December 12, 2006
Contact: Mike Christie, 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 2006 fall sports season. Christopher Newport University has been chosen for football, while Methodist University is the winner for volleyball for the second consecutive season. For soccer, Averett University has been named for the men and Peace College 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 receives that sports' Sportsmanship Award. The institution which wins the most individual sport awards will be presented with 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 athlete who voted for the Christopher Newport football squad said they "played within the rules and were courteous both during and after the game."

An athlete stated that the Peace's women's soccer team "was very persistent. They fought through everything and were very good opponents. They made the game a tough one which was enjoyable to play."

One ballot stated that Averett's men's soccer team "kept their heads held high and never said any remarks or showed any actions which were unsporting."

A volleyball player wrote that Methodist "played hard and did not show any negativity towards themselves or their opponents."

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 - Christopher Newport University
Volleyball - Methodist University
Men's Soccer - Averett University
Women's Soccer - Peace College