January 13, 2009

CEDAR RAPIDS , IOWA . . . Commemorative T-shirts and other giveaways will highlight the Iowa Conference's "Fan 101 = Respect" program during the months of January and February. The program, which will emphasize sportsmanship, is funded by grant money made available by the NCAA.

"Sporting behavior by our student-athletes, coaches and fans is something that we value in the Iowa Conference," said Commissioner Chuck Yrigoyen. "We are grateful to the NCAA for providing the funds to make possible this special emphasis on sportsmanship."

Among the planned activities, T-shirts and other souvenirs will be given away at "Fan 101"-designated Conference basketball doubleheaders and wrestling duals. These events will be publicized on the conference's website and on the individual schools' sites during the two-month period. Dates for confirmed "Fan 101" events are listed below. Others will be announced throughout the month of January.

The Conference will also produce a short video that features the hard work of the men and women who carry out the difficult task of officiating college athletics events. "We hope those who watch the video will have a better appreciation for the professionalism and dedication it takes to do a sometimes difficult job that might otherwise go unrecognized," said Yrigoyen.

"Fan 101" will support the "Be Loud Be Proud Be Positive" fan sportsmanship program presented by the DIII Commissioners Association and adopted by the Iowa Conference. It will also represent the IIAC's participation in the celebration of National Sportsmanship Day, which formally takes place March 3 and is sponsored by the Institute for International Sport (IIS).

Questions regarding the "Fan 101 = Respect" initiative may be directed toward either IIAC Commissioner Chuck Yrigoyen (chuck@iowaconference.com) or IIAC Director of Information Joshua Schroeder (jschroeder@iowaconference.com).

Founded in 1922, the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference consists of nine independent, regionally accredited, residential four-year, liberal arts colleges that share common academic philosophies and goals and that place primary emphasis on the academic progress of students. All nine institutions, as well as the league, are members of Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Basketball	Wrestling
Jan. 24 - Central @ Coe Jan. 24 - Cornell @ Dubuque Jan. 24 - Loras @ Luther Jan. 28 - Wartburg @ Loras Jan. 31 - Buena Vista @ Central Jan. 31 - Cornell @ Simpson Jan. 31 - Dubuque @ Wartburg	Jan. 16 - Buena Vista @ Wartburg Jan. 16 - Coe @ Loras Jan. 16 - Cornell @ Dubuque Jan. 17 - Wartburg @ Luther Jan. 29 - Loras @ Simpson Jan. 30 - Luther @ Coe

T-shirts with a design similar to the one shown above will be distributed at Iowa Conference
events throughout January and February as part of the IIAC's "FAN 101 = RESPECT" program.

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