Today's Blue & White - August 12, 2011

Today’s Blue & White

The Citadel Brigadier Foundation’s Official Electronic Newsletter

Friday, August 5, 2011

Opening Kickoff!

While the Class of 2015 reports to campus on Saturday, the complete football, volleyball and soccer teams have already begun their practice sessions.  Upperclassmen return on Sunday, Aug. 21, and the first day of classes is set for Aug. 24.  Spike firmly believes this is the quickest and hottest summer he’s ever experienced.

We start this issue with the announcement of our basketball schedule under second-year coach Chuck Driesell.  It is another challenging slate, which is highlighted by Clemson coming to McAlister Field House for the first time since 1989.

In this issue, we mention that the Coke Zero “Meet the Bulldogs Day” for football will be held on Saturday, Aug. 20 and we continue with more football-related information (do you have your season tickets yet?). 

As you’ve come to expect, we have another packed issue of news and notes, so enjoy and Go Bulldogs!!!

Clemson Coming to McAlister Highlights Home Basketball Schedule

The basketball schedule in Coach Chuck Driesell's second season was released this week.  Highlighting the slate are two trips to Colorado, opening the season in the inaugural All Military Classic in Colorado Springs against VMI, followed by a December meeting at Denver. The All Military Classic, hosted by the Air Force Academy, features VMI, Army and The Citadel.  The second of four scheduled All Military Classics will be hosted by The Citadel in 2012-13.

The Bulldog will host 14 games at McAlister Field House, including a Nov. 16 matchup against Clemson, in which the Tigers make their first McAlister appearance since Nov. 28, 1989.

In other top non-conference action, the Bulldogs will also play at High Point (Nov. 26), James Madison (Dec. 19), and at Tennessee (Dec. 29) while key home contests will be against Coastal Carolina (Dec. 6) and Charleston Southern (Dec. 14).

The Bulldogs again play two league games prior to the Christmas break and will visit College of Charleston (Dec. 1) and Wofford (Dec. 3).

To view the entire schedule, please refer to www.CitadelSports.com.

Coke Zero “Meet the Bulldogs” Set for Aug. 20

The annual Coke Zero “Meet the Bulldogs Day” for football has been set for Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Maybank Triplets Practice Facility at Willson Field on campus.  A complimentary hamburgers and hot dogs lunch, provided by Costco Wholesale, will be served in the McAlister Field House lobby at 1 pm, with the Blue-White Scrimmage commencing at 1:15.  Posters, schedule cards and other collateral will be available and the popular autograph session will begin at 3:15 in the McAlister Field House lobby. Coca-Cola will also be introducing their new relaxation drink, Simmer, with a relaxation station set up in the lobby.

Football Practice Continues

Of course you know that the Bulldogs’ football team continues its preseason practice schedule.  Rest assured that veteran Director of Sports Medicine Andy Clawson, who begins his 39^th season at The Citadel, has his eyes on both the temperature and the individual players as practice continues during this brutal week of oppressive heat and nearly unbearable humidity.

If you were wondering what the team did on Thursday, here’s a rundown of their schedule:

8-10:15 am – Practice

12 noon – Lunch

2-3 pm – Position meetings

3:15-5:15 pm - Practice

6:15 pm - Dinner

7:15 pm – Position meetings

8:45 pm – Special teams meeting

9:15-9:30 pm – Team time

Individual Football Game Tickets Are Now on Sale  

Are you able to attend only the night games (or the day games) this year?  Have you been waiting for VMI and the Military Classic of the South to return to Johnson Hagood Stadium?  Do fall weddings get in the way where you can only attend selected games?

Then you are candidates to secure individual game tickets as a season ticket may not be for you.  Our Athletic Ticket Office is now prepared to take individual game orders (and, of course, we’ll still take season ticket orders).

In order to purchase individual game tickets, please call our Ticket Office at 843/953-DOGS (3647) or online at www.CitadelSports.com.

Sweet Johnson Hagood Stadium Suite May Become Available

An environmentally-controlled luxury suite at Johnson Hagood Stadium could possibly become available in time for the 2011 football season.  If you have an interest, please contact Associate Athletics Director John McAleer ’72 at 843/953-1354 or email him at john.mcaleer@citadel.edu.

Last Call for Participating in the 13^th Annual Bulldog Kickoff Classic

Please consider this to be the “last call” for participating in the 13^th Annual Bulldog Kickoff Classic Presented by Wells Fargo.  The event, which sells out annually, has only a few spots left.

Set for Aug. 18 at Wild Dunes Resort’s Links and Harbor courses, the event serves as the unofficial start of the football season.  And following the golf, participants are able to take part in The Citadel Club of Charleston’s annual Shrimp and Beer Night that takes place at the Beach House.

There are 36 Class Sponsorships available ($2,000/minimum per class) and each class will receive signage on both courses as well as listing in the game program.  The top donor class will be awarded a catered tailgate party on the Club Level Terrace during a home football game and the class may direct $12,500 to a Memorial Fund Scholarship of their choice or have one created in their class name.

Corporate sponsorships are also available ($500) and they include exclusive ownership of the hole of your choice (first come; first served) that may be staffed.  Also included are one golfing spot and two tickets to the Shrimp & Beer Night.

All proceeds benefit athletic scholarships.

