Conferences: ESPN and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the nation's oldest conference of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, have agreed to unprecedented coverage of the league's men's basketball tournament. Through the deal, ESPN2 will televise the 60th annual CIAA championship game live from the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, at 6 p.m. Eastern time March 5, 2005. In addition, ESPN Classic will televise the men's quarterfinal and semifinal matchups March 2 and 4. The agreement will make the CIAA men's tournament -- the third-most attended basketball tournament in college athletics (104,500 fans in 2004) -- the first NCAA Division II conference tournament to be televised as part of "Championship Week" on the ESPN networks. "This is historic on a lot of fronts and a watermark deal for the CIAA, HBCUs and Division II athletics," said CIAA Commissioner Leon G. Kerry. "This year is ESPN's 25th anniversary, and the network reached this milestone because of visionary decisions such as this." ESPN Classic will carry seven of CIAA tournament games live under the terms of the three-year agreement, with four airing in prime time. Ford Motor Co. will be the entitlement sponsor of the telecasts. "In the 60 years of the CIAA tournament, it has produced legendary players such as Earl Monroe, Earl Lloyd and Ben Wallace and coaches such as 'Big House' Gaines and John McLendon. That kind of legacy is a perfect fit with ESPN Classic. We plan to share the history and the culture of the CIAA with millions -- and to show how that tradition is tied to the competition today."

Facilities: California State University, Stanislaus, has renamed its Warrior Arena and sports fields the DreamLife Arena and DreamLife Fields, respectively. As part of a five-year agreement for naming rights with the Modesto-based financial services company, Cal State Stanislaus will receive $1 million for athletics scholarships, equipment and program operations. An event celebrating the renaming was conducted November 18. Also, DreamLife founder and CEO Tony Daniloo participated in a ceremonial pregame toss-up at the opening of the Cal State Stanislaus women's basketball game against the University of Alaska Fairbanks November 19. DreamLife Financial, one of the fastest-growing mortgage companies in California's Central Valley, agreed to pay to put its name on the campus gymnasium (formerly known as Warrior Arena) and the university's baseball, softball, soccer and track fields from November 2004 through June 2009. "There's no question that college athletics enriches students' lives," Daniloo said. "We're delighted to support the university in the town in which we reside. At the same time, we know that our contribution will help the Cal State Stanislaus athletics department continue to grow as one of the top athletic programs in the country." Athletics Director Milt Richards said: "This generous gift...is part of our continuing plan to move Warrior athletics to the highest level of Division II athletics" ... The Barton College athletic complex baseball field was officially named Nixon Field on November 20 in honor of William P. Nixon Jr. Nixon, a physician and a cum laude graduate from Atlantic Christian (now Barton) in 1964, was accompanied by family members at the ceremony, including his son, outfielder Trot Nixon from the Boston Red Sox. In 1999, the senior Nixon established the William P. Nixon Jr. and Family Endowed Scholarship at Barton to benefit Barton baseball players from eastern North Carolina. Nixon, who specialized in nephrology and focused on providing dialysis care to patients, established two other endowments earlier this year, including one to support the Barton baseball program and to enhance athletics facilities.

-- Compiled by David Pickle