Today's Blue & White November 11, 2011

Today’s Blue & White

The Citadel Brigadier Foundation’s Official Electronic Newsletter

Friday, November 11, 2011

Opening Kickoff/Tipoff!

Happy Homecoming!

Spike wonders if more reunion folks will have their picture taken this weekend in front of the new ring on Summerall Field or the big bulldog at Johnson Hagood Stadium.

While Saturday’s football game against Samford (note the 3 pm kickoff) takes center stage, the basketball team begins its second season under Coach Chuck Driesell.  The Bulldogs are in Colorado Springs for the All-Military Classic that is hosted by the Air Force Academy.

While we still have a weekend full of athletic activities, we are eager about next week as The Citadel hosts Clemson in our basketball home opener on Wednesday night at McAlister Field House and then face the University of South Carolina at noon Saturday in football.  How would you feel if the Bulldogs won both of those contests? 

For those of you who don’t live in the Lowcountry, Joseph P. Riley, Jr. ’64 won his unprecedented 10^th term as mayor of Charleston.

The weather is going to be wonderful for Homecoming and we hope you enjoy yourselves this weekend.  And as you’ve come to expect, we have another packed issue of news and notes, so enjoy and Go Bulldogs!!!

Athletes Join Fellow Cadets In Performing Community Service

About 2,000 Citadel cadets – including those from our intercollegiate athletic teams –participated Tuesday in what the college said is the largest community service event in the history of the Charleston military school.

Tuesday’s event was called Heroism Day.

Nearly 800 cadets visited local schools to discuss heroism with students while hundreds of others worked at food banks, animal shelters and community centers.  Hundreds more ran from campus across the Ravenel Bridge to Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant in honor of veterans.

The Citadel’s Arland D. Williams Heroism Day began in 2010 with a few hundred cadets in support of the college mission of developing principled leaders through service learning.  Sponsored by The Citadel Krause Center for Leadership and Ethics, Heroism Day was on Election Day this year because it is a day off from classes for cadets.

Arland Williams Heroism Day honors The Citadel graduate who was a passenger on Air Florida flight 90 that crashed into the Potomac River in Washington in January 1982.  Williams repeatedly passed a rescue line to other survivors and died before he could be saved.

Citadel Hosts Samford in Home Finale & Homecoming on Saturday; Kickoff Set for 3 pm

The Citadel and Samford will meet for the fifth time on Saturday.  Kickoff for the Homecoming contest is set for 3 pm.

The series dates to 1989 with the Cadets leading the series, 4-1.  The Citadel has won each of the last two contests by scores of 13-12 in 2010 and 28-6 in 2009.  The lone Samford victory came in 2008, their inaugural season in the league, when they beat us, 28-7, in Birmingham.

The last time the two teams met in Charleston came in 2009 and the Cadets rallied from a 10-0 deficit to earn a 28-16 victory.  The Cadets continued their flare for dramatics in 2010, rallying from a 12-7 fourth quarter shortage by going 63 yards in three plays, including a 55-yard double-reverse that culminated with a Ben Dupree touchdown to win, 13-12, in Birmingham.

Bulldogs Narrowly Miss Upset at Georgia Southern  

Two blocked extra points and a missed field goal in the final seconds proved the difference in Georgia Southern's 14-12 win over The Citadel on Saturday at Paulson Stadium.  The Eagles made a halftime lead stand after holding the Bulldogs to 121 yards in the second half, forcing two punts and intercepting a pass.

The Citadel scored two first half touchdowns, but were held to 264 total yards due in part to a stingy second-half Eagle defense.  Darien Robinson carried the ball nine times for 92 yards for a 10.2 average.  One of their quarterbacks, Aaron Miller, rushed a team-high 19 times for 80 yards and completed one pass for 17 yards.

For more information, please refer to www.CitadelSports.com.

McCladdie Receives Honorable Mention Citation

Cornerback Brandon McCladdie received honorable mention acknowledgment for FCS Defensive Back Performer of the Week by College Football Performance Awards (CFPA).

