Today's Blue & White, May 27th 2011

Today’s Blue & White

The Citadel Brigadier Foundation’s Official Electronic Newsletter

Friday, May 27, 2010

First Pitch!

The Citadel is currently serving as host of the 2011 Southern Conference Baseball Tournament and regrettably, for the first time since 1987, the Bulldogs won’t be participating.  Unfortunately, the Diamond Dogs ran into a bit of a tailspin and failed to reach the top eight, but rest assured that the Athletics Department’s staff will continue to display the hospitality at the tournament that we’re known for. 

Congratulations are extended to the women’s cross country team for earning NCAA Public recognition Award (see below).  Veteran coach Jody Huddleston always has a competitive squad and we’re equally proud of the accomplishments made in the classroom. 

Along similar lines, we wish the best to sprinter Brunson Miller who is currently participating in the preliminary round of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships East Regional in Bloomington, Ind.   

Keep in mind that The Citadel Football Association is hosting the “From Athletes to Artists” concert on June 5 as part of Piccolo Spoleto, and the event will be held in McAlister Field House.  Former All-SoCon football players Tony Cicoria ’74 and Morris Robinson ’91 will present a unique show that will raise a lot of money for the organization. 

This will be the last issue of Today’s Blue & White for a couple of weeks as our illustrious editor begins his annual work for the NCAA covering baseball Regionals and Super Regionals.  But we’ll be back in two weeks or so.  In the meantime, keep posted on activities in the Department of Athletics by checking regularly www.CitadelSports.com.

As expected, we have another packed issue of news and notes, so enjoy and Go Bulldogs!!!

Women's Cross Country Earns NCAA Public Recognition Award

The women's cross country team was listed among 43 Southern Conference programs recognized by the NCAA with a 2011 Public Recognition Award.

Teams honored by the NCAA earned multiple Academic Progress Report (APR) scores in the top 10 percent for the past four years.  The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship.  The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team's academic performance. The most recent APR scores are multi-year rates based on the scores from the 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 academic years. The public recognition awards are part of the overall Division I academic reform effort.

The women's track and field team, also coached by Huddleston, previously received the Public Recognition Award the last two years. This year, a total of 13 men's programs in the SoCon earned the Public Recognition Award, while 30 women's programs earned national honors.  Davidson led all conference schools with 13 teams earning the award.  Six SoCon schools had multiple programs earn the award, while five members had at least one men's and one women's program earn recognition from the NCAA. 

Brunson Miller Participates in NCAA East Regionals

Sophomore track and field sprinter Brunson Miller continued his 2011 season as he participated in the preliminary round of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships East Regional on Thursday in Bloomington, Ind.  and hosted by Indiana University.

After the declaration deadline last Thursday, Miller entered the meet ranked No. 27 in the 400m dash.  He shattered the school record in with a career-best time of 46.90 in April at the Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham, Ala.  Defending his title in the event with the first place finish he recorded his sixth overall league championship title, having won the 400m in all four SoCon Championships while he has been competing in a Citadel uniform. 

The first round of the NCAA men's 400m was slated for Thursday at 7 pm.  Miller was to compete in the third heat along with seven other competitors.  The East Regionals accepted 48 of the top competitors in the 400m dash and hosted six heats for the national first round on Thursday.  The top three fastest times from each heat as well as the next six fastest times advance to the national quarterfinal that is slated for 5:45 pm on Friday. 

For updates, please refer to www.CitadelSports.com. 

TBCF Raffles Electric Golf Cart

The Citadel Brigadier Foundation is in possession of a $15,000 CT&T Electric Golf Cart and we’ve elected to raffle it off.  Anyone can purchase a ticket ($20 each or three for $50).  The street legal vehicle will be raffled off on May 30.  As with everything with TCBF, all proceeds go toward funding our athletic scholarships.  To purchase a ticket, please stop by our office in McAlister Field House or call us at 843/953-5277.  Credit cards are accepted. 

Have Your Battalion Salute You

You may or may not have been the most popular cadet in your battalion during your years at The Citadel, but now you can be while having your entire battalion salute you.  To get your battalion behind you through a personalized print, all one has to do is join (or re-join) The Citadel Brigadier Foundation before June 30.  Have your company salute you on the quad with your name and class year by calling us at 843/953-5277.  

