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The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) has once again partnered with the City of Norfolk, TowneBank and Norfolk Public Schools for the annual Read with MEac community reading program.

The Read with MEac program, now in its 17th year, was created by the MEAC’s Senior Woman Administrators (SWA) to promote the love of reading. Read with MEac encourages Norfolk Public School elementary and middle school students to read and participate in activities through the Star Data Reading online program.

“We are proud to partner once again with Norfolk Public Schools, the City of Norfolk, and TowneBank for the 17th year of the Read with MEac reading program,” said MEAC Commissioner Sonja Stills. “Education and community outreach are central pillars of the MEAC’s commitment to the Norfolk community, and this program exemplifies our dedication to academic excellence. I want to thank Superintendent Byrdsong for her visionary leadership and unwavering support in inspiring Norfolk Public Schools students to embrace the joy of reading.”

This year’s program will focus on elementary and middle school students from participating Norfolk Public Schools. Participants’ reading progress will be assessed based on the greatest scaled score gains on the Star Data Reading online system from November 2024 to February 2025 to determine the winners.

Winners will be announced in a press release from the MEAC in February. An on-site celebration at the winning school will also be held in March as a part of the MEAC’s annual men’s and women’s basketball tournament events.

“Norfolk Public Schools is honored to extend our partnership with the MEAC conference for the Read with MEac Celebration,” said Superintendent Dr. Sharon I. Byrdsong. “This collaboration aims to promote literacy and academic excellence among our students. Last year's event was a resounding success, recognizing the outstanding achievements of our students, including the Top 15 readers at Camp Allen Elementary School and the 15 Most Improved readers. We firmly believe that literacy is the foundation of academic success, and initiatives like the Read with MEac Celebration are instrumental in fostering a reading culture within our schools.”

Dr. Byrdsong continued, “The Read with MEac Celebration is more than just an event; it embodies the power of community partnerships in creating an environment that inspires students to reach their full potential. By collaborating with the MEAC conference, we are able to provide our students with opportunities that extend beyond the classroom, emphasizing the importance of reading as a fundamental skill that will benefit them throughout their lives. We eagerly anticipate building upon this success in 2024 and celebrating the dedication of our young readers across the district. Together, with the support of our partners and community, we can ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive, succeed, and cultivate a lifelong love of learning.”

The schools from the selected Norfolk Public Schools with the greatest scaled score gains could win the following prizes: $2,000 for first place, $1,500 for second place, and $500 for third place. The class with the greatest scaled score gains will win $1,000.

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced the 2025 Hall of Fame Class.

The inductees will be officially enshrined during the week of 2025 MEAC Basketball Tournament.

"Congratulations to the five inductees of the MEAC's 2025 Hall of Fame class," Commissioner Sonja Stills said. "Induction into the MEAC Hall of Fame is the ultimate recognition of a player or coaches’ incredible career, representing excellence, hard work, and dedication to their respective sport. Inductees are not only exceptional competitors but exemplify the values and history that make our conference great.”

The MEAC Hall of Fame highlights former student-athletes, coaches, university and conference administrators, and notable contributors who have enriched the conference's legacy since its inception in 1970. Enshrinees are selected by an eight-person committee of administrators and member institution representatives.

The inaugural Hall of Fame class was inducted on May 29, 1981, during a 10th anniversary banquet in Greensboro, N.C. Since its establishment, the MEAC Hall of Fame has enshrined 173 people, including the Class of 2024.

Additional details regarding the induction ceremony will be announced at a later date.

The 2025 MEAC Hall of Fame Inductees
Patricia Cage-Bibbs, Hampton/N.C. A&T State: Cage-Bibbs coached at Hampton University from 1997 to 2004 and helped establish the Lady Pirates as a powerhouse in the MEAC. The Lady Pirates went 127-83 in seven seasons under Cage-Bibbs including a 95-31 mark in conference play.

During her tenure as head coach, Cage-Bibbs' teams won four MEAC regular season championship titles (‘98, ‘99, ‘03 & ‘04) and three MEAC Tournament titles (‘00, ‘03 & ‘04). She was named the MEAC Coach of the Year during her first year at Hampton (1997-98) after leading the Lady Pirates to a regular season co-championship title.

Cage-Bibbs coached at North Carolina A&T State from 2005-2010 where she won three regular season MEAC Championships and one conference tournament title. She was named the MEAC Coach of the Year in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009. While coaching the Aggies, Cage-Bibbs collected a 100-58 record and 65-19 conference mark.

