CIAA football chatter is about to pick up in a big way.
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association will hold its annual Football Media Days on Wednesday, July 19 and Thursday, July 20 at the Holiday Inn – Tanglewood in Roanoke, Va. Each of the league’s 12 coaches and a returning player from each school will participate.
Among the highlights include the release of the CIAA’s preseason all-conference team, along with predicted order of finish and the 2023 television schedule. Other features include additional interview sessions between head coaches, players and the media, as well as remarks from CIAA commissioner Jacqie McWilliams-Parker.
“We’re excited to kick off another year of CIAA football with our annual media day event,” Commissioner Parker said. “Not only is it a great opportunity for the coaches and student-athletes to talk about their expectations for the 2023 season but it’s also a chance for them to engage the local communities of Salem, Roanoke, and the surrounding areas through our annual youth football clinic.”
Fayetteville State won an exciting CIAA championship game a year ago, beating Chowan on a last second field goal. FSU and Chowan both went 5-0 in divisional play. Chowan edged Virginia Union for the Northern Division title.
Chowan exits the CIAA this season, on its way eventually to a new-look Conference Carolinas by 2025. Bluefield State (WVA) will rejoin the conference and take the Hawks’ spot in the Northern Division.
The CIAA media kickoff will be the first big media event involving conferences with North Carolina teams.
The MEAC (North Carolina Central) will hold its media event July 21 in Norfolk, Va. The American Athletic (Charlotte, East Carolina) and Big South/OVC (Gardner-Webb) will hold media events July 24-25 in Arlington, Texas and Nashville, Tenn. respectively.
The ACC media kickoff will be July 25-27 in Charlotte. Appalachian State will participate in the Sun Belt media days July 26-27 in New Orleans.
The Colonial Athletic Association (Elon, NC A&T, Campbell) just announced it will hold a virtual media-day kickoff via Zoom on July 24-25.
More to read: Great Games 2022: Fayetteville State breaks through for CIAA championship
More to read: Preseason Watch List: Chowan QB Rashad McKee
More to read: Preseason Watch List: Barton RB Jordan Terrell
Final 2022 CIAA Standings
| SCHOOL | DIVISION RECORD | DIVISION PCT. | CONF. RECORD | CONF. PCT. | OVERALL RECORD | OVERALL PCT. | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORTHERN DIVISION | |||||||
| Chowan | 5-0 | 1.000 | 7-1 | .875 | 7-4 | .636 | L1 |
| Virginia Union | 4-1 | .800 | 7-1 | .875 | 9-2 | .818 | L1 |
| Bowie State | 3-2 | .600 | 5-3 | .625 | 6-4 | .600 | W2 |
| Virginia State | 2-3 | .400 | 5-3 | .625 | 6-4 | .600 | L1 |
| Elizabeth City State | 1-4 | .200 | 2-6 | .250 | 2-8 | .200 | L3 |
| Lincoln (PA) | 0-5 | .000 | 1-6 | .143 | 2-7 | .222 | L5 |
| SOUTHERN DIVISION | |||||||
| Fayetteville State | 5-0 | 1.000 | 7-1 | .875 | 9-3 | .750 | L1 |
| Shaw | 2-3 | .400 | 4-4 | .500 | 4-6 | .400 | W1 |
| Winston-Salem State | 3-2 | .600 | 3-4 | .429 | 3-6 | .333 | L1 |
| Livingstone | 3-2 | .600 | 3-5 | .375 | 4-6 | .400 | W2 |
| Johnson C. Smith | 1-4 | .200 | 2-6 | .250 | 2-7 | .222 | L4 |
| St. Augustine’s | 1-4 | .200 | 1-7 | .125 | 1-9 | .100 | L3 |
