Today's Blue & White
The Citadel Brigadier Foundation's Official Electronic Newsletter
Friday, August 14, 2009
Opening Kickoff!
More than 700 members of the Class of 2013 arrive tomorrow (Saturday) to a campus that is ready for them and welcomes them with open arms.
Coach Kevin Higgins, one of the most organized individuals Spike has ever seen, enjoyed the benefit of no rain during his 8-11 a.m. practices this week, meaning that things on his daily checklist are getting done. The team had the benefit of hearing Lt Gen John Rosa address and inspire the group on Tuesday afternoon.
As we welcome several new faces to the Department of Athletics - including new Associate AD/Business and Operations Geoff Von Dollen - all of our fall sports teams anxiously await their season's opener and the summer is now a fading memory.
As you've come to expect we continue to have another interesting issue of Today's Blue & White, so let's get to it and Go Bulldogs!!!
Geoff Von Dollen Named New Associate AD/Business and Operations
Director of Athletics Larry Leckonby announced Thursday that Geoff Von Dollen has been named the new Associate Athletics Director for Business and Operations.
Currently the Associate Athletics Director for Administration at Delaware State University, Von Dollen replaces Ray Whiteman, who retired after holding the position for 24 years.
Von Dollen began his career in athletics administration at Vanderbilt University as a marketing and promotions assistant from 1996-99. He then moved to San Jose State University where he served as the Assistant Athletics Director for Business Operations before being promoted to Associate Athletics Director/Chief Financial Officer in 2005.
While at San Jose State, Von Dollen crafted and managed a $12 million annual budget for the Division I school. He also assisted in the successful proposal for the 2007 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Regional in San Jose.
The next year, Von Dollen became the Business Manager for the University of South Florida's Sun Dome until he was again promoted to Assistant Athletics Director/Ticket Operations at USF. His duties included management of the Big East Conference school's $5 million ticket revenue budget, aided by a season ticket base of 15,000 for football and 2,000 for men's basketball. Von Dollen directed ticket operations for the 2006 PapaJohns.com Bowl, which included the distribution of 10,000 tickets within a four- week period. In addition, he helped develop and communicate marketing strategies for all of the Bulls' ticket sales.
Von Dollen moved from South Florida to Delaware State as an Associate Athletics Director in July 2007. He is a Tennessee native who graduated in 2000 from Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.
He begins his tenure at The Citadel on Monday, Aug. 17.
Athletics Department Welcomes Four More New Hires
The Department of Athletics has welcomed four new individuals as they announce the hiring of Alex Eaton as the assistant compliance director, Matt Smith as the new assistant director of sports medicine, Ben Waring as the new assistant director of media relations and Kevin Yeager as the new equipment manager.
Smith replaces nine-year veteran Craig Clark and Yeager replaces Tim Mitchell, who both left over the summer to accept positions at Furman. Waring replaces Reah Nicholson who left to accept a similar position at North Carolina Central.
Eaton joins the staff from the University of Maryland where she served as an intern in the compliance office. Prior to her internship, she graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a master of science degree in sport management. While at UMass, she was a graduate assistant in fundraising and development. Prior to receiving her master's degree, Eaton earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of
Maryland in business. As an undergraduate with the Terrapins, she worked in the athletic ticket office, academic support, and worked directly with the Director of Athletics.
She is originally from Houston, Texas.
Smith comes to The Citadel after spending the past two years at the United States Military Academy. At West Point, Smith was an assistant athletic trainer providing services for Army football, baseball and youth summer camps. Prior to his stint at Army, Smith was a resident athletic trainer at The Citadel from 2005-07. He worked specifically with wrestling well as with football. Smith assisted with evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation for the track and cross country teams and also provided
athletic training services for the Corps of Cadets and The Citadel rugby, lacrosse and ice hockey club sports. Before joining The Citadel, Smith worked as an athletic training student for four years at the University of Toledo where he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in exercise science in May 2005. He also completed a master of science degree in health, exercise and sport sciences at The Citadel in 2007.
