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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --April 24, 1998
Contact: John Johnson or Mike Clifford --517.332.5046

EAST LANSING, Mich. - April 24 - Fueled by a standing-room-only turnout in 1997, the Michigan High School Athletic Association has begun plans for its second Sportsmanship Summit, to take place on September 23 at the Lansing Center in downtown Lansing.

The scene was incredible on September 24, 1997. With original plans for about 500 people, just over 800 school administrators, coaches, teachers, student-athletes and community leaders were in attendance at the inaugural Sportsmanship Summit. Over 100 people were turned away. For the 1998 program, space will be limited to the first 1,200 registrants.

"The 1997 Sportsmanship Summit told us that sportsmanship is still the most important product of sponsor-school sports programs," said John E. "Jack" Roberts, executive director of the MHSAA. "Our follow-up meetings also told us that a statewide summit was worth doing a second time, but not necessarily every year. Since the best sportsmanship solution is local involvement, we hope that meetings in some subsequent years will be primarily at the local or regional level."

Sportsmanship Summit II will feature three outstanding keynote speakers. Tom Osborne, retired football coach from the University of Nebraska; JoJo White, a Hall of Fame baseball star from the Boston Celtics; and nationally-recognized speaker Dr. Al Burr of St. Louis, Mo., will deliver the primary speeches in the morning portion of the program.

The afternoon sessions will have tracks specifically designed for students and coaches; boosters, school board members and parents; and school administrators.

The Sportsmanship Summit is open to the public, and the $20 registration fee includes conference materials and lunch. For additional information, contact the MHSAA at 1661 Ramblewood Drive, East Lansing, MI 48823. Telephone: 517.332.5046.