Stuart Todd
Stuart Todd played basketball and golf at Saint Augustine College in Raleigh. He is the Broadcast Technician Supervisor at WRAL-TV and shares his insight on CIAA sports for WRALSportsFan.com.
By Stuart Todd
Mar 3, 2012
Charlotte has played a tremendous host for the CIAA Tournament offering fans a little bit of everything.
The Bobcats arena has been busy everyday with events. And I am telling you, even though the Bobcats are the worst team in the NBA, I believe they have the best food in the NBA. They have soul food and seafood, plus the junk food. This place has it all.
All of the CIAA cheerleaders have been in attendance and came with a treat for the fans Saturday morning. Each year they dress up in different outfits and have a fierce competition to get audience reactions. As always the bands are participating and its a very exciting event.
Friday night was tough for the Shaw men's team. Winston-Salem State brought an end to both Shaw's 21-game winning streak and their chances of defending their CIAA championship. They were defeated by the Rams 51-48. The Bears, who are 25-3 overall, committed 20 turnovers. This was the same amount of TO's they had when they last lost against West Florida on Dec 13th.
You have to give those Rams credit, after losing twice to the Bears during the regular season they really figured out a way to slow down Shaw's heavy guard play. This is the second year back in the CIAA for Winston Salem State. Three years ago they were applying for Division I play but that did not work out as planned so they were giving the opportunity to return to the CIAA. Last year was the first year they were eligible to compete and played a play in game against
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By Stuart Todd
Mar 2, 2012
Time Warner Cable Arena was closely guarded with security and bomb-sniffing dogs Friday. Secret Service members were all throughout the building.
No, Michael Jordan was not walking in the building – it was someone more important.
The first lady, Michelle Obama, graced the CIAA Tournament with her joy, smile and warm spirit.
The place was jumping. The stands were packed as she participated in the Let’s Move! campaign that helps children with obesity.
WBB: Shaw shakes off sluggish start to top Bowie St. and reach CIAA final
Everyone was excited to have the first lady on the court, chanting “Obama” in the crowd as the kids gave her hugs. She ended her stay by taking pictures with
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By Stuart Todd
Feb 24, 2012
As I walked into Emery Gymnasium Thursday night for the Shaw-St. Augustine basketball game, I could definitely feel the excitement in the air. The rest of the fans apparently felt it too.
With about eight minutes to go in the first half, there was disorder in the stands. Next thing I knew, the police were escorting the Shaw woman’s basketball team out of the gym.
All you could hear was cheering from Falcons fans.
The Raleigh schools’ rivalry is very tense and will bring out the best of you – player or fan. Faculty and former players cheering and yelling at the top of their lungs to get their point across is expected.
I sat in the front row Thursday with my former teammate, Charles Ward, who had a good career at St. Aug, and legendary track coach and athletic director George “Pup” Williams. Pup gives the referees a little fun talk and then talks a little smack to the Shaw players as they plea with officials. All you can do is smile and be glad to be a part of such a great tradition.
Charles and I reminisced about the when we played Shaw. We didn’t even play the game at either school’s gym - we played at Broughton High School or the Civic Center (let me add I only had a chance to play once; it was not a pretty site).
Even today, neither school’s gym is big enough to handle the crowd of a St. Aug-Shaw game.
This game needs to be played where both schools can experience the big crowd atmosphere, instead of people not able
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By Stuart Todd
Jan 12, 2012
As we enter mid-season in the CIAA, Raleigh-area teams are doing well in the Southern Division.
Shaw University (10-2) and the Falcons from Saint Augustine's (7-5) are each 2-0 in the conference. Shaw has had some good wins this year and are challenging Winston-Salem State as the favorites in the Southern Division.
Point guard Malik Alvin has been destroying opponents on the floor averaging almost 20 points a game. Alvin was just recently honored as CIAA newcomer of the week after a 28 point performance against Virginia State.
And Shaw appears to be still adding on to their roster. I am hearing that Richmond, Va. native Karron Johnson is back on the team after not being eligible the first semester. Johnson is a 6-foot-8 small forward that can play anywhere on the court.
Coach Cleo Hill Jr. knows his team is offensively gifted this year but wins will not come easy. Hill attributes his team’s tough play to the non-conference games scheduled early in the year. Shaw's next test is against nationally ranked Bowie State.
As for St. Aug, second-year head coach Ken Spencer is up for the challenge of conference play and has his team playing some good basketball.
The Falcons are led by brothers Joel and Jon Kindred out of Raleigh. Joel is the leading scorer for the Falcons, averaging around 14 points per game. Brother Jon stepped up his play against Virginia State when Joel was out with an injury. Jon had 17 points, including 11 in the first half,
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By Stuart Todd
Oct 6, 2011
Shaw University capped spring practice with a scrimmage April 9, 2011.
It’s a great time of year for Shaw University because it is Homecoming.
This week the Bear family will come together and enjoy the many festivities the college has planned for students and alumni. Homecoming is especially welcome this year as it comes just six months after the college suffered devastating tornado damage.
On April 16, multiple tornadoes raged across central North Carolina, severely damaging Shaw University and its fellow CIAA school just down the road, Saint Augustine College. Shaw students and faculty were at a loss when half of the campus was decimated by the storms.
Dormitory rooms and the Willie Gary Student Center, which houses the university’s cafeteria, had huge holes in their roofs. Students and staff now have to get their meals from a Modular building behind one of the dorms.
More than 150 students and faculty members were displaced, so the Red Cross got involved and helped find shelter for everyone. Some students stayed at Southeast Raleigh High School until a decision was made about the rest of the school year.
Shaw’s administration decided to end the school year early after surveying the damage and realizing the dormitories and buildings were unsafe for habitation. Grades were to be determined by the GPA students had at that time. Seniors that were on the edge did not have the opportunity to take their final exams.
Joseph Epps, a junior cornerback from Tampa, still remembers the day of the
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By Stuart Todd
Aug 24, 2011
What if Mike Krzyzewski or Dean Smith were in need of a sports complex?
That’s how George “Pup” Williams track coach of Saint Augustine’s College, feels about what he is going through right now.
The new George Williams Complex is up and ready to go, yet there are a few major setbacks. There is no place to sit and enjoy some good college football or see a nationally ranked competitor in a track meet, as school officials have been going back and forth about a proposal of 5,000 seats for the new complex. Raleigh leaders agreed to meet them halfway agreeing upon 2,500 seats, however, there still remains no locker room, concession stand, field house, bathrooms or press/media room has been built.
Neighbors of the stadium are not all on board either. Some feel this is going to cause a major concern, they fear noise from the crowds and those who tailgate will be a disruption to the community.
I took it upon myself to ask a few of these neighbors their opinion of the new stadium. Most were very friendly.
“The neighborhood needs something nice around instead of crime and funerals,” said Mrs. Matthews. “We are not worried about cars being in the neighborhood, they won’t be there all night. Why don’t they knock some of those trees down and build a parking area? The space is available.”
I can’t say all of the folks around were pleasant.
“I have an opinion about the stadium! But I am not going to say it,” said one man as
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