PRINTER'S NO. 1655
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
316
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, APRIL 17, 2018
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, APRIL 17, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the 40th anniversary of Cheyney University's 1977-1978
men's Division II National Championship Basketball Team.
WHEREAS, Cheyney University is the oldest Historically Black
College and University in the nation and was founded "to
instruct the descendants of the African race in school learning,
in the various branches of the mechanic arts, trades and
agriculture, in order to prepare and fit and qualify them to act
as teachers"; and
WHEREAS, In March 1978, under the leadership of legendary
Naismith Hall of Fame Coach John Chaney, the Cheyney State
College's men's basketball team won the Division II National
Championship; and
WHEREAS, After compiling a 26-2 record leading up to the big
game in Springfield, Missouri, #4 Cheyney State College faced #1
Wisconsin Green Bay; and
WHEREAS, Cheyney defeated Wisconsin Green Bay by a score of
47-40 to be crowned the 1978 Men's Division II National
Champions; and
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WHEREAS, That season, Cheyney opened the first Division II
poll as the #2 team in the nation behind Green Bay; and
WHEREAS, During the season, Cheyney won its sixth consecutive
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title after it defeated
Slippery Rock by a score of 66-59; and
WHEREAS, The national championship team consisted of John
Butts, Duane Coleman, Milt Colston, Andrew Fields, Kenny Hinson,
Jeffrey Hutcherson, Roger Leysath, Gerald Mills, Charles Murphy,
Gilbert Saunders, Arthur Stone and John Walker; and
WHEREAS, Milt Colston was All-American that season and Andrew
Fields was the Tournament Most Valuable Player; and
WHEREAS, Cheyney's championship team was well-balanced with
four players averaging double figures for points per game.
Senior Guard Milt Colston led the pack with an average of 15.1
points per game, followed by senior Jeffrey Hutcherson averaging
13.4 points per game, sophomore Charles Murphy averaging 11.2
points per game and junior Andrew Fields averaging a double-
double with 11.2 points per game and 10.9 rebounds per game; and
WHEREAS, In addition to Coach John Chaney, the men's
basketball team was assisted by the late Charles Songster and
Athletic Trainer Joe Iezzi; and
WHEREAS, After the championship game, Coach John Chaney
summed up the team and its season wonderfully, "nobody ever pays
any attention to us. Our school is not in any community and we
don't have many fans. All we have is each other"; and
WHEREAS, On its way to the title, Cheyney's men's basketball
team defeated #15 Adelphi University, Thomas Jefferson
University, Sacred Heart and #2 Florida Tech, in addition to #1
Green Bay; and
WHEREAS, In 2018, Cheyney is celebrating the 40th anniversary
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of its 1977-1978 national championship; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the 40th anniversary of
the historic Division II National Championship won by the 1977-
1978 Cheyney Wolves; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the athletic department of Cheyney University at 1837 University
Circle, P.O. Box 200, Cheyney, Pennsylvania 19319.
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