have adopted a Prime Directive similar to that of James Tiberius Kirk, intrepid Captain of the USS Enterprise. My General Order #1 is, to take no action to interfere with the normal affairs of the readership.

I have it on good authority that this week, the attention, and schedule of many of the readers of this periodical will be focused on the 63rd edition of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Basketball Tournament. Now I can hear some saying what is that? Others are bemusedly thinking that is no holiday. And some are simply waiting for me to…Break It Down!

Well for starters, I will stipulate that for the next five weeks, Charlotte will be transformed into the center of the CBU, College Basketball Universe. The metamorphosis began on Monday, February 25th when the CIAA Women’s Tournament kicked-off at Bobcat’s Arena in Charlotte. The basketball and festivities, and there are a lot of both, conclude on Saturday, March 1st, with the crowning of both the 2008 Men’s, and Women’s Tournament Champions.

The Double-A, as the event is affectionately called, is not a battery, nor a shoe size. Neither is it really a holiday; it is actually a holi-week! I will address that later, in greater detail.

In less than two weeks after the CIAA packs it in, the vaunted Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Tournament will take up residence at Bobcat’s Arena, as Charlotte hosts the Conference’s 55th Tournament, March 13th – 16th. Finally, after another much needed pause, the third in the trio of collegiate basketball sporting events, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Eastern Regional Basketball Tournament takes center stage, also at Bobcat’s Arena, March 27th and 29th.

Most people, sports fans or not, are familiar with the NCAA Tournament. The phrase, The Road To The Final Four, has been oft repeated for many years. It’s a National phenomenon. The ACC Tournament now includes teams from Boston to Miami, and is also a widely popular brand, know throughout the Country. Fewer people know about the CIAA. But that does not diminish its appeal, success, or venerable history.

While many may find it surprising, the Double-A is older than the ACC Tournament. In fact, the Conference is much older than the ACC, having been established in 1912. The ACC was formed in 1953. The CIAA Tournament also boasts a level of success on par with its better known, younger counterpart. For the third year in a row, the event has sold out Bobcats Arena months in advance. Like the ACC, there are no general ticket sales. Tickets are allocated to member Institutions (the ten member colleges and universities), and sold through them.

The 2007 CIAA Tournament entertained 165,000 fans and patrons at its various events. To be sure, the CIAA is not just a basketball tournament. Its part reunion, part party, part history lesson, and all fun! The Conference has already reached an accord for a three-year extension, ensuring that Charlotte will host the event through 2011.

The Tournament features great men’s and women’s basketball. Several of the CIAA’s best have left, and continue to leave, their mark on the NBA. Vernon Earl "The Pearl" Monroe (Winston-Salem State University/Baltimore Bullets & New York Knicks), Alvin "Al" Attles (NC A&T State University/Philadelphia-San Francisco Warriors), Sam Jones (North Carolina Central University/Boston Celtics), Derrick "Rick" Mahorn (Hampton University/Detroit Pistons), Charles Oakley (Virginia Union University/New York Knicks), Ben Wallace (Virginia Union University/Detroit Pistons & Cleveland Cavaliers), Terry Davis (Virginia Union University/Dallas Mavericks), Ronald "Flip" Murray (Shaw University/Detroit Pistons), and Darrell Armstrong (Fayetteville State University/Orlando Magic, Dallas Mavericks, & Indiana Pacers) are all CIAA alumni.

There are currently ten member schools in the CIAA. Two more are scheduled to join, Lincoln University (Pennsylvania), and Chowan University (Murfreesboro, NC), for football only. The ranks currently include public and private colleges and universities in North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland:

Member schools

Eastern Division
Bowie State University
Elizabeth City State University
Saint Paul's College
Virginia State University
Virginia Union University

Western Division
Fayetteville State University
Johnson C. Smith University
Livingstone College
Saint Augustine's College
Shaw University

Bowie State University
Location - Bowie, Maryland
Founded - 1865
Affiliation - Public
Enrollment - 5,454
Nickname - Bulldogs
Varsity Sports - 11
Joined - 1979

Elizabeth City State University
Location - Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Founded - 1891
Affiliation - Public
Enrollment - 3,025
Nickname - Vikings
Varsity Sports - 10
Joined - 1957