Oliver “Buddy” Pough, South Carolina State: Pough left a legacy at S.C. State retired in 2023, completing his career as the winningest coach in school history. Pough amassed a 151-93 record and 115-44 MEAC mark while leading the Bulldogs to two Black College National Football titles and eight total MEAC titles.

Pough earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from S.C. State where he was an All-MEAC offensive lineman. Following his playing career, Pough joined the coaching ranks and earned MEAC Coach of the Year honors four times during his 21-year career. Pough’s teams captured eight MEAC titles, three outright (2021, 2008 and 2009) and five shared (2004, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2019).

The Bulldogs made four trips to the FCS playoffs (2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013) and helped Pough capture the Celebration Bowl Championship in 2021 knocking off top-ranked Jackson State to win his fifth HBCU National Crown, third as a coach.

Out of the 19 MEAC Championship titles, the most by any school, Pough contributed to 17 of them, serving as either a player or a coach.

Rashida Suber, Coppin State: Suber played for the Lady Eagles women’s basketball team at Coppin State University from 2004 to 2008. She helped Coppin State finish 64-6 in MEAC play with undefeated conference records in her sophomore and junior seasons, including 41-straight wins.

Suber led the Eagles to three NCAA Tournament appearances (2004-05, 2005-06, 2007-08) and a WNIT appearance (2006-07) where they defeated Saint Joseph’s in the first round.

Suber was the 2007 MEAC Player of the Year, a three-time first-team All-MEAC honoree and named to the 2005 All-Rookie Team. Additionally, she was named the 2006 MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player and garnered a selection to the 2006 and 2008 All-Tournament Teams.

Suber scored a school-record of 1,865 points and ranks first in the CSU record books in field goals, three-pointers and steals, and seventh in assists. She currently ranks 11th in the MEAC in all-time scoring, eighth in field goals made (728), fourth in three-pointers (245), sixth in single season field goals made (252) and fourth in single season three-point field goals made (245).

She led the Lady Eagles in steals for three consecutive seasons (2006-2008), scoring in back-to-back seasons (2005-2006 and 2006-2007), and three-point percentage (2007).

Following her collegiate career, Suber played professionally overseas from 2008-2010 in Turkey and Puerto Rico. Suber was inducted into the Coppin State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2020.

Tarik Cohen, North Carolina A&T State: Cohen was a member of the North Carolina A&T State Aggies from 2013-16 where he was a star running back on the football team.

He holds the MEAC record for career rushing yards (5,619) and total carries (868). Cohen collected 59 career touchdowns and 56 rushing TDs. Cohen led the Aggies to two MEAC Conference Titles in 2014 and 2015, and helped the team earn an at-large bid to the 2016 NCAA Division I-FCS Playoffs.

Cohen highlighted his senior season with a record-setting career-best 295 rushing yards, and offensive MVP recognition, at the 2015 Celebration Bowl.

Cohen was named the MEAC Rookie of the Year in 2013 and earned MEAC Offensive Player of the Year three consecutive seasons (2014, 2015, 2016). Additionally, he was a four-time All-MEAC honoree, a three-time Stats/FCS Third-Team All-American and BOXTOROW All-American.

Cohen was named the 2015 SBN/Williams Offensive Player of the Year, a 2015 FCS Fabulous Fifty All-American, a 2016 AFCA FCS Coaches Second-Team All-American, a two-time SBN All-American (2014, 2015), a 2016 Walter Camp FCS All-American and was the 2016 Deacon Jones Trophy recipient.

Cohen was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. During his rookie season (2018), he was selected to the Pro Bowl Team and was named a NFL First-Team All-Pro selection.

Harvey Reed, Howard: Reed was a standout running back for the Bison football team from 1984-87 and significantly contributed to Howard’s 1987 MEAC Championship title. He was drafted in the eighth round of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears as the 217th pick.

Throughout his career, Reed recorded 4,142 rushing yards, on 635 carries, with 38 touchdowns. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry and 103.6 yards per game.
Reed ranks in the top five in the MEAC records, twice, in average yards per season and sits ninth in single game rushing yards with 260 against Newberry (1987).

During the 1987 season Reed recorded 20 touchdowns, second best in the MEAC, with 1,512 rushing yards in just 10 games. Reed was the second-leading scorer in Division 1-AA (FCS) that season earning Division 1-AA All-American honors while also collecting MEAC Player of the Year accolades. He was inducted into the Howard University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998.