Waring joins the staff after recently finishing coursework for a master of science and education with an emphasis in sport management degree from Old Dominion University in August 2009. While with the Monarchs, Waring was a graduate assistant in the sports information office working with baseball, men's and women's basketball, field
hockey, lacrosse, men's and women's soccer and wrestling. Prior to working at Old Dominion he completed an internship with Stanford as an event manager in the athletics department. Waring is a 2008 graduate of the University of South Carolina where he earned a bachelor of science in sport and entertainment management. While a student with the Gamecocks, he worked in game management and operations. He was also a baseball operations intern with the Columbia Blowfish. Waring's father spent 27 years in the United States Army and therefore has lived in several cities since being born
in Germany.
Yeager assisted in the athletics department equipment room for five years prior to being elevated to the head equipment manager position. He has experience in all aspects of the equipment room as he has worked with the coordination of the transportation needs, as well as daily practice and game day set-up. A native South Carolinian, Yeager graduated from Summerville High School before attending the University of South Carolina-Aiken where he was a business major.
The Citadel at Western Carolina Football Game to Be Televised; Kickoff Moved to 4 p.m.
The Citadel at Western Carolina football game set to take place in Cullowhee, N.C. on Oct. 17 will be televised on My Network 40/WMYA in Asheville, N.C. As a result, the game time has changed to 4 p.m.
The broadcast will now be the first live television appearance for the Bulldogs during the 2009 season. They will also appear before a regional audience on SportSouth for the 2009 Homecoming matchup against Wofford on Nov. 7.
The homecoming broadcast will be the first live home TV appearance for the Bulldogs since the opening of the renovated Johnson Hagood Stadium West Side Tower. The last home TV game was against Wofford on Oct. 6, 2007 and The Citadel's most recent TV appearance was on SportSouth last season at Appalachian State on Oct. 4.
We are currently working to see if we can get the game televised locally in the Charleston area.
Kickoff at Georgia Southern Announced
Kickoff for The Citadel at Georgia Southern football game on November 21 has been set for 2 p.m. The contest, which is the final regular-season game for the Bulldogs, will be played at Statesboro, Ga., and the game has been billed as the Eagles' Military Appreciation Day. To order tickets for that contest - and all Citadel events - please contact our Athletic Ticket Office at 843/953-DOGS (3647).
Meet the Bulldogs Set for Aug. 22
The annual "Meet the Bulldogs Day" is set for Aug. 22 at the Maybank Triplets Practice Facility on campus. Enjoy a free hot dog lunch that begins at 1 pm, and watch the scrimmage that is slated from 1:30-3 pm. After the scrimmage, there will be an opportunity to meet and greet the Bulldogs and secure autographs. Schedule cards and posters will be available as will the 2009 media guide, which will be on sale for $10 each.
The Citadel Sports Networks Expands to Third Largest Network in SoCon
The Citadel Sports Network, a division of Kirkman Broadcasting, Inc. has announced its largest statewide network in over a decade. All told, 12 stations throughout South Carolina will broadcast the 2009 football season making The Citadel Sports Network the third largest network in the Southern Conference, the premier FCS league.
ESPN Radio 910 The Team will again serve as the flagship station from its Charleston based studio. Fans can also find Bulldog football on 950 AM in Charleston, 660 AM in Greenville, 95.9 FM and 1470 AM in Columbia, 105.9 FM and 1240 AM in Sumter, 98.9 FM and 1230 AM in Florence, 1260 AM in Lake City and 93.7 FM and 1050 AM in Myrtle Beach/Conway, and on the internet at www.CitadelSports.com.
Goldwater returns for his second season as the "Voice of the Bulldogs" and will again team with Citadel Athletic Hall of Famer Walt Nadzak in the booth. Joining them on the sidelines is Brad Franko, a veteran news and sports anchor in Charleston for WCBD Channel 2.
Every broadcast will begin two hours prior to kickoff as Ted Byrne hosts The Citadel Sports Network Tailgate Show. On home Saturdays the show will originate from outside Johnson Hagood Stadium in conjunction with a Beach Music Shag Party, creating lively and entertaining gameday atmosphere.
In addition, this year marks the 25th anniversary of Kirkman Broadcasting's partnership with The Citadel Athletics Department as the exclusive broadcasting rights holder for Bulldog athletics.