For more information – including sponsorship opportunities – please contact Rod Moseley ’74 at 843/708-1053 or Jimmy Bagwell ’74 at 843/270-0591.  Additional information may also be secured by referring to http://www.citadelsports.com/information/2011_Kickoff_Classic.pdf.  Don’t be left out; sign up today!

Volleyball Begins Practice

The volleyball team opened practice on Tuesday for the 2011 season under new head coach Amir Khaledi.

The team, comprised of eight upperclassmen and six freshmen, focused on individual passing, digging and service game drills.  Khaledi now turns his attention to installing offensive and defensive sets and solidifying position assignments.

The Citadel opens the season on August 26 when they participate in the Hampton University Tournament.

Baseball Adds Vrable to Staff

Baseball coach Fred Jordan has rounded out his staff this week with the addition of Adam Vrable as an assistant coach.

Vrable, a 2007 graduate of Coastal Carolina University, joins the staff after serving as Furman's outfield, base running and hitting coach in 2011.  At The Citadel, Vrable will work with the hitters and outfielders.

Before that, he was an instructor at the Coastal Baseball Academy in Myrtle Beach for three years.

A two-time all-state infielder in High School in Bay City, Mich., he played his freshman year at Grand Rapids (Mich.) Community College, where he earned All-NJCAA honorable mention All-America honors after keying his squad to a Division II national title.  He transferred to Coastal Carolina as a sophomore and helped spark the Chanticleers to two Big South Conference championships, their first 50-win season and a pair of No. 1 seeds in both the 2005 NCAA Tempe Regional and 2007 Myrtle Beach Regional, which Coastal Carolina hosted.  

The All-Big South Tournament team selection set season records for putouts and assists at CCU as a second baseman.

In addition to his instruction duties at the Coastal Baseball Academy, he directed travel teams and coached in the Upstate Maverick Organization for the 17U Orange in the summer of 2010.

Will Wilson Memorial 5K Run and Walk Benefits TBCF

Registration is open for the 2nd Annual William Wilson 5K Run/Walk that will be held on Saturday, August 20, at the Maxcy Gregg Park in Columbia.

William Wilson ‘07 was tragically killed while riding his bicycle through the Shandon neighborhood in September 2008.  William was an avid athlete, competitor and member of The Citadel cross country and track teams from 2003-07.

To commemorate his life and all that he stood for, the 2nd Annual William Wilson 5K Run/Walk benefits the Palmetto Cycling Coalition and the William Wilson Scholarship fund at The Citadel.  Please join The Citadel family and the Columbia Community as we celebrate William Wilson and benefit two great charities.

The race is on a sanctioned USATF course.

Strictly Running, a running and walking shop in Columbia, will be assisting in the race. To register for your spot today, please refer to http://www.strictlyrunning.com/index8.asp and for more information – including sponsorship opportunities – please contact The Brigadier Foundation (843/053-6277), email williamwilson5k@gmail.com or refer to http://www.williamwilson5k.com.

Want to Keep Up With Citadel Athletics?

Fans have the opportunity to follow all the action of The Citadel Bulldogs by joining Twitter and Facebook for your round-the-clock news on Citadel athletics.

To join other loyal fans on Twitter, visit: http://twitter.com/CitadelSports and to become a devotee of the Bulldogs on Facebook, visit: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Citadel-Sports/108617202526805?ref=ts.  And, as always, we’re updated on www.CitadelSports.com.

Bulldog Business Partners

The Citadel Brigadier Foundation has started the “Bulldog Business Partners” for the 2012-12 academic year and the first to sign up are:

• Charleston Comfort Inn
• Piggly Wiggly

We encourage you to please stop by and thank our supporters.  If you want more information on how your business can partner with The Citadel Brigadier Foundation, please call us at 843/953-5277.

August Birthdays

Aug. 8             Larry Leckonby          Administration

Aug. 8             Kevin Yeager              Equipment

Aug. 11           William C. Smith        Rifle

Aug. 19           Britt Reames               Baseball

Aug. 31           Bill Mottola                 Football

They Said It:

"The All Military Classic is something that I wanted to see happen when I took the job last season.  It is going to be a great experience for our players, fans and coaches, along with being a great way to tipoff the season.  The opportunity to compete against other military schools will be special for our players, and I am confident this event will pick up some exposure and be a huge success.  On top of that, we will open with Clemson at home.  I anticipate this being a great environment for our cadets and fans to be a part of."

• Basketball coach Chuck Driesell, on the 2011-12 basketball schedule.

"I haven't played a full season since my junior year of high school. Everybody's just been waiting to see what I can do if I stay healthy -- especially me."

• Senior running back Rickey Anderson.

"It's a privilege and an honor to get an opportunity to work at The Citadel.  I know the program from the outside having played at Coastal Carolina and coached at Furman with Coach (Britt) Reames.  I am really looking forward to working with Coach (Fred) Jordan and Coach (David) Beckley at such a well-respected institution."

• New assistant baseball coach Adam Vrable.

Upcoming Events

Aug. 18                       13^th Annual Bulldog Kickoff Golf Classic @Wild Dunes

Aug. 20                       “Meet the Bulldogs (Football)” @Maybank Triplets Facility

William Wilson 5K Walk/Run @Columbia

Nov. 11                       21^st Annual Homecoming Golf Tournament @Shadowmoss

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.citadelsports.com/list-signup

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

Layout…………………Mike Petrini