At a press conference on Thursday, Claflin University Athletics Director Dr. Tim Autry announced that the University had received notification from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) that Claflin had achieved active member status in NCAA Division II, effective Sept. 1, 2008. On this date Claflin will also become an official member of the SIAC.
For the first time in four years, Claflin will be able to compete for championships in all sponsored sports.
“We are so elated that this long journey has ended with our being chosen to compete in the NCAA,” Dr. Autry said. “We have a dedicated and hard working athletics staff and athletes who are capable of competing among the best. This decision is a testament to our progress as an athletics program and an indicator of what Claflin University athletics can accomplish across the board.”
Claflin was one of 13 schools selected by the NCAA Membership Committee to be considered for full membership this year (2007-2008). In 2004, Claflin began its quest to make the transition from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to NCAA. The first year was exploratory for Claflin as the athletics department completed an institutional self-study. For the past three years, Claflin has been a provisional member of the NCAA Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).
“We were required to complete an annual report and go through the compliance blueprint process of the NCAA,” Dr. Autry said. “The membership committee met this month (July) and sent its recommendations to the management council.”
SIAC Interim Commissioner, George Mategakis stated “We would like to welcome the Claflin University Panthers and Pantherettes to Division II and the SIAC. We all believe Claflin made the right choice by choosing NCAA Division II and the SIAC. It is a natural fit for both Claflin and the SIAC. Claflin’s addition will enhance the already outstanding competition of the conference and will give us another quality program to chase after a national championship.
We also want to commend Claflin on the outstanding job done under the leadership of President Dr. Henry Tisdale, Athletics Director, Dr. Timothy Autry and the rest of the athletic department staff in making sure they did what was needed to join the NCAA Division II ranks. The entire SIAC is looking forward to working with Claflin University in making the SIAC a more competitive conference.”
Claflin’s athletics program consists of basketball, baseball, indoor track, outdoor track and cross country for men and basketball, softball, volleyball, indoor track, outdoor track and cross country for women.
Three sports had 20-win seasons – men’s basketball, women’s basketball and baseball – with the men’s basketball team posting an HBCU-best 24-2 record against opponents that included NCAA Division II competition.
Claflin becomes the 12th South Carolina college or university competing in NCAA Division II. Others include Anderson College, Benedict College Coker College, Converse College, Erskine College, Francis Marion University, Lander University, Limestone College, Newberry College, North Greenville University and the University of South Carolina-Aiken.
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Monday, September 1st 2008 at 5:18AM
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