11th Annual Kickoff Classic Set for Aug. 20
The 11th Annual Kickoff Golf Classic, that unofficially kicks off The Citadel football season and again presented by Wachovia, will be held on Thursday, August 20, at Wild Dunes Resort's Links and Harbor courses on the Isle of Palms.
Cost is $150 per person and includes green and cart fees, beverages, prizes and entry to The Citadel Club of Charleston's annual Shrimp & Beer Night at The Citadel Beach House that follows the golf outing.
All proceeds from the tournament go directly to The Citadel Brigadier Foundation and their mission to fund grants-in-aid for our cadet-student-athletes.
There will be two (2) cart sponsorships at $2,500 each which include signage in every cart and 12 tickets to the Shrimp & Beer Night, multiple Class Sponsorships at $2,000 each while includes tickets to the Shrimp & Beer Night for all class contributors and finally, the Champion Hole Sponsors for $1,000 receive exclusive use of a hole (out of 36), one complimentary golfer, four tickets to the Shrimp & Beer event and may staff the hole any way they wish.
The highest raising class will be recognized at the Presbyterian College game on Sept. 26 and will receive a catered tailgate on the Club Level Terrace for that game.
Veteran Committee Chairman Rod Moseley '74 said that to ensure a spot in the tournament, please have your money in by August 7. For sign-up and sponsorship information, please contact The Citadel Brigadier Foundation at 843/953-5277 or Moseley at 843/266-3724.
Bulldog Fan Club Breakfast
The next Bulldog Fan Club breakfast will be held on Friday, August 28, at 8 am at the Holliday Alumni Center. A buffet breakfast will be served at a cost of $10 per person, and please feel free to invite a guest or two who would not otherwise attend.
Our speakers will be Kevin Higgins, Carolyn Geiger and Bob Winch, head coaches of football, volleyball and soccer teams, respectively. You will have the opportunity to hear these coaches' visions regarding their respective teams in terms of past achievements and future challenges and opportunities. They will also encourage questions from the audience.
Future meetings will be held in November with the coaches of basketball, wrestling and rifle, and again in February with coaches of baseball, golf, tennis and track.
Please respond by e-mail (forsbergg@citadel.edu) or phone (843/953-5277) by August 21.
Chris McGuiness Gains All-Star Status
Former Citadel first baseman Chris McGuiness, now a member of the Lowell Spinners, the Class-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, has been selected as a New York-Penn League All-Star.
McGuiness, the Red Sox's 13th round selection, currently leads the Spinners with 31 RBI, second in the NY-Penn League. The first baseman is batting .255 for the season with a team-leading 14 doubles, ranking third in the league, and six home runs, which is tied for the team lead. Earlier this season McGuiness set a Spinners franchise record with six straight games with an extra-base hit, part of a 13-game hitting streak from July 17-30.
Coming Soon to Your Mailbox
The Special Football Issue of The Blue & White, the official quarterly publication of The Citadel Brigadier Foundation, should be soon arriving in your mailbox. In this exceptional issue, we feature a Q&A session with Coach Kevin Higgins and have a quality piece on All-American Andre Roberts. Defensive lineman Terrence Reese is also profiled, and there's all sorts of information and facts to help you know what one needs to know before the season begins. All of that - and more - in the upcoming issue of The Blue & White. In order to receive this publication, one has to be a member in good standing of The Citadel Brigadier Foundation. For membership information, please call us at 843/953-5277.
And Finally...
Everyone in the Department of Athletics offers congratulations to Katie Rose Higgins, the youngest of Kevin and Kay Higgins' three children, who captured the recent Beth Daniel Junior Azalea (Golf) Championship at the Country Club of Charleston. Beth, of course, is the daughter of Citadel Hall of Famer Bob Daniel '49 and is a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame.
Katie Rose, a rising senior at First Baptist Church School, shot a 70-71=141 for the one-stroke victory. She concluded a terrific summer by winning the South Carolina Junior Girls and the Jimmy Self Invitational tournaments, and made an appearance in the U.S. Junior Girls Amateur as well as qualifying for South Carolina and Carolinas teams in intersectional competition.
