PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Many would say that the 2020-21 season has been the most trying season for college athletics.  Competitiveness has proved some wrong as the Prairie View A&M Department of Intercollegiate Athletics was awarded the James Frank Award from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).  This acknowledgment is awarded to the top Athletic program in the league.
 
"I am excited as well as elated that we received such a prestige award in claiming the James Frank Commissioner's Cup," Prairie View A&M Athletic Director Dr. Donald Reed said.  "Great job to all our student-athletes in their efforts for performing at a very high level during this most topsy-turvy and tumultuous time that we are all dealing with.  It has been a pleasure watching our athletes compete and push through to be successful as students as well as athletes.  I would also like to congratulate our coaches, the administration and all parties involved with providing us with the opportunity to compete."

The James Frank Commissioner's Cup and all-sports awards are determined by team finish in respective sports.  Each finish is awarded a point value, and the schools with the highest point totals at the end of the athletic season are subsequently awarded.

Prairie View A&M also won the C.D. Henry Award after accumulating 70 total points on the men's side. This marks the second-consecutive year in which PVAMU claimed the male all-sports award.
 
In total, the Panthers won five SWAC championships this past athletic year (151.5 total points), claiming league titles in the sports of  Women's Indoor Track and Field, Men's Basketball (regular season title champions), Women's Bowling, Men's Golf and Men's Outdoor Track and Field.
 
"I am especially proud of our five champions from this year," Reed said.  "I am excited to celebrate these accomplishments.  I would like to congratulate the men's programs on their individual efforts.  We are all excited to get going again in August.  I am very proud of our Panthers and really excited for what the future holds for us."

The last time the Panthers won the Cup was during the 2012-13 season.
 
A complete listing of individual program point totals for the three awards are listed below.

About the Magee/Jacket Award
The Magee/Jacket Award is presented to the top women's athletic program in the SWAC. It is named after former Jackson State women's basketball coach Sadie Magee and former Prairie View A&M track and field coach Barbara Jacket.

Magee was the first women's basketball coach at Jackson State, compiling four SWAC regular season titles and three-straight National Association of Women's Sports National Championships from 1978-1980.

Jacket led the Prairie View A&M to eight cross country, nine indoor and five outdoor SWAC titles from 1965 to 1991. She was also the head coach of the 1992 U.S. Women's Olympic Track team that brought home four gold medals, three silver medals and three bronze medals from Barcelona, Spain.

About the C.D. Henry Award
The Henry Award is presented to the top men's athletic program in the SWAC. The award is named for C.D. Henry, former Grambling State chairman of the College of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Department from 1958-74, as well as serving as the executive officer and secretary-statistician for the SWAC in 1968-73.

Henry became the first African American assistant commissioner of any conference office when he joined the Big Ten Conference in June of 1974.

About the James Frank Commissioner's Cup Award
The Commissioner's Cup, named for former league commissioner James Frank who led the SWAC from 1983 through 1998, is awarded to the university compiling the highest combined total of men's and women's all-sport points.
 
From 1983 until his retirement in 1998, Dr. Frank served as Commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). He returned to the position as Interim Commissioner in April 2001, where he served for 20 months. During his guidance, the conference evolved to rank among the elite in the nation.
 
Dr. James Frank was one of a few individuals who elevated through the collegiate ranks as a student-athlete, coach, educator, college president, and conference commissioner. During a long and distinguished career of over 50 years, Frank's efforts and influential leadership touched the lives of countless people and resulted in positive changes in the many organizations he served.
 
James Frank Commissioner's Cup Award
1. Prairie View A&M- 151.5
2. Alabama State- 147.0
3. Jackson State- 117.5
4. Texas Southern- 94.5
5. Southern- 89.0
6. Alabama A&M- 86.0
7. Arkansas-Pine Bluff- 75.0
8. Alcorn State- 73.0
9. Grambling State- 67.0
10. Mississippi Valley State- 49.5
 
Magee/Jacket Award
1. Alabama State- 90.0
2. Prairie View A&M- 81.5 3.
 Jackson State- 66.0
4. Southern- 61.0
5. Texas Southern- 49.0
6. Grambling State- 48.0
7. Alabama A&M- 45.5
8. Alcorn State- 41.5
9. Arkansas-Pine Bluff- 35.5
10. Mississippi Valley State- 24.0
 
C.D. Henry Award
1. Prairie View A&M- 70.0
2. Alabama State- 59.0
3. Jackson State- 51.5
4. Texas Southern- 45.5
5. Alabama A&M- 40.5
6. Arkansas-Pine Bluff- 39.5
7. Alcorn State- 31.5
 8. Southern- 28.0
9. Mississippi Valley State- 25.5 1
0. Grambling State- 19.0


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