As a women's basketball history nut, it is so encouraging to cross paths with people who feel the same way.

That's what happened when I hopped on the NY/Hartford bus on Tuesday to attend the opening of the Connecticut Historical Society's exhibit, "She Shoots! She Scores! Women's Basketball in Connecticut."

The impetus for the program was a presentation by John Molina, who many know for his enthusiastic research on the All American Red Heads. Six years later, lots and lots of hard work and research by the CHS's staff, and voila -- this delightful, thorough, and rich exhibit. I need to make a return visit because I spent most of my time there talking with the guests -- many of whom were represented in some manner within the exhibit.

I truly enjoyed speaking with Gail Marks, an All American Red Head I'd actually met previously. She volunteered her sports massage (IIRC) services during a Jennifer Rizzotti fundraising basketball game (lot of great WNBAers show up) a few years ago. She and I struck up a conversation while standing in the vom. I don't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing that she remembered me.

Equally humbling was my time with Florence Price. She played on a black "industrial team" -- a team sponsored by a company. Her team played against white teams back in the the 40's and 50's and encountered more than their fair share of racist comments. Seems like Florence's coach took the same attitude the great Lusia Harris did -- don't say anything, just give them what for on the court. (By the way, kudos to LeBron James for honoring Lucy.)

I know that every state has similar stories that are waiting to be discovered and told. Which is why I'm thrilled to find another example of historical preservation and exploration happening in the Sunshine State: Many past presidents of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women will gather in Southwest Florida from Feb. 11-14.

If you don't know what the AIAW is (tsk! tsk!), it was

the first organization to run women's collegiate championships after Title IX - the federal law mandating equal opportunities for male and female athletes - went into effect in 1972. The AIAW ran 41 championships in 19 sports while it existed from 1972-82.

Why the AIAW and not the NCAA?

Our original goal was to be part of the NCAA. We had tried, but when women first approached (former NCAA president) Walter Byars about starting athletics, he told them flat-out that the NCAA is a men's organization and never will have women's programs."

How far has the NCAA come?

An NCAA official will videotape a panel discussion among the presidents at 11 a.m. Feb. 12 at Florida Gulf Coast University's VIP Lounge at Alico Arena.

Which means I don't have to miss a deadline and pretend to be sick and hop a plane to Florida. (Though, don't think I'm not tempted.)

Even better news for women's basketball: Joan Hult, a former college athletics administrator who worked for the passage of Title IX, is working on a book about the history of the AIAW. Fellow history nuts will recognize Hult's name from the book, "A Century of Women's Basketball: From Frailty to Final Four," a fabulous collection of essential papers and articles on the game.

Cannot wait!