CIAA Announces 2006 TV Football Schedule
CIAA Announces 2006 TV Football Schedule
Three Games Capture the Heat of Conference Rivalries
September 8, 2006
Hampton, VA. -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference today announced the return of three live, nationally-syndicated football games that will be seen by an expanded audience in the fall including a return to Comcast Sports Mid Atlantic, a long time supporter of CIAA athletics.
Increased syndication of the games has taken distribution from eight million to 62 million households with over 32 new markets added nationally.
The CIAA, the nation's oldest black athletic conference, selected games from the schedule that represent key rivalries including the CIAA Gold Bowl and the CIAA Football Championships. This is the 14th season that CIAA football games have been televised, the longest continuous television package of any HBCU Conference.
"We have exciting teams playing tough games supported by some of the best fans anywhere," CIAA Commissioner Leon Kerry said. "The additional syndication of America One Network and returning to Comcast Sports lets us share the passion and the history of our schools with a new audience. "he noted.
"I'm equally excited that our long time corporate sponsors including FORD Motor Company, Bank of America, Russell Athletics, Food Lion and the US Navy have continued their support of CIAA football. The CIAA is the most sought after and largest corporate supported HBCU conference in America," he concluded.
The return of the 29th Annual Gold Bowl will kick off the CIAA football television schedule, pitting rivals Virginia Union and Virginia State at 1:00 pm in Richmond, VA.
On October 28th, Fayetteville State's Homecoming game against St. Augustine's College is featured with a 1:00 pm kickoff.
The CIAA Football Championship Game comes back to Durham, North Carolina, with the Eastern Division Champion playing the Western Division Champion on Saturday, Nov. 11, with a 1:00pm kickoff.
"The CIAA has a long tradition of leading HBCU conferences in terms of television exposure and breaking new ground. We plan to continue that dominance," said Tom Grabowski, President and CEO of Urban Sports and Entertainment Group, the leagues long time television and syndication arm.