In Saturday's 14-12 thriller at Georgia Southern, McCladdie, who hails from Martinez, Ga., anchored the secondary with two tackles for losses totaling three yards and an interception return of 21 yards.  The interception came at the 4:18 mark of the third quarter with the Eagles driving. McCladdie picked a Jaybo Shaw pass and returned it to the Georgia Southern 48-yard line. 

McCladdie currently ranks sixth on the team in tackles with 39, including 31 solo.  Among those 39 tackles include three for a loss of five yards.  He is tied, alongside Davis Boyle, for the team lead in interceptions with two.

Tickets to Citadel-USC Game Now Available

Remember the last time The Citadel played at South Carolina?  Yep, it was in 1990 and we pulled the amazing upset.  And remember how you felt that you didn’t attend?  Well, we’re not in the forecasting business and are not predicting an upset, but what if we did, and you missed it … again?

The Bulldogs trek to Williams-Brice Stadium next Saturday for a noon kickoff, and you can be there to experience a tremendous game setting and a possible upset.  Tickets will be on sale during Saturday’s home football game at all Johnson Hagood Stadium ticket windows.

You may also call our Athletic Ticket Office today at 843/953-DOGS (3647) and reserve your seats for the Carolina game (tickets are $30 each).  You won’t want to miss this one!

Stray Dog Society Charters Bus for Citadel-USC Game

Join the Stray Dog Society on Saturday Nov. 19 for a bus ride to and from Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia for The Citadel-South Carolina game.  A chartered bus will take Citadel fans to Columbia in comfort and style.  The bus will leave The Citadel Alumni Center at 8am and arrive at the Alumni Association/Columbia Citadel Club Tailgate around 10 am.  After the game, which kicks off at noon, there will be some post-tailgate time before returning to Charleston by 7pm.  Save the driving hassle and costs of paying for parking, gas, food and all beverages.  The bus has a restroom on board.

Cost for the trip is $50 per person, and this opportunity will sell out.  For additional information, please contact infor@citadelstraydog.com, and to sign-up, please refer to http://citadelstraydog.com/.

Note that the trip does not include the ticket to the game, which may be secured by calling The Citadel Athletic Ticket Office at 843/953-DOGS (3647).

Basketball Begins Tonight in Colorado Springs

With all the hoopla surrounding Saturday’s Homecoming football game, Coach Chuck Driesell’s second Citadel basketball team takes to the hardwood tonight (Friday) in Colorado Springs, Colo. and opens the 2011-12 season at the All-Military Classic.

The Bulldogs battle VMI on Friday in a tournament format that is hosted by the Air Force Academy.  In addition to USAFA, VMI and The Citadel, Army is the fourth team participating in this all-military competition that is scheduled to be in Charleston next year.

For more information, please refer to www.CitadelSports.com.

Clemson-Citadel Basketball Tickets Are Now on Sale

Your basketball-playing Bulldogs will host state-rival and ACC member Clemson University on Wednesday night, Nov. 16, in McAlister Field House at 7:05 pm.  This is Clemson’s first appearance in McAlister since 1989 and they will be making their lone visit to Charleston on this trip.  Good seats are still available but they are going fast.  Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children (3-18) or with a college ID.  To order your tickets go to Etix.com, call (843)953-DOGS (3647) or stop by the Athletic Ticket Office that is located in McAlister Field House. 

Basketball Inks Pair During Early Signing Period

Basketball coach Chuck Driesell released the names of two players, Matthew Van Scyoc and Raemond Robinson, who will join the Bulldogs as members of the 2012 recruiting class.  Driesell's second recruiting class, since joining the Bulldog Basketball program in April 2010, follows a 2011 class that included eight players.

Robinson, a 6-3, 190-pound shooting guard from Moncks Corner, joins the Bulldogs after starring at Goose Creek High.  A two-sport star, he also drew interest as a linebacker.  On the hardwood, Robinson averaged 16.1 points, 3.7 rebounds 2.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game during the 2010-11 season, earning All-Region, All-Lowcountry and HSSR All-State honors.  In 2008-09, Robinson helped the Gators capture the South Carolina State Championship and followed that by reaching the Lower State Championship as a sophomore.  Robinson was a high school teammate of current guard DeVontae Wright.

