Friday, Sept. 13, 2013

Opening Kickoff!

It has been a rugged opening to the football season thus far, but the Bulldogs will seek victory No. 1 this weekend as we open the away portion of the schedule with a road game at Western Carolina (kickoff is at 3:30 pm).

Soccer has evolved as the team with the best record so far as the Bulldogs remained undefeated in three home games this season following a 2-1 victory over crosstown rival Charleston Southern on Sunday at WLI Field.  Too bad we can't play all of our games at WLI.

Congratulations are extended to the volleyball team as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its 2013 Team Academic Award Winners and The Citadel, with a team GPA of 3.62, was one of only three teams in the Southern Conference to be included.

Speaking of the volleyball team, the spikers make their first appearance of the season at McAlister Field House as they host The Citadel Invitational on Friday and Saturday. The tournament features also Charleston Southern, DePaul, Radford and South Carolina State.

The Citadel Brigadier Foundation has ordered 99 adidas throwback football jerseys that will be worn during the Bulldogs' Sept. 28 clash with in-state rival Furman at Johnson Hagood Stadium.  You can own one of the game-worn uniforms (including retired and honored jersey numbers) by bidding on them through http://www.citadelsports.com/marketplace/auctions/featured.

Remember that the Memorial Fund Banquet is set for Sept. 26 and that the inaugural TCBF Past President's Reception will be Sept. 27.

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

The Citadel-Wofford Football Game Recap

Wofford jumped to a 14-0 halftime lead and held off a second-half Citadel rally to earn a 21-10 victory in Saturday's Southern Conference opener for both teams at Johnson Hagood Stadium.

The Citadel battled back from a 14-point halftime to deficit to score 10 unanswered points in the third quarter on a 25-yard Thomas Warren field goal followed by a 92-yard interception for a touchdown by Brandon McCladdie to cut the Wofford lead to 14-10.

The play was the second longest defensive score in program history and the first interception for a touchdown against an FCS opponent since Cortez Allen did so against Samford in 2009. Jeff Varnadoe returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown against William & Mary in 1970.

Darien Robinson had just eight carries for 32 yards and moved into 10^th place on the school's all-time rushing list with 2,056 career yards. Robinson is just 23 yards shy of climbing into ninth to surpass Kenyatta Spruill (1994-97).  Carl Robinson led the team in tackles for the second straight week with 16 and now has accumulated a total of 30 through two contests.

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

Sweet Johnson Hagood Suite Is Available for Homecoming

The Nov. 2 showdown between the Bulldogs of Samford and YOUR Citadel Bulldogs falls on Homecoming this year, and whether or not your class is having a reunion, you still want to see that contest – which could very well have conference championship implications – in style.  Invite your classmates, friends and family and witness the Homecoming game and all of the pageantry from a suite.  We already have a few individuals interested.  A minimum of $2,500 for the 16-person suite (excluding food) required for consideration.  We will award the suite to the individual of group that submits the highest offer by October 1^st.   Remember that a significant portion of the cost of renting the suite will be tax deductible as a charitable contribution.  Parking privileges in front of the West side tower are included.  For more information or to submit an offer, please contact Senior Associate Athletics Director John McAleer '72 at 843/953-1354 or email him at john.mcaleer@citadel.edu.  Opportunities like this don't come often, so take advantage and enjoy Homecoming '13 in style.

TCBF to Auction Throwback Football Jerseys

The Citadel Brigadier Foundation kicked off an auction last week that features the sale of 99 game-used Citadel adidas throwback football jerseys that will be worn during the Bulldogs' Sept. 28 clash with in-state rival Furman at Johnson Hagood Stadium.

This adidas throwback jersey is Citadel blue with white trim and white lettering.  It features the "Block C" on the front top with a TCBF patch on the right shoulder.  Small numbers are displayed on the front of the jersey as well as on each arm and large numbers are on the back. 

To make a bid on one of the one-of-a-kind jerseys, please visit: http://www.citadelsports.com/marketplace/auctions/featured.

Volleyball Named as AVCA 2013 Team Academic Award Recipient

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its 2013 Team Academic Award Winners and The Citadel, with a team GPA of 3.62, was one of only three teams in the Southern Conference and 131 NCAA Division I programs with the distinction.

In total, 11 members of The Citadel volleyball team were named to the Dean's List during the spring semester including Ise d'Angelo, Erin Bucherl, Haley Corson, Emily Dalton, Rachael Farrell, Rachel Keefer, Bailey Kernodle, Jessica Maxwell, Mallory Moore, Amanda Rudnik and Cassie Uribe. Of those cadet-student-athletes, four went on to earn Gold Stars, which is awarded to a cadet that maintains a 3.7 GPA or better.

This honor comes following a 2013 spring semester in which the Bulldogs finished with the top GPA of any team in Citadel athletics, while outperforming the Corps of Cadets and the Corps Squad.

The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.

