News Nuggets, 05.26.06
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

SMU's Turner to co-chair Knight Commission

The Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics has named Southern Methodist President R. Gerald Turner and Michigan State President Emeritus Clifton R. Wharton, Jr., as co-chairs, the NCAA has announced.

The appointments were reported this week on SMU's athletics Website, which noted that Turner and Wharton will attend their first commission meeting in their new roles May 22 in a closed session in Washington, D.C.

"We are at a time when the lines between collegiate and professional sports are being blurred as never before," Wharton said. "The Knight Commission has always believed that college sports need to be linked tightly with the educational mission of American colleges and universities, and the trend toward the professionalization of college sports threatens this vital linkage."

Turner said that "college presidents, as well as trustees and faculty members, have the responsibility to make sure that we manage athletics programs in a way that allows the athletes involved to get the same quality of educational experience as all other students."

Both men succeed Thomas K. Hearn Jr., president emeritus of Wake Forest University, who became chair in March 2005 but has decided to step down for health reasons. Hearn will remain with the commission as chair emeritus.

Turner has been president of SMU since 1995, and was chancellor of the University of Mississippi from 1984 to 1995. He has served in a number of NCAA leadership positions, including as a subcommittee chair on the NCAA Presidential Task Force on the Future of Division I Intercollegiate Athletics. Turner also was the founding chairman of the NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification. He played basketball at Lubbock Christian College.

Wharton served as president of Michigan State from 1970 to 1978, becoming the first African-American to head a predominantly white university. He also served as chancellor of the State University of New York system from 1978 to 1987. He is a former chair and CEO of TIAA-CREF, which provides retirement and mutual funds for academic and nonprofit institutions. A former chair of the Rockefeller Foundation, Wharton ran track as an undergraduate at Harvard University.

Blazers golf recruit wins national juco title

UAB signee Brad Smith captured the National Junior College Athletic Association individual golf title last weekend at The Links at Sierra Blanca golf course. The Adelaide, Australia, native and Indian Hills (IA) Community College golfer shot rounds of 67-62-69-73 and beat out Lon Morris College's Brady Jones in a playoff to win the title.

Smith's championship was reported this week on UAB's athletics Website.

"We're thrilled for Brad and proud of his accomplishment," UAB head coach Alan Kaufman said. "We knew when we signed him he had tremendous potential and could be a top-tier golfer for us. This is certainly a sign we were on the right track in offering him a scholarship. We hope it's not the last national tournament he wins in his college career as well."

Smith joined early signees Adam and Blake West of Wetumpka, AL, when he signed with UAB in April.

Former ECU player Kilgore inks with UTEP

Marvin Kilgore has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at Texas-El Paso, Miner head coach Doc Sadler has announced. Kilgore, a 6-3 guard, will have two years of eligibility beginning with the 2006-07 season, the school reported on its athletics Website.

“Marvin is going to remind a lot of people of [former Miner] Edgar Moreno with his size, strength and the fact that he’s left-handed,” Sadler said. “He brings some experience and maturity to our program, which will be needed with so many new players.”

Kilgore spent last season at Panola College in Carthage, Texas — the same school that produced former Miner standout Omar Thomas. Kilgore averaged 17 points and eight rebounds for a 23-8 team. He scored over 20 points in 12 games, earning first team All-Region honors. He played in the National Junior College All-Star Game.

A Philadelphia native, Kilgore started his college career at East Carolina University during the 2004-05 season. He appeared in 21 games for the Pirates, including seven starting assignments, and averaged 3.4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Kilgore scored a season-high 11 points against TCU on Feb. 5, 2005.

Kilgore averaged 22 points and seven assists as a senior at Lutheran Christian Academy in Philadelphia.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from other sources. Copyright 2006 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:48 PM