A 6-6, 210-pound small forward, Van Scyoc joins the Bulldogs from Green Lake High in Green Lake, Wis.  He appeared in 25 contests during the 2010-11 season, scored 561 points and posted 227 rebounds.  He was successful on 172-287 (59.9%) field goal attempts, converting 20-of-48 (41.7%) from beyond the arc.  Van Scyoc selected The Citadel over the likes of Army, Nevada, Boston, North Dakota and Miami (OH).

Vanessa Aponte, Mariana Garcia Collect SoCon Soccer Honors

Sophomores Vanessa Aponte and Mariana Garcia were both awarded Southern Conference soccer honors as Aponte was named to the All-Conference First Team while Garcia, last season's player and freshman of the year, earned second team honors.

Aponte accumulating impressive statistics that left her mark on the college’s record books.  Her 83 shots and 43 shots on goal this season is the most in program history, and she is now just 29 shots away from the career record.  The Orlando, Fla., native had two contests where she posted two goals in a single game, including a two-goal performance in the season finale against rival College of Charleston. The win marked the first victory in program history against the Cougars in 11 games.

Garcia, coming off her impressive freshman season, racked up another impressive campaign in her second year at The Citadel.  The Bogota, Colombia native tallied very similar statistics to Aponte, railing in seven goals on 71 shots (34 on goal).  Garcia recorded a two-goal performance against Chattanooga to help beat the Mocs, and capitalized on four game-winning goals including an 83^rd minute score that put The Citadel on top of the College of Charleston.

The sophomore most recently was named the top player to watch in the Southern Conference by TopDrawerSoccer.com.

Rifle Team Captures First Place in SEARC 4 Competition

The rifle team, currently ranked 22^nd in the nation and in second place in the SEARC, shot a team score of 2,243 to take first place in the fourth Southeastern Air Rifle Conference match of the season on Saturday in Spartanburg and hosted by Wofford.  The first-place finish is the Bulldogs' first since capturing the conference title in March of last season.

Four of the Bulldogs' top seven shooters were freshmen, including Richard Jackson, who took the individual crown as he fired a personal and season-best 570.  Behind Jackson was William Wutzer (4^th place; 563), captain Kristofer Small (9^th place; 557), Ashten Byrne (12^th; 548), Matthew Bernard (T-17^th; 544), Nathaniel Moy (T-17^th; 544), Richard Hunton (19^th; 537), Hunter Parrish (27^th; 517) and Narisa Lopez (32^nd; 503).

Captain Julia McCullohs and Terri Craig were unable to participate due to military duties.  The one-two punch of McCullohs and Craig has led the women in every match of the season thus far.

On the men's side, the story has continued to be the outstanding play of the freshmen marksmen as a knob has led The Citadel in each of the first five competitions.

For more information, please refer to www.CitadelSports.com.

Rifle to Host Alumni Drop-In Exhibition

The rifle team will host an Alumni Drop-in exhibition during Homecoming Weekend, where former shooters can come to the Inouye Marksmanship Center and watch current members of the team compete against each other in an exhibition match.

There will be an air rifle match starting at 9 am Saturday, and at 12 noon, they will fire a three-position smallbore match.  The electronic scoring system will be utilized, and visits will be able to enter the range and talk with the team as they shoot. 

For specifics, please contact coach William C. Smith at rifle@citadel.edu or at 843/953-3129.

Volleyball Beats Wofford in Four Sets; Falls to Furman & CofC

Rachael Farrell and Ise d'Angelo combined for 11 front row kills, but it was not enough to offset the College of Charleston who emerged victorious by scores of 25-14, 25-9 and 25-10 on Tuesday evening at McAlister Field House.

