Courtesy of the Alabama State Athletics
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Alabama State University Athletics Department claimed two of three Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) 2023-24 all-sports awards winning the James Frank Commissioner’s Cup and the Sadie Magee/Barbara Jacket Award for the second consecutive year. The Texas Southern University Athletics Department claimed the C.D. Henry Award to round out the list of institutional winners.
Alabama State University claimed the James Frank Commissioner’s Cup for the second straight year and for the eighth time in the last 10 years. Alabama State totaled 154.8 total points followed by Jackson State (141.8 points) and Prairie View A&M (138.5).
Alabama State University claimed the Sadie Magee/Barbara Jacket Award finishing with 92.8 points in the women’s final standings. Florida A&M (82.8 points) and Jackson State (79.3 points) finished in second and third place respectively.
Texas Southern won the C.D. Henry Award after accumulating 67.5 points in men’s sponsored sports. Jackson State (62.5 points) and Prairie View A&M (62.5 points) finished tied for second place overall.
The all-sports awards are determined by program finishes in league-sponsored sports. Each respective sports program finish is awarded a point value and the member institutions with the highest point totals at the conclusion of the athletic season are named the all-sports awards winners.
A complete listing of final standings and individual program point totals for the three awards can be found below.
James Frank Commissioner’s Cup Award
1. Alabama State — 154.8
2. Jackson State — 141.8
3. Prairie View A&M — 138.5
4. Florida A&M — 131.3
5. Southern — 130.0
6. Texas Southern — 124.0
T-7. Alabama A&M— 105.0
T-7. Grambling State — 105.0
9. Arkansas-Pine Bluff — 103.0
10. Alcorn State — 88.0
11. Bethune-Cookman — 74.5
12. Mississippi Valley State —35.0
Magee/Jacket Award
1. Alabama State — 92.8
2. Florida A&M — 82.8
3. Jackson State — 79.3
T-4. Southern — 76.0
T-4. Prairie View A&M — 76.0
6. Alabama A&M — 65.5
7. Grambling State — 58.0
8. Texas Southern — 56.5
9. Arkansas-Pine Bluff — 52.5
10. Alcorn State — 41.5
11. Bethune-Cookman — 39.0
12. Mississippi Valley State — 18.0
C.D. Henry Award
1. Texas Southern— 67.5
T-2. Jackson State — 62.5
T-2. Prairie View A&M — 62.5
4. Alabama State — 62.0
5. Southern — 54.0
6. Arkansas-Pine Bluff — 50.5
7. Florida A&M — 48.5
8. Grambling State — 47.0
9. Alcorn State — 46.5
10. Alabama A&M — 39.5
11. Bethune-Cookman — 35.5
12. Mississippi Valley State — 17.0
About the Dr. James Frank Commissioner’s Cup Award
The Commissioner’s Cup, named for former league commissioner James Frank who led the SWAC from 1983 through 1998, is awarded to the university compiling the highest combined total of men’s and women’s all-sport points.
From 1983 until his retirement in 1998, Dr. Frank served as Commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). He returned to the position as Interim Commissioner in April 2001, where he served for 20 months. During his guidance, the conference evolved to rank among the elite in the nation.
Dr. James Frank was one of a few individuals who elevated through the collegiate ranks as a student-athlete, coach, educator, college president, and conference commissioner. During a long and distinguished career of over 50 years, Frank’s efforts and influential leadership touched the lives of countless people and resulted in positive changes in the many organizations he served.
About the Magee/Jacket Award
The Magee/Jacket Award is presented to the top women’s athletic program in the SWAC. It is named after former Jackson State women’s basketball coach Sadie Magee and former Prairie View A&M track and field coach Barbara Jacket.
Magee was the first women’s basketball coach at Jackson State, compiling four SWAC regular season titles and three-straight National Association of Women’s Sports National Championships from 1978-1980.
Jacket led the Prairie View A&M to eight cross country, nine indoor and five outdoors SWAC titles from 1965 to 1991. She was also the head coach of the 1992 U.S. Women’s Olympic Track team that brought home four gold medals, three silver medals and three bronze medals from Barcelona, Spain.
About the C.D. Henry Award
The Henry Award is presented to the top men’s athletic program in the SWAC. The award is named for C.D. Henry, former Grambling State chairman of the College of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Department from 1958-74, as well as serving as the executive officer and secretary-statistician for the SWAC in 1968-73.
Henry became the first African American assistant commissioner of any conference office when he joined the Big Ten Conference in June of 1974.