Courtesy: Alabama State Athletics
MONTGOMERY, Ala.
Alabama State University Director of Athletics Melvin Hines II wrapped up the 2016-17 athletic season on Monday during an annual press conference at ASU Football Stadium.
Hines highlighted the success of the athletic progress, including capturing the 2016-17 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Commissioner’s Cup and the success in the classroom with the Academic Progress Report (APR) results.
Alabama State claimed 10 SWAC championship, including first-time championships in bowling and women’s soccer, giving the Hornets their fifth straight Sadie Magee/Barbara Jacket Award, third C.D. Henry Award in the past four years, and the school’s fourth consecutive Commissioner’s Cup.
“Among the success on the field we’ve also had success in the classroom as women’s cross country and women’s golf were honored by the NCAA for their Academic Progress Rate (APR),” Hines said. “I am extremely proud of the excellence in the classroom of these two championship programs. They are exceeding at a high level in the classroom and in their field of competition. This is the second time such an honor has been awarded to our women’s golf program as they were recognized during the 2014-15 season. Also, for the first time in recent history, all of the athletic programs at Alabama State finished above the threshold needed to avoid penalty in the most recent APR data released in May by the NCAA.”
Alabama State University and Tuskegee University will open the 2017 football season with the annual Labor Day Classic: A Marion Nine Invitational at ASU Football Stadium. The Marion Nine were former slaves who had been working to provide an education for the black children of Marion. One of the men, Alexander H. Curtis, was the driving force for the school to be organized as the Lincoln Normal School, and on July 18, 1867, papers were filed with the probate judge of Perry County incorporating the Lincoln School in Marion. Prior to the game members of the 2016-17 SWAC Championship teams will be recognized.
“As we move toward the 2017-18 academic year, the department of athletics wants to continue being at the top and that starts with a vision,” he said. “We want to continue to improve upon our Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores and that includes single and multi-year for each team. We also want to remain athletically competitive by finishing in the top third of the SWAC overall. Also, we are looking to continue to increase the building of our fan and donor data base by way of engagement and fund-raising efforts. Lastly, we are looking to increase our athletic brand and marketing awareness on a national level, which will include radio, print and television.
“We expect another outstanding season at Alabama State. We are the defending SWAC Champions in women’s cross country, volleyball and women’s soccer team. Also, we are gearing up for another great football season with six home games, including the annual Labor Nine Classic: A Marion Nine Invitational and the 94th Annual Turkey Day Classic against Cheyney University.”