Farrell led nine Bulldogs with six kills, while the freshmen tandem of d'Angelo (five kills) and Amanda Rudnik (four kills) rounded out top front row performers. The Citadel was anchored defensively by d'Angelo, with seven digs, while Farrell and Kathryn Johnston contributed six digs each.

The combination of freshmen Amanda Rudnik, d'Angelo and Lauren Hurt, who combined for 24 kills, proved to be the difference for The Citadel in their 25-17, 25-17, 11-25 and 25-20 victory over Wofford on Saturday afternoon at McAlister Field House.

Rudnik paced the Bulldogs with nine kills, while d'Angelo and Hurt finished with eight and seven, respectively.  However, it was the Bulldogs’ defense that proved most valuable, as four players notched double-digit dig performances, led by Farrell's 19.  Joining Farrell were Alexa Dahlstrom (12 digs), d'Angelo (11 digs) and Emily Dalton (11 digs), as The Citadel finished with a decisive 65-59 edge in digs.  Dahlstrom also dished out 29 assists.

On Friday night in McAlister Field House, Farrell and d'Angelo combined for 18 kills, but The Citadel was unable to topple Furman, who emerged in three sets by scores of 25-16, 25-18 and 25-22.  Farrell notched her second double-double of the season, finishing with 16 digs and 10 kills. Meanwhile, d'Angelo added eight kills and seven digs, helping the Bulldogs finish with 36 kills as a unit.  Dahlstrom (14 assists) and Erin Bucherl (12 assists) guided the team to 33 total assists.

For more information, please refer to www.CitadelSports.com.

Wrestling Competes in The Citadel Open

The wrestling team completed action over the weekend as they hosted their annual season-opening tournament in The Citadel Open on Saturday at McAlister Field House.

The Bulldogs captured a pair of second-place finishes as freshman Kyle Casaletto and sophomore Kenneth Radford each placed as unattached wrestlers in the freshman-sophomore tournament.  Casaletto went 4-1 on the afternoon at 134-pounds, falling to an Appalachian State rival, 3-2, in the final, while Radford went 3-1, dropping a 7-4 decision to a Chattanooga grappler in the 165-pound finals.

Also finding success at The Citadel Open was freshman Weston Beck at 134-pounds.  Beck captured a third-place finish, going 5-1 and defeating a Central Florida foe, 10-8, in the third-place match.  Freshman Vincent Bellaran notched a fourth-place finish on the afternoon, going 5-2 and dropping a 6-4 decision to a Limestone wrestler in the third-place bout.

For more information, please refer to www.CitadelSports.com.

Hot Stove Banquet to Feature John Smoltz

Last year’s Hot Stove Banquet that featured recently-retired Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox got so big that the site had to be changed to accommodate all those that wanted to attend.

This year, it could even be larger because John Smoltz, the future Hall of Fame pitcher who spent two decades with the Braves, will serve as the guest speaker for the 8^th annual banquet.

The event, which will be held on Friday, January 27 at The Crystal Ballroom at the Charleston Marriott on Lockwood Blvd., is being sponsored for the fifth consecutive year by Tom McQueeney State Farm Insurance and for the first time by Bennett Hospitality.

The reception begins at 6 pm with the dinner starting at 7 o’clock.  Tickets are $65 per person and include dinner and beverages.  Tables with preferred seating for eight (or 10) individuals are available for $500.

During his illustrious career, Smoltz was an All-Star eight times and was a member of the 1995 World Series team.  He captured the 1996 National League Cy Young Award and was the 1992 NLCS most valuable player.  Smoltz was the 2002 NL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year and in 2005 he received the Roberto Clemente Award and the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award.  Two years later, brought home the Branch Rickey Award. 

Previous speakers for the Hot Stove Banquets were former New York Yankees Bobby Richardson and John Blanchard, Jim Bouton and Tommy John, former Brave and current Kansas City Royal Jeff Francoeur, Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry, the ever-popular Dale Murphy and former Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox.. 

For individual tickets, please contact the RiverDogs at (843) 577-DOGS (3647).  Tickets may also be purchased online at www.riverdogs.com.