Nick Orvin Named to All-SoCon Team

A day after he earned all-conference first team by the league’s baseball coaches, The Citadel's Nick Orvin picked up another award as he was named to the all-conference second team by the Southern Conference Sports Media Association.

Orvin earned second team all-conference honors by the media for the second consecutive season.  The junior outfielder entered the career top-10 at The Citadel in runs scored this year and sits just three base knocks away from entering the career top-10 in hits.  This season, Orvin batted .320 with 74 hits, 47 runs, 14 doubles, nine home runs, 32 RBI, 23 walks and 19 stolen bases.  He led the squad in hits, runs, homers, total bases, slugging percentage, walks and stolen bases in 2011.  He reached base in the final 23 games of the season. 

Former Citadel Football Standouts Return for Piccolo Spoleto’s Spotlight Concert Series

They wore The Citadel blue and white football uniforms and toiled in the trenches of historic Johnson Hagood Stadium 17 years apart, yet both were named among the Southern Conference’s best linemen during their time.  Now they return together to their Alma Mater to present the most unique concert ever held in McAlister Field House. 

Dr. Tony Cicoria, Class of 1974, and Morris Robinson, Class of  1991, revisit The Citadel on Sunday, June 5 at 7 pm, as part of the 2011 Piccolo Spoleto “Spotlight Concert Series.”  Both return to give back to the college they love so as a fundraiser for The Citadel Football Association in a concert setting that is appropriately entitled, “From Athletes to Artists.”

Cicoria is an orthopedic surgeon in Norwich, NY who was struck by lightning.  Having no musical background, he developed an insatiable desire to listen to piano music, taught himself to play and is now a celebrated concert pianist.

Robinson, on the other hand, is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the most fascinating and sought after basses performing today.  A graduate of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, he made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in their production of Fidelio.

Both Cicoria and Robinson will appear with the Piccolo Spoleto Festival Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Donald Portnoy.

Tickets are $51 (Gold), $36 (Silver) and $16 (Bronze) and may be secured by contacting the Piccolo Spoleto Ticket Hotline at 866/811-4111.  General festival information may be secured by calling 843/724-7305 and the website is www.piccolospoleto.com.

Proceeds benefit The Citadel Football Association, its athletic scholarship and efforts to enhance the football program for players and coaches.

TCBF Schedules Coaches Nights

The Citadel Brigadier Foundation’s annual spring tour that features many of our coaches has been set, and we invite you to attend the one(s) closest to where you reside.  If you have questions or concerns, please contact Caleb Davis at 843/953-6813 or email him at caleb.davis@citadel.edu. 

For the updated listing, please refer to “Upcoming Events” that appears below.

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 2010-11 academic year and the first to sign up are:

• Charleston Crab House/Palmetto Ale House
• Tommy Condon’s Irish Pub
• Hawthorne Suites
• Lutheran Hospice
• Piggly Wiggly
• Kevin Shealy, Allstate Insurance
• Sleep-Inn / Mt. Pleasant
• South Carolina Federal Credit Union

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. 

May/June Birthdays

May 28            Andy Alden                              Football

June 3              Craig Candeto                        Football

June 9              David Beckley                         Baseball

June 19            Josh Conklin                           Football

June 27            Rob Hjerling                           Wrestling

Upcoming Events

May 25-29                   SoCon Baseball Tournament @Riley Park

June 5                          “From Athletes to Artists” Concert @McAlister Field House

June 9                          Breakaway Twilight Series @Maybank Triplets Facility

June 16                        TCBF Coaches Night: Summerville

June 23                        Breakaway Twilight Series @Maybank Triplets Facility

July 7                           Breakaway Twilight Series @Maybank Triplets Facility

Aug. 20                       William Wilson 5K Walk/Run @Columbia 

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&DB_OEM_ID=9700&DB_LANG=&IN_SUBSCRIBER_CONTENT=&DB_OEM_ID=9700&DB_LANG=&IN_SUBSCRIBER_CONTENT=&KEY=&DB_OEM_ID=9700&DB_LANG=&IN_SUBSCRIBER_CONTENT=

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…………………Jeremy Helms