December 1, 2005

Columbus State University will hold its annual Pack the House Day Saturday at the Lumpkin Center as Armstrong Atlantic State comes to town for a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader. CSU will also honor longtime Shaw High School football and baseball coach Charles Flowers.

CSU officials, in an effort to alleviate congestion and parking problems associated with a mid-week game because of class schedules, are experimenting with a Saturday game for Pack the House. The event has been held the past two seasons on a Wednesday night. The 2004 event set the CSU attendance record of 3,456 fans.

Flowers will leave coaching and assume new duties as Muscogee County School District athletic director in January. His 2005 Raider football squad had another outstanding season, falling last week in the state semifinals at the Georgia Dome.

CSU Athletic Director Herbert Greene came up with the idea of honoring Flowers after witnessing the amount of respect Shaw players displayed for Flowers and because of the contribution he has made to the Columbus community over the years.

'Winning games is great, but Charles Flowers has done a lot more than win games,' Greene said. 'Through his dedication, coach Flowers has influenced a tremendous amount of young men and women and has worked not only to produce quality athletes but quality citizens. His move to this new position will hopefully allow him to influence even more student athletes throughout the entire school system. Charles is a quality person and we felt like he deserved to be recognized on a larger scale.' Flowers will be presented with tokens of appreciation during a short ceremony at halftime of the men's contest. His current and former players have been invited to attend the games at CSU. A number of his fellow coaching colleagues, student-athletes from throughout the school system, city officials and school board members are also expected to attend.

Tipoff for the women's game is set for 1 p.m., with the men's game to follow at 3 p.m. Admission prices are $5 for adults and $3 for students and children. CSU students, faculty, and staff are admitted free with ID.