Dallas McPherson Re-Signs with White Sox

Dallas McPherson, who two weeks ago was enshrined in our Athletic Hall of Fame, has re-signed with the Chicago White Sox. 

McPherson spent most of last season with Triple-A Charlotte where he batted .283 with 20 home runs and 69 RBI.  He also got 15 at bats in the majors with the White Sox and collected two hits. 

The Randleman, NC native spent three season with the Bulldogs from 1998-2001.  He was a second-round pick of the Anaheim Angels in 2001, and has clubbed 18 major league homers in his career. 

Keep Up With Citadel Athletics

For the latest on all athletic events and giveaways, visit the official Facebook and Twitter accounts of The Citadel Athletics at www.facebook.com/citadelbulldogs and at www.twitter.com/citadelsports.  Also, the baseball and football teams now have their own Twitter accounts at www.twitter.com/citadelbaseball and www.twitter.com/citadelfootball.  Follow them today!

Bulldog Business Partners

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

• Charleston Comfort Inn
• Charleston Crab House
• 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.

And Having Absolutely Nothing to Do with Athletics

The Charleston Police Department has shared some thoughts on how to protect yourself from an increase in criminal activity which occurs annually during the holidays.  Police warn that thefts from automobiles and residential burglaries are the most preventable crimes.  If citizens remove the opportunity, the crime cannot occur.

• Make sure to keep your car doors and windows locked;
• Make sure to keep your house doors and windows locked; fences and garage doors secure;
• Turn on outside lights at night;
• Report persons or vehicles roaming your neighborhood, day or night, so police may check them.  They may be simply looking at Christmas lights or they may be “casing” houses to burglarize;
• Place your tree where the gifts will be less visible from outside.  Thieves like window-shopping through your windows;
• After Christmas, don’t put the empty boxes out on the curb.  This makes it easy for burglars to decide which houses to burglarize (i.e.: new computers, TVs, electronics, video games, etc.).  Break down boxes and recycle them, making sure to save all paperwork.  Also, remember that many electronic devices require original boxes for warranty repair.
• Immediately make an inventory, listing the model and serial numbers of new items (and old ones if you haven’t already) and engrave personal markings on them (example: “SCDL 1234567” … Using your driver’s license number helps police get recovered stolen items back to the owner).

Courtesy:  CharlestonCurrents.com

They Said It:

“We had them on their heels most of the day.  This is one of the top rushing teams in the nation, and we had them on their heels.”

• Coach Kevin Higgins, after holding nationally-ranked Georgia Southern to only 14 points on Saturday.

"It's bittersweet.   We see how much progress we've made, and we can see the future for the guys who will be back. We're that close, and I know we've been saying that for a while. … It's frustrating, but it also makes us want to work harder to get the wins."

• Offensive tackle Tyler Thornton, on the fact that the Bulldogs have lost four games by a total of 22 points.

“It was just different. Just looking at the situation and the opportunity it could provide for me I thought it was something that could help me in the future. I went with it and it turned out pretty good. … You learn you have to work for everything you get and not take for granted the little things you have because they can be easily taken away. We don’t have the luxuries other colleges have. Being in that environment makes you appreciate things more and makes you pay attention to little things, details. … I would say the toughest thing is your freshman year. You come from high school and you are at the top of your class and you go to The Citadel and you are at the very, very bottom. You have people yell at you. It’s a shock to you. If your mind is at the right spot you can learn a lot from that, how to handle adverse situations.”

• Pittsburgh Steelers rookie defensive back Cortez Allen, on attending The Citadel.
  
  

Upcoming Birthdays 

Nov. 15           Raleigh Jackson                        Football

Upcoming Events

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

Nov. 11                       5^th Annual Stray Dog Society Homecoming Jamboree

Jan. 27                         8^th Annual Hot Stove Banquet @Marriott

Jan. 28                         Alumni Basketball Game (McAlister Field House)        

Mar. 17                        2^nd Annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest @Johnson Hagood Stadium

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