Pioneer Bowl Teams Announced

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2007

Contact(s):
Harry “Trae” Stinson, III
SIAC Director of Communications
hstinson@thesiac.com

Shera White
CIAA Director of Public Relations
swhite@theciaa.com

TUSKEGEE TO FACE VIRGINIA UNION IN PIONEER BOWL X

Columbia, SC - The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association have announced that the Virginia Union University Panthers will represent the CIAA as participants in the 10th Annual Pioneer Bowl. The Panthers will face the #13 Tuskegee University Golden Tigers on December 1, 2007 at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium on the campus of Benedict College, Columbia, SC, 2:00pm.

The Panthers, led by Head Coach Arrington Jones, III, will enter the Pioneer Bowl with much to prove after finishing the season with a 9-2 record; falling short of a bid to the NCAA D-II Playoffs. Virginia Union's appearance this year will mark the school's second visit to the Pioneer Bowl. In 2001 Virginia Union faced Tuskegee in Atlanta, GA, but fell to the Golden Tigers, 28-0.

Tuskegee University has participated in the Pioneer Bowl in eight of the ten bowl games and has a 5-2 overall record. Tuskegee is currently undefeated with a 10-0 record and is HBCU’s winningest football team and one win away from their 600th victory. Tuskegee’s is led by the MVP of the SIAC Jacary Atkins, who leads the NCAA in passing efficiency and arguably the best defense in the nation allowing just 8.2 points per game. The Golden Tigers are also ranked in the Top 5 of all defensive categories in the NCAA.

A Press Conference to meet the teams, head coaches, and both commissioner’s will be held on November 29, 2007 at the Embassy Suites Columbia at 6:30 pm, prior to the Pioneer Bowl Banquet where special guest Steve Spurrier will also attend.

Media credentials for the event and game can be obtained from the CIAA or SIAC Public Relations Office. Contact: Shera White, CIAA (757) 865-0071 Ext. 106 or Harry Stinson, SIAC (770) 908-0482 or by visiting www.columbiacvb.com.

Pioneer Bowl X is the only NCAA sanctioned bowl game for HBCU’s. The Bowl Game features the Champion of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and will take place on December 1, 2007 in Columbia, SC at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 2:00 pm and will air live on ESPNU.

To purchase tickets to this year's game and obtain ancillary event info, please visit www.pioneerbowl.com.

The SIAC leads the series 7-2 over the CIAA

Tuskegee University Record: 5-2

1997 Pioneer Bowl I @ Herndon Stadium
Kentucky State University - 30
Livingstone College - 26

1998 Pioneer Bowl II @ Herndon Stadium
Tuskegee University - 23
Livingstone College – 9

1999 Pioneer Bowl III @ GA Dome
Winston Salem State University - 23
Tuskegee University - 7

2000 Pioneer Bowl IV @ GA Dome
Tuskegee University - 12
Winston Salem State University - 9

2001 Pioneer Bowl V @ GA Dome
Tuskegee University - 28
Virginia Union University - 0

2003 Pioneer Bowl VI @ GA Dome
Albany State University - 52
Fayetteville State University - 30

2004 Pioneer Bowl VII @ Ladd-Peebles Stadium
Shaw University - 30
Tuskegee University - 28

2005 Pioneer Bowl VIII @ American Legion Memorial Stadium
Tuskegee University - 28
Bowie State University - 26

2006 Pioneer Bowl XI @ American Legion Memorial Stadium
Tuskegee University - 17
Johnson C. Smith University - 7

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Mark Your Calendar for a Bowl Game!

Date: Saturday, December 1, 2007
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Charlie W. Johnson Football Stadium
2046 Two Notch Road, Columbia, South Carolina 29204

ESPNU Live

Credential Request Form
Vendor Registration Form

www.TheSIAC.com www.TheCIAA.com

BENEDICT TO HOST 2007 PIONEER BOWL

[Columbia, SC] The 10th Annual Pioneer Bowl will be hosted by Benedict College in Columbia, SC at the new Charlie W. Johnson Football Stadium. The game will be played on December 1, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. The "Pioneer Bowl" is a contest between the top teams of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA). The "Bowl's" first contest was in 1997 between the Kentucky State University Thorobreds and the Livingstone College Blue Bears. Since the inception of the game, Tuskegee University has represented the SIAC nine times. The SIAC leads the series with 7 wins and 2 losses.

The SIAC is composed of twelve different institutions in five states (Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee): Albany State University, Benedict College, Clark Atlanta University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Paine College, Stillman College and Tuskegee University. The SIAC also has a provisional member, Claflin University.
The SIAC is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and participates at the Division II level. On an annual basis, the SIAC sponsors six men's championships (baseball, basketball, cross country, football, outdoor track & field and tennis) and six women's championships (basketball, cross country, outdoor track & field, softball, tennis and volleyball).
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is an athletic conference consisting of ten historically African-American institutions of higher education: Bowie State University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Livingstone College, St. Augustine's College, St. Paul's College, Shaw University, Virginia State University and Virginia Union University, all working together to set an overall standard of excellence.

For more information regarding the 10th Annual Pioneer Bowl, contact
Harry Stinson at (770) 908-0482 or via email at hstinson@thesiac.com.

Source: BC Sports Information and SIAC