The longest running bowl tournament in the history of Black colleges was abruptly cancelled this year, largely due to budgetary reasons and administrative differences between the two conferences that sponsor the game.
Founded in 1997 and the only NCAA-sanctioned bowl game for HBCU’s in Division II football, the Pioneer Bowl has been a national showcase for student-athletes. This year’s game was scheduled for Dec. 6, but late last month the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) announced the Pioneer Bowl would not take place this year.
Efforts are underway to resume in 2009, according to a statement released on Oct. 31.
“The SIAC Council of Presidents and Athletic Directors’ Committee in conjunction with CIAA Board of Directors have decided to focus their efforts toward the future and suspend the game for 2008,” according to the press release.
“There were a number of issues,” said Harry “Trae” Stinson III, director of communications and marketing for the SIAC, noting things had occurred between the two conferences “administrative-wise.” “We just couldn’t get the attention and put the work into putting on a successful event this year. Budget was a factor. We wanted to make sure we gave a proper send-off for our seniors and make sure the event was quality. It was difficult to bring together all the facets. Instead of putting something together that wasn’t going to work to our advantage, we decided to focus on next year.”
The CIAA’s director of public relations, Shera L. White, offered the following comment to Diverse via e-mail: “Thank you for your interest in covering the Pioneer Bowl; however, the CIAA has no other comment than what is expressed in the release.”
In the press release, CIAA commissioner Leon Kerry said, “Obviously, the CIAA is disappointed that there will be no Pioneer Bowl this year. However, we look forward to working closely with the SIAC over the next year to plan the finest Pioneer Bowl in 2009.”