Congratulations to Katie Rose and especially to proud parents, Kevin and Kay Higgins.
They Said It:
"We're thrilled to add an experienced, quality professional like Geoff to our administrative staff. He brings a solid and varied background in intercollegiate athletic administration and financial management and will be an asset to our department."
- Director of Athletics Larry Leckonby, on new Associate AD/Business and Operations Geoff Von Dollen.
"It's obviously a tremendous honor to be linked with the people elected before me and with the people going in with me this year. But more importantly, it's a reflection of the teams I played with at The Citadel and how we had such good teams during that time."
- Donald Morillo '95, who will be inducted Friday night as a member of the Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame, on what the selection means to him.
"We actually got some tape from different NFL teams that we are looking at, to see what teams like the Dolphins are doing with different formations and sets, to see how we can get the ball into Andre's hands. We want to try to put Andre in as many different positions as we can, so that teams can't come to the line of scrimmage and know where he's going to line up. ... We'll put him at split end, flanker, in the slot, as a back in the backfield. We'll motion him out, put him at the quarterback position. We'll put him in as many positions as we can so it makes it harder for teams to double-team him. ... We would not do it if he couldn't handle it. He's a bright guy and will graduate early with a business degree and a 3.0-plus GPA. He can handle all the football we can give him."
- Coach Kevin Higgins, on the multiple line-ups that All-America wide receiver Andre Roberts will see this fall so opponents can't easily double-team him.
"Anything they put in front of me, I'm ready. I want to be a playmaker for this team. Wherever they need me, they can put me."
- Andre Roberts, on his multiple line-ups.
"I need to know where Andre is at all times. We're looking to get the ball to him as much as we can. He's our All-American and a great athlete, and I think Andre is handling everything great. He knows the offense really well, so we're not worried about that."
- Quarterback Bart Blanchard, on Roberts.
"Our goal from day one of creating this year's network was to bring Citadel football to as many of the loyal alumni, fans and military personnel as possible. Our network covers nearly the entire state, providing fans the chance to follow the Bulldogs wherever
their travels might take them."
- "Voice of the Bulldogs" Darren Goldwater.
"It has really helped me a lot. It's help me most with getting height on my kicks and getting the ball to explode off my foot. I look completely different on film, and it definitely has built my confidence. ... We learned at camp that competition only makes you better. And Coach Higgins tells us, you can't be afraid to work with other kickers and have them work with you to get better, because in the end it's all about the team."
- Place kicker Sam Keeler, on attending a three-week summer camp for kickers in Prattville, Ala., and competition for the position.
Upcoming Birthdays
Aug. 16 Todd Lair Administration
Aug. 25 Lt Col William Sharbrough Faculty Athletics Representative
Aug. 30 Boo IX Mascot
Upcoming Special Events
Aug. 20 11th Annual Kickoff Golf Classic Wild Dunes Resort
Aug. 20-21 Sertoma Football Classic Johnson Hagood Stadium
Aug. 22 Meet the Bulldogs (1 pm) Maybank Triplets Practice Field
Aug. 28 Fan Club Breakfast (8 am) Holliday Alumni Center
Nov. 6 Baseball Team's Golf Outing Legend Oaks Golf Club
Have a Friend Who Might Be Interested?
Today's Blue & White is the sister publication of the The Blue & White, the official publication of The Citadel Brigadier Foundation that is printed monthly. In order to receive the printed version, one has to be a member of TCBF. However, we've opened Today's Blue & White to anyone and everyone who has a computer and who is interested in activities of TCBF and, of course, The Citadel's Department of Athletics. Today's Blue & White is free. All one has to do is sign up is to click on this link: http://www.nmnathletics.com/main/NewsMailSetup.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9700=
Today's Blue & White is the official electronic publication of The Citadel Brigadier Foundation, Inc. with its office located at The Citadel, McAlister Field House, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409 (office 843/953-5277).
Publishers..................Jerry Baker & Larry Leckonby
Editor.....................Andy Solomon
Photographer.............Russ Pace
Layout/Design............Noelle Orr Blaney
