Pryor Scrapbook Clippings, 1983-1997

February 14, 1989 Vol. 39, No. 14 ATHLETICS-EDUCATION FOR LEADERSHIP, CHARACTER, CITIZENSHIP The Official Publication of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Pearson Nominations Due March 1 Nominations for the Clarence " Ike" Pear– son Award are due in the ational Office by March 1, according to Charlie Eppler, AIA director of communications. The. award is dedicated to the memory of the man who headed the statistical crew at the national men's basketball tournament for 29 consecutive years before his death in 1976. It is annually presented to a member of AIA-SIDA who has contributed outstand– ing service to his/her institution, and to the AIA on the local, district and national levels. Nominations may be submitted by a presi– dent, athletics director, district chairman , sports information director or district infor– mation director. Complete nomination packets will include a completed and signed nomination form; a support letter from the nominee'sdirector of athletics; a support letter from the nominees president or vice president; support letters from the nominee's colleagu~s and members of the media; and, a copy of the nominee's resume. Basketball referred Housing Allis Plau Women's Basketball Headquarters 200 W. 12th Street Kansas t,:ity, MO 64105 (816)42 -6800 Rate: $ 9 single/double Parlci"lf Free Hyatt lle&en<Y-Oown Center 's Basketball Headquarters Sueet ,M064108 Image-Building Important to Council, Farris Image has been a major concern of the NAIA in recent years. Now, the organization is working to enhance its image by taking a leadership ro.le in establishing academic stan– dards for all student-athletes. " There is concern about the image of the NAIA and we're working to change how peo– ple feel about us-;' said Jefferson 0 . Farris, NAIA executive director. " Our problem may be more one of recognition than of image." Farris used, as one example, the NCAA's ongoing battle with Proposition 48, which two years ago was first implemented to set minimum standards for incoming freshmen at NCAA institutions. He pointed to the NAIA's new policy of admission and progres– sion standards, which has received relative– ly little notice, even though , beginning in August, they will require much more of student-athletes than any other such program in the country. " The general public, because of Proposi– tion 48, may feel the NAIA is an organization with low standards, that if a student-athlete can't get into an NCAA school, then perhaps the NAIA will take him. That's not the case." In fact, Farris said, the NAIA has taken the concept of admissions standards for student– athletes a step further by insisting that all athletes demonstrate academic progress in order to remain eligible for competition . " That's what has to set us apart; ' Farris said. "The NAIA has to do something for the student and requiring them to make progress toward graduation in order to compete is it. If you are wondering where to send your son or daughter to college, you can send them to an NAIA school mainly because you know it is a school that has its priorities straight. You know your son or daughter can compete in a sport, but they will also have to study to re– main eligible." Farris also said the NAIA academic stan– dards wou Id affect all schools, as opposed to Proposition 48, which applies to all NCAA Continued on page 3 Pryor Retires After Long Career As Faculty Rep - Thirty years is a long time for most people. Only a handful of careers reach the three– decade plateau. For Joseph E. Pryor, his 30 years of service as Harding AR's faculty athletics representative to the Arkansas Inter– collegiate Conference (AIC) has passed quickly. The enduring physical science professor said his goodbyes at a recent AIC-FAR meeting and ended yet another chapter in his many years of service to the school. His retirement was quiet and uneventful, but it didn't go without notice. The longest standing member of the in- What's Inside Columnist Looks at Proposition 42 .. ... 2 ational Staff Changes . . ....... .. . .. .3 Football All-Americans .. .. .. ... . .. . .4-5 Briefly Speaking . . ... .... .. . ...... . .6 • • fluential committee, Pryor closed out his career by completing his third, two-year term as president of the AIC. He capped the tenure · by outlining Harding'sand the AIC's modern athletic history in a farewell address, introduc– ing Wilt Martin as the school's new faculty representative, and turning the presidential gavel over to Henderson State AR faculty athletics representative Manuel Ramirez. "The AIC has come a long way since 1958 because the FARs have worked together cooperatively in an effort to have a program dedicated to the best interest of the student- Continued on page 3 Football Scholar-Athletes . : .. . ........ 6 Staff Notes ..... . . . ... . .......... . .. 7 Message Center . ... ... ... ... ... ... . . 7 I '.