December 15, 2005 
Contact: Cory Blackson, Sports Information Director

USA South Announces Fall Sportsmanship Awards

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - During the 2004-2005 academic year the USA South Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee instituted a Conference-wide Sportsmanship Award.  Today the USA South is pleased to announce the Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2005 fall sports season.  Maryville College has been chosen for football, while Methodist College is the winner for volleyball.  For soccer, Christopher Newport University has been named for the men and Averett University for the women. 

There will be a Sportsmanship Award for 12 of the 14 Conference-sponsored sports.  For every sport, each team member votes for the teams he/she deems to have demonstrated the best overall sportsmanship throughout the season.  The team garnering the most votes will receive that sports' Sportsmanship Award.  The institution that wins the most individual sport Awards will win the overall USA South Sportsmanship Trophy.  The Award was developed as a result of the SAAC's commitment to maintaining a sportsmanlike environment on each of our campuses. 

One vote for the Maryville football squad said they were a "very aggressive team that played hard and fair for four quarters."

A voter stated she chose Averett's women's soccer "because no matter what happened during the game none of the players stopped trying.  They gave 110% all the time."

One ballot stated that Christopher Newport's men's soccer team "played hard, but had respect for their opponent.  They always went above and beyond to help their opponents on and off the field."

A volleyball player wrote that Methodist "demonstrated a good attitude when interacting with teammates, coaches, officials and fans."

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hopes that by awarding a Sportsmanship Award, the members of the USA South will understand the importance of this issue.  It is vital that good sportsmanship be demonstrated in the arena of competition. 

Fall Sportsmanship Award Winners
Football - Maryville College
Volleyball - Methodist College
Men's Soccer - Christopher Newport University
Women's Soccer - Averett University