JHU Student to Get a $20,000 Shot

BALTIMORE, MD - One current Johns Hopkins University undergraduate will get a chance to make a dent in this year's tuition as the Department of Athletics, the Alumni Association and the Department of Student Life are sponsoring a shot for $20,000 at halftime of the Johns Hopkins-Haverford women's basketball on Saturday, February 7. The Johns Hopkins-Haverford women's basketball game on February 7 is the second game of a men's-women's doubleheader. The women's game should start at approximately 3 pm and the doors to Goldfarb Gym will open at noon.

All Johns Hopkins undergraduates over 18 who attend the men's game at 1 pm and the start of the women's game (and meet all criteria for eligibility - criteria, rules and regulations above as a PDF) will receive a raffle ticket upon presentation of their valid Johns Hopkins University ID and a valid driver's license. One randomly selected student from all entries will be picked with ten (10) minutes remaining in the first half of the women's game. Each eligible student will receive one (1) raffle ticket.

The selected participant, who must be present, will have one shot from a designated spot on the floor to win the $20,000 prize. No warm up shots may be taken and the participant will get just one shot at the prize.

Students are encouraged to arrive early for the men's game and stay for the women's game.

Mules Speak Out on Super Bowl XLIII

From Muhlenberg's "Mule Sports Daily"

The Super Bowl is no longer just a game — it’s an entire festivity. People around the country are prepping for this Sunday, buying chips, wings, pizza and new television sets. Whether we watch for the commercials, the halftime show or the actual football game, no one will be missing the party.

And that includes Muhlenberg’s own. Three diehard football fans and Mule athletes spill their thoughts on the big game.

Editor's Note: Since I love Bruce Springsteen's music ... according to Nicki Notarianni, I now qualify as middle age. Thanks Nicki!

NCAA Convention Review

The 103rd annual NCAA Convention came to a close on Saturday in Washington, D.C. and as Conventions go, this one was pretty quiet. The Centennial Conference was 8-for-8 on its votes on legislative proposals, siding with the majority position. The delegates voted against August 15 as a new date for the start of the fall preseason, while voting in the affirmative to specify that a season of participation shall not be counted when a student participates in the one date of nontraditional competition (baseball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, women's volleyball).

The most important legislation that was adopted specifies that each head coach shall be certified in first aid, CPR and AED. Endorsed by the national SAAC, the vote carried 420-33-6.

The Convention concluded the service of John Fry, president of Franklin & Marshall College, as chair of the NCAA Division III Presidents Council. Fry was recognized by the delegates for his service to the Association.

The most important news to come from the Convention was that the Centennial Conference has added Susquehanna University to the Conference as an associate member in football and women's golf. The Crusaders will participate in the 2009 golf championship and will compete for the CC title in 2010. Susquehanna's gridders will begin Centennial play in 2010.

Centennial Conference Joins START Officiating Program

The Centennial Conference and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Associate Executive Director Robert A. Lombardi, in conjunction with four other NCAA Division II and III conferences, announced the initiation of the START program at the Pennsylvania State Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (PSAHPERD) annual convention recently.

START stands for Students of Today Are Referees of Tomorrow, with a goal of recruiting new officials in all sports on the collegiate campuses as well as increasing opportunities for scholastic officials to advance to the intercollegiate level.

Member institutions of these conferences will be offering classes to become a registered sports' official with Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association or their sister association in each member institution's respective state throughout the Middle Atlantic Region.

Working in conjunction with the Centennial and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association are the commissioners of the Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) along with Division III Capital Athletic Conference (CAC), Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) and Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation (MAC).

"This program will enable students to learn about what it takes to become an official and give graduates of START the opportunity to begin working games immediately," stated Steve Ulrich, Executive Director of the Centennial Conference.

The initial courses are to be offered during the spring semester at several college campuses.

The pilot program offered by the Centennial Conference will aim to recruit officials for baseball, softball, boys lacrosse and girls lacrosse on the first three Thursdays of February, 2009 (2/5, 2/12 and 2/19).

The three sessions will run approximately 75 minutes, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Steinman College Center at Franklin & Marshall College. Although the program is primarily for students from any college or university, others interested in becoming scholastic, and potentially collegiate, officials are encourage to attend.

At the end of the third meeting, students with proper college ID will be offered the opportunity to take the PIAA officiating test for that sport free of charge. Non-students may take the PIAA test at the regular $30 fee.

Those that pass the test will be assisted in contacting local officiating chapters so they can begin officiating PIAA sanctioned events (and other intramural, youth or recreation league events) as soon as possible.

Other pilot programs are tentatively scheduled to be offered at York College of Pennsylvania (CAC), Cabrini College (CSAC), DeSales University (MAC) and Lock Haven University (PSAC).