Volleyball Drops Three Matches at East Carolina Invitational

At the East Carolina Invitational in Greenville, NC over the weekend, Morgan State edged The Citadel, 3-2, in a five sets (20-25, 25-14, 15-25, 25-22 and 15-9) on Saturday afternoon.

Seven different Bulldogs recorded kills in the afternoon match, including Katie Briggs, who posted a team-high 12.  Joining Briggs in double-digit kills was freshman Megan Sowell (11), while the trio of Erin Bucherl (15 digs), Ise d'Angelo (10) and Rachel Keefer (10) guided The Citadel to 58 team digs.

The Citadel persevered through 11 ties in the opening set to assume a 15-14 lead on a Sowell kill. From there the Bulldogs took advantage of a Bucherl service ace and an unforced Morgan State error to move in front 17-14. Stretching the lead to five, 21-16, following a kill by Lauren Hurt, the Cadets overcame three kills in the final eight points to win the first set 25-20.

In the Saturday morning session, Loyola (Ill.) earned a 3-0 (25-18, 25-11, 25-5) sweep of The Citadel.

Sowell earned high marks for the Cadets with a team-high five kills. Hurt and Keefer, who combined for seven of the team's eight assisted blocks, also had solid performances.

In Friday night's opening match, East Carolina earned a tightly contested 3-0 Citadel (25-21, 25-21 and 25-22) victory over The Citadel.

Five Citadel players tallied at least three kills in the match, including Briggs, who posted a team-high six strikes. Bucherl anchored the back row with 22 digs and teamed with Briggs, who finished with five assisted blocks, to provide the Bulldogs with 52 digs and 15 assisted blocks.

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

Soccer Continues Hot Play at Home with Victory over Charleston Southern

The soccer team remained undefeated in three home games this season following a 2-1 victory over crosstown rival Charleston Southern on Sunday at WLI Field.

The Bulldogs evened their record at 2-2-1 and knocked off the Buccaneers for the third time in the past four years, trimming CSU's lead in the all-time series to 5-3-1.

The Citadel earned the victory with 11:34 remaining in the game when Mariana Garcia finished a play that was started by passes from Andrea Davila and Montana Hinson to score her fifth goal of the season. Garcia is the reigning Southern Conference Player of the Week after scoring four goals in the two games last week.

The Bulldogs scored the opening goal of the game for the first time this season when Ruth Leiva knocked in a pass from Jillian Meyer with 14:13 remaining in the first half. The goal was the first of the season for someone other than Garcia and sixth of Leiva's career while the assist was Meyer's third of the season.

CSU tied it up with 14 minutes expired in the second half. But the Bulldog defense, led by goalkeeper Naomi Carter, kept the Buccaneers off the board the rest of the way. Carter recorded eight saves in the game and has a goals-against average of 0.93 over the past three games.

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

Manor, Duncan Pace Golf Team at Terrier Intercollegiate

Eraina Manor and McKenzie Duncan each carded a 168 and finished tied for 32nd as The Citadel opened the 2013-14 fall season in the Terrier Intercollegiate held at Spartanburg Country Club.

Manor (89-79=168), the lone Citadel player to fire a round in the 70s, and Duncan (82-86=168) paced a Bulldogs unit that placed seventh in the event with a team score of 693 (350-343).

The Cadets also included scorecards from Hollie Salvo (93-84=177) and Kellie Anderson (86-94=180) who placed 39th and 40th, respectively.

Big South Conference representative High Point won the event with a two-day score of 588 (+12), followed by host Wofford (594, +18) and Savannah College of Art & Design (607, +31).

High Point's Sarah Bae (72-71=143, -1) brought home top individual honors, finishing just one shot in front of Wofford's Katy Funk (73-71=144, E). Third place finisher Alazne Urizar from Savannah College of Art & Design carded a 146 (73-73, +2) to finish three shots off the pace.

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

Justin Mackert Returns to The Citadel as Volunteer Assistant Baseball Coach

Former standout Justin Mackert is returning to his alma mater as the volunteer assistant coach for the baseball program.

He replaces Adam Vrable, who accepted an assistant coaching position at Charleston Southern last month. Mackert will be in charge of the hitters and also instruct The Citadel outfielders.

The Ohio native started all 179 games his final three seasons, playing first base in 2010 and 2011 before moving to left field as a senior in 2012. He finished with a career batting average of .303 (212-for-700) to go along with 39 doubles, 13 home runs, 130 runs scored and 111 RBI.

Mackert ranks 11th in school history with 67 stolen bases and tied for 12th with a stolen base percentage of .807. He is also tied for eighth with 12 sacrifice flies.

He finished over the .300 plateau twice including a career-best .335 batting average in 2010. He swiped 25 bases in 31 attempts his senior season and was 24-for-27 in that department his sophomore campaign.

Mackert led The Citadel to its most recent Southern Conference championship in 2010, earning tournament Most Outstanding Player accolades after going 7-for-15 with five runs scored, seven RBI and five stolen bases. He was also the SoCon Player of the Month for May of that year.

