Passion and Purpose: A Celebration of the Women's ACC Basketball Tournament
2/6/2002 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 6, 2002
Passion and Purpose: A Celebration of the Women's ACC Basketball Tournament
GREENSBORO, N.C. - In 1978, the Atlantic Coast Conference became the first division I conference to hold a basketball tournament for women. Passion and Purpose: A Celebration of the Women's ACC Basketball Tournament, a 30-minute documentary narrated by national sports broadcaster Robin Roberts, chronicles the 25-year history of that competition, and highlights some of the pivotal moments-and spectacular plays-that have made the ACC Tournament one of the premiere sporting events in the nation. Passion and Purpose will be broadcast February 10, on Fox Sports Net South, ComCast SportsNet, and Sunshine Network at 12:30 pm.
Passion and Purpose begins its story in the early 1970s, on the campus of the University of Virginia. Gene Corrigan, then the Athletic Director at Virginia, had hired a talented administrator by the name of Barbara Kelly, to serve as the director of women's sports. Kelly not only had great enthusiasm for her job, but she had a vision for the future of women in sports: Her mission included the establishment of a women's basketball tournament in the ACC, the strongest men's basketball conference in the nation.
Kelly's goal was an ambitious one, but through patience, perseverance, and boundless energy, she prevailed. The first ACC women's basketball tournament tipped off in Charlottesville, Virginia, in February 1978. Since that time, the tournament-and the game of women's basketball itself-has changed dramatically. Attendance and media exposure has increased exponentially as the level of play on the floor has skyrocketed to tremendous heights.
Passion and Purpose features interviews with some of the most compelling figures in sports, including Val Ackerman, 1978 tournament participant and current president of the WNBA, two-time Olympian Dawn Staley, Gene Corrigan, past president of the NCAA, Barbara Kelly, Kay Yow and the current ACC women's basketball coaches. ACC Commissioner John Swofford is featured in the program commemorating this anniversary.
Through a mixture of narrative, interviews, and exciting footage, Passion and Purpose salutes the courage of Barbara Kelly, who created and directed the first ACC women's tournament. It also showcases the talent, wisdom, and longevity of Debbie Ryan, Chris Weller, and Kay Yow, three coaches who have graced the sidelines of every ACC tournament since 1978. The vision of the Atlantic Coast Conference, which was light years ahead of all other leagues in giving women equal opportunity is a recognizable theme throughout this documentary.
For more information please contact Amy Yakola or Scott McBurney at 336.851.6062.
Additional air dates are listed below:
FOX Sports Net South
February 10 - 12:30 pm
March 3 - 12:30 pm
Sunshine Network
February 10 - 12:30 pm
February 11 - 5:30 pm
February 17 - 6:00 pm
February 19 - 4:00 pm
Comcast SportsNet
February 10 - 12:30 pm
February 13 - 2:00 pm
February 17 - 12:00 pm
February 20 - 8:30 pm
February 24 - 12:00 pm
