Today's Blue & White August 5, 2011

                                                           Today’s Blue & White
                            The Citadel Brigadier Foundation’s Official Electronic Newsletter
                                                         Friday, August 5, 2011

Opening Kickoff!
The football team’s first official practice is being held this morning (Friday) at the Maybank Triplets Practice Facility at Willson Field, and excitement begins to rise as the 2011 Bulldogs begin its practice season.  It won’t be too long until Jacksonville University comes to Johnson Hagood Stadium on September 3, and another season of Citadel Football is underway.

By the way, have you received your season tickets yet?  If not, please contact our Athletic Ticket Office at 843/953-DOGS (3647) and they’ll set you up.

The McAlister Field House basketball and volleyball playing floor just completed its annual re-finishing, and it looks absolutely great!  The jump circle features “The Citadel” in navy with white outline and the baselines have “The Citadel Bulldogs” in the college’s special lettering.  “SoCon” appears in both lanes where charge circles have been added, and perhaps the best addition are the words “Honor,” “Duty” and “Respect” that grace the sidelines.  The primary color is navy, and the floor has never looked better.  You will be impressed!

The Lowcountry this weekend is dodging the first whirlwind of the season as Hurricane Emily, thankfully, is providing the local surfers a terrific weekend at the Folly Beach “Washout.”  We’re hopeful that other hurricanes continue to follow in Emily’s footsteps.

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


First Football Practice Is Underway
The first football practice is being held from 8-10:30 am this morning (Friday) and here is what the players’ first day looks like:

8-10:30 am        Practice
12 noon             Lunch    
12:45 pm           Freshman haircuts
3 pm                  Walk thru – Offense
                          Individual meetings – Defense
4 pm                  Walk thru – Defense
                          Individual meetings – Offense
5:15-5:45 pm    Special teams meeting
6:15 pm             Dinner
7 pm                  Team meeting
7:15 pm             Position meetings
8:45 pm             Special teams meeting
9:15-9:30          Team time
        

Football Media & Photo Day Set Saturday
The Citadel football program will host its annual Media and Photo Day on Sunday, Aug. 7 at 1 pm at Johnson Hagood Stadium as players and coaches will be available for photos and interviews with local, regional and national media.

The annual Meet the Bulldogs Day for fans has been set for August 20, so stay tuned for details.

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 three 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.


13th Annual Bulldog Kickoff Classic Set for Aug. 18
The 13th Annual Bulldog Kickoff Classic Presented by Wells Fargo sells out every year and it will again this year.

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!


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.


Kyle Bunn Named ETSU Pitching Coach
Kyle Bunn, regarded as one of the top pitching coaches in the region, has joined the East Tennessee State coaching staff.

Bunn has seen 31 of his former pitchers selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.  He has served as a Division I coach for nine seasons, and all nine teams have ended the year with a winning record.

Bunn most recently served as the pitching coach at Alabama during the 2010 season, leading the team to the NCAA Super Regionals.  Prior to arriving at Alabama, Bunn spent two seasons as the pitching coach at Clemson.  In 2009, Bunn helped lead the Tigers to the NCAA Super Regionals.  Before his arrival at Clemson, Bunn spent six years at Ole Miss, and during his tenure in Oxford, Bunn saw 16 of his pitchers go in the MLB Draft.  Prior to Mississippi, Bunn spent the 2001 season as an assistant coach at Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton, Ala.  

A 1999 Citadel graduate with a degree in Business Administration, the 32-year-old was a three-year letter winner for the Bulldogs, earning the team's Ace Pitching Award in 1999.  He helped The Citadel to back-to-back Southern Conference titles in both 1998 and ‘99, and was a SoCon Academic Honor Roll member.  Bunn started for the Bulldogs in the 1999 Southern Conference Tournament Championship game against Western Carolina, and struck out 11 batters in a complete-game victory.  Bunn was a cadet captain and regimental liaison for baseball to the South Carolina Corps of Cadets.

ETSU’s head coach is Tony Skole ’91, who will be enshrined in The Citadel Athletic Hall of Fame in October.


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.


They Said It:
"I had a blast last year so I wanted to come back again."

•    Lorrie Warren of Mount Pleasant, on attending The Citadel Football Women’s 101 & 102 Seminar this past Saturday.


"Those guys played a lot better than any of us gave them credit for."

•    Coach Kevin Higgins, on last year’s defense.


“In the triple-option offense, you can get a feel for how the defensive secondary is moving by who makes the play.  But really, you need to see how they are playing the quarterback and fullback to make your calls.  The biggest part of the information I will need from the (coaches in the press) box is the secondary rotation and make sure we take advantage of play-action opportunities when they are there.”

•    Offensive coordinator Bob Bodine, on the Bulldogs’ triple option offense.


"For me, being inducted into The Citadel Hall of Fame is an honor beyond what words can describe.  My time at The Citadel was very special and even more special is the wonderful, life-long relationships I developed while I was there.  I was very fortunate to be surrounded by outstanding teammates and outstanding coaches, who continue to positively impact my life on a daily basis.  I am very honored and humbled to receive this recognition.”

•    Tony Skole ’91, a former baseball/football standout who is currently the baseball coach at East Tennessee State, on his upcoming enshrinement in The Citadel Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 28.

Upcoming Events
Aug. 18        13th Annual Bulldog Kickoff Golf Classic @Wild Dunes
Aug. 20        “Meet the Bulldogs (Football)” @Maybank Triplets Facility
                    William Wilson 5K Walk/Run @Columbia
Nov. 11        21st 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.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…………………Mike Petrini