Perhaps you've already seen it, perhaps not.  But we call your attention to our ever-expanding website, www.CitadelSports.com, as members of the Department of Athletics and several guests are contributing to our "blog" site called "Off the Collar: The Lighter Side of Citadel Athletics."

A new "regular" to our lineup of correspondents are Col. Tony Lackey '61, who has followed Citadel Athletics since the mid-1950s.  Col. Lackey's memorable games and events run on Tuesdays as we've billed it, "Tuesdays With Tony." 

We hope you enjoy them.

7^th Annual Kevin Higgins Golf Classic Set for October 18

The 7^th Annual Kevin Higgins Golf Classic will be held at the Summerville Country Club on Friday, October 18.  The Captain's Choice format will start at 12 noon with lunch and prizes that includes a fishing boat for a hole-in-one on a specific hole. All profits from the tournament directly support Citadel Football.  For player and sponsorship information, please contact Connie Tuza '58 at Elcid58@knology.net or 843/452-9801.

23rd Annual Homecoming Golf Tournament Set

The 23rd Annual Homecoming Golf Tournament has been set for Friday, November 1, at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant.

Sign-in will be held from 7:30-8:30 am with the shotgun start beginning at 8:50.  The cost per golfer is $125 until September 30 ($140 after October 1) and includes green fees, cart, box lunch, beverages, Citadel Titleist golf cap, a Citadel Footjoy golf shirt, one sleeve of PROV1 golf balls and range balls.

The format will be four-man Captain's Choice with awards going to the first three finishers.  There will also be a long drive contest in addition to closest to the pin contest.

Classes may challenge other classes by arranging to have a tournament within a tournament, and hole sponsorships are available.  The hole sponsorship is $100 and includes the company/donor's name with his/her class that will be on a sign at the tee box.

The tournament is open to all alumni, family and friends.  The Committee will make the team assignments for individuals and for groups of less than four.  Please make all requests for team groupings on your application, and each team should attempt to submit one application for the group.

For more information and to register, please contact Bryson Young in The Brigadier Foundation office at 843/953-5277 or email her at byoung5@citadel.edu.

The event is sponsored by Outback Steakhouse, Titleist, ADC Engineering Specialists and Footjoy.

Proceeds benefit the scholarship fund for our Cadet-Student-Athletes.

A Bit of Official Business

There will be a special meeting of The Citadel Brigadier Foundation held prior to the next scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors at 9:45 am on October, 17, 2013 at Mark Clark Hall (Room 230). The purpose of this meeting is to vote on the following changes to the By-Laws:

1. The Officer positions of "President-Elect" and "Executive Vice President" will be replaced by one new Officer whose title will be simply "Vice President" whose duties will be the same as those previously stated for the "President-Elect" position.
2. A new officer position of "Sergeant at Arms" will be created whose duties will be to begin each meeting of the Foundation with an appropriated opening and to assist the President in maintaining good order and decorum during the meetings.   

And Having Absolutely Nothing to Do with Athletics

With pollen, not love, in the air as we move towards fall, the allergy season is, umm, back in full bloom. Here's a list of five thinks you can do around your house to breathe a little easier:

• Products: Because many cleaning products contain chemicals that can trigger or mimic allergic reactions, choose non-toxic or natural products when possible. Make sure you work in a well-ventilated space;
• Vacuum: Using a good vacuum with a HEPA filter can trap 99 percent of air allergens. Good vacuums cost less and less, and are good investments for your family's health;
• Fans: Don't forget to clean build-up on your ceiling fans. Best to clean them once a month;
• Clothing: Even if you are just doing light housework, wear house clothes and change, launder them in hot water to kill dust mites, and shower immediately afterwards. You don't want to have any breathing-inhibitors lingering on your body or your street clothes;
• Filters: In an average home without pets, air filters should be changed every 90 days. Add one pet, and change them every 60 days. With multiple pets, if you suffer from allergies, have a smoker in the house or live in a humid or high-pollution area, change them every 30 days.

Courtesy:  CharlestonCurrents.com

They Said It:

"It's apparent that our execution is not where it needs to be. We're going to simplify as much as we can, maybe get back to the basics more like we did last year. … We want to make sure we are majoring in a couple of things, and do those things real well to give us a chance to be successful."

• Coach Kevin Higgins, on the loss to Wofford this past Saturday.

"I always felt like I was a tough guy.  Obviously, The Citadel was a tough school and I had to go through a lot of crap that I wouldn't have had to go through at another school.  It toughened me up a little bit. … It was mostly mental.  That's part of football.  You have to go through getting hit, getting up the next play, and still being able to perform at 100 percent the following play.  You have to be tough to be a football player."

• Former Bulldog and current Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Andre Roberts.

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!

Upcoming Birthdays

Sept. 14           Cody Worley                          Football
Sept. 15           Justin Argenal                         Basketball
Sept. 17           Bob Bodine                             Football
Sept. 23           Danielle Dillahey                    Administration
Sept. 26           Matt Smith                              Sports Medicine
Sept. 28           Lt Gen John Rosa                   President