Fayetteville State University
Location - Fayetteville, North Carolina
Founded - 1867
Affiliation - Public
Enrollment - 6,085
Nickname - Broncos
Varsity Sports - 10
Joined - 1954

Johnson C. Smith University
Location - Charlotte, North Carolina
Founded - 1867
Affiliation - Private/Non-sectarian
Enrollment - 2,500
Nickname - Golden Bulls
Varsity Sports - 13
Joined - 1926

Livingstone College
Location - Salisbury, North Carolina
Founded - 1879
Affiliation - Private/African Methodist Episcopal Zion
Enrollment - 1,100
Nickname - Blue Bears
Varsity - 11
Joined - 1931

St. Augustine's College†
Location - Raleigh, North Carolina
Founded - 1867
Affiliation - Private/Episcopal
Enrollment - 1,700
Nickname - Falcons
Varsity Sports - 14
Joined - 1933

Saint Paul's College†
Location - Lawrenceville, Virginia
Founded - 1888
Affiliation - Private/Episcopal
Enrollment - 750
Nickname - Tigers
Varsity Sports - 14
Joined - 1923

Shaw University†
Location - Raleigh, North Carolina
Founded - 1865
Affiliation - Private/Baptist
Enrollment - 2,500
Nickname - Bears
Varsity Sports - 13
Joined - 1912

Virginia State University
Location - Petersburg, Virginia
Founded - 1882
Affiliation - Public
Enrollment - 4,300
Nickname - Trojans
Varsity Sports - 14
Joined - 1920

Virginia Union University
Location - Richmond, Virginia
Founded - 1865
Affiliation - Private/Baptist
Enrollment - 1,525
Nickname - Panthers
Varsity Sports - 12
Joined - 1912

If you have never attended the Double-A, and have the opportunity, by all means do so. Just be advised, this is not your father’s Oldsmo…, I mean tournament. The activity is non-stop, and multi-dimensional. There are multiple venues, and it is common to see folks engaged in milling about, visiting, viewing exhibits, eating, watching people and a host of other endeavors…during games.

By the same token, there are staunch fans of the game who wouldn’t think of missing the action on the court. Fortunately for them, there is a virtual panoramic parade of activity going on inside the arena, ranging from Mr. CIAA, to cheerleaders of teams that have been eliminated, haven’t played yet, or just not playing at the time, but who are committed to providing their own fashion show.

As an alumnus of a CIAA constituent member institution, I am intensely interested because I have a stake in the outcome…no matter how much of a long shot it is. But I have found the event to be enjoyable and entertaining on its face. I am certain I would feel this way even were I not the proud owner of a degree from one of the schools...with no outstanding college loans.

The fun is just getting started. Catch it if you can. I am out; holla back!


Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/, or by Googling thesphinxofcharlotte. A new post is published each Wednesday.


http://www.charlottesports.org/ciaa/

http://www.ciaatournament.org/content/page/title/CIAA_History

http://www.ciaatournament.org/content/page/title/Commissioner

http://www.ciaatournament.org/content/page/title/Schedule_of_Events

http://206.142.5.6/ec_promo/107/promoproducts.asp?TFSession=S8FdSEwZzWv9ht4heUPr09kI3k3m9j4ccKFUnC8NY3HFhv1M5bDqV3YYxCk71Pjn

http://www.ciaatournament.org/content/page/title/CIAA_After_Party

http://www.ciaatournament.org/content/page/title/2008_CIAA_Ford_Fan_Experience

http://www.ciaatournament.org/content/page/title/Sonic_Boom

http://www.ciaatournament.org/content/page/title/Black_Magic

http://www.ciaatournament.org/content/page/title/2007_Tournament_Highlights

http://www.ciaatournament.org/content/page/title/2008_CIAA_McDonald

http://www.earthquakeproductions.net/

http://www.ciaatournament.org/content/page/title/Mobile_Marketing_Tour

http://www.ciaatournament.org/content/page/title/Press_Kit

http://www.ciaatournament.org/content/page/title/Press_Conferences

http://www.ciaatournament.org/content/page/title/Sponsors