Friday, Sept. 27, 2013
Opening Kickoff!
It's Furman week!!!!
The Citadel Brigadier Foundation ordered 99 adidas throwback football jerseys that will be worn during Saturday's clash with in-state rival Furman at Johnson Hagood Stadium (6 pm kickoff). 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.
Congratulations to senior quarterback Ben Dupree who earned The Sports Network and the Southern Conference's Offensive Player of the Week Award for his six touchdowns in the 59-58 loss at Old Dominion last weekend. Dupree re-wrote a lot of records in that game that we'll remember for a long time.
While we rarely make reference to non-Citadel contests, we will keep an eye on the South Carolina-UCF football game on Saturday afternoon as two Citadel Hall of Famers – Coach Charlie Taaffe and fullback Everette Sands '93 – will be on opposite sidelines. Taaffe is the offensive coordinator at UCF while Sands is USC's running backs coach.
Basketball coach Chuck Driesell announced the 2013-14 schedule this week and the team will enjoy playing at places like Nebraska, Navy, Tennessee and Wake Forest, among others. There will be 14 home games in McAlister Field House.
As you've come to expect, we have another solid issue full of news and notes, so enjoy and Go Bulldogs!!!
The Citadel - ODU Football Game Recap
Quarterback Ben Dupree accounted for six touchdowns - five on the ground - while Darien Robinson recorded 227 rushing yards and added two scores, but a clutch two-point conversion stop by Old Dominion with 1:39 left in the game capped a 59-58 Monarch victory on Saturday night at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
The Citadel rewrote the record book in a game which saw a combined 117 points and 1,108 yards. The Bulldogs rushed for 453 yards, the fourth-most in school history, and highest since gaining 459 against Wofford in 2002.
Robinson eclipsed the 200-yard plateau for the first time in his career and became the first Bulldog to achieve the feat since Tory Cooper in 2006. The 227 yards is the fourth-most by an individual in a game and moved the senior B-back into seventh place in school history with 2,333 career rushing yards.
Dupree, who accounted for 36 of the team's 58 points, added his second straight 100-yard game collecting 155 on the ground and another 113 through the air on 5-of-8 passing. The five rushing touchdowns are the most in school history and the senior quarterback jumped four spots on the all-time rushing touchdowns list with 26 in his career.
He now sits in 11th place in school history with 2,056 yards and became the 12th player in Citadel history to reach the 2,000-yard plateau.
The Bulldogs trailed 59-52 when Dupree connected with Jake Stenson, who completed an acrobatic catch and run into the end zone from 23 yards out to pull the Bulldogs within 59-58 with 1:39 left in the game.
After the decision was made to go for the two-point conversion and win, the Bulldogs went to their captain on a double option on the outside. Dupree ran outside and found running room towards the corner of the end zone, but Monarch defender Reggie Owens connected with the quarterback and stopped him shy of the goal line.
A failed onside kick attempt gave the ball back to the Monarchs, who ran out the clock. The 117 combined points are the most in Citadel history and the 58 points are the most ever in a Bulldogs' loss.
For more information, please refer to www.CitadelSports.com.
Ben Dupree Named The Sports Network & SoCon Offensive Player of the Week; Dupree & Robinson Cited by CFPA
Quarterback Ben Dupree collected his second Offensive Player of the Week Award when The Sports Network announced that the senior quarterback was selected for his six-touchdown performance in Saturday's 59-58 loss to Old Dominion.
Dupree was also tabbed as the Southern Conference's Offensive Player of Week for the second time in his career. The national honor is Dupree's first from The Sports Network.
Dupree rewrote The Citadel record book as he accounted for 36 of the team's 58 points via five touchdowns on the ground and one through the air en route to his second straight 100-yard rushing game and fifth of his career.
He carried 24 times for 149 yards and completed 5-of-8 passes for 113 yards in the defeat. His five rushing touchdowns set a new school record and tied for the third-best single game mark in Southern Conference history and his six total scores is tied for the fifth-best single-game mark in league history.
The Harrisburg, Pa., native also jumped four spots on the program's all-time rushing touchdown list, moving into fifth place with 26. Dupree also became just the 12th player in school history to top the 2,000-yard career rushing plateau (2,056), moving into 11th in school history in that category.
He recorded touchdown runs of two, 13, 17, 19 and 33 on Saturday and added a 23-yard pass to Jake Stenson with 1:39 left in the game to pull the Bulldogs within 59-58. However, Dupree came up inches shy of the end zone on the ensuing two-point conversion run that left the Bulldogs one point short.
Dupree and B-back Darien Robinson also gained recognition from the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) for their efforts against the Monarchs.
Robinson rushed for a career-high 227 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday. The senior moved into seventh place on the all-time rushing list with 2,333 for his career and the 227-yard performance is the fourth most in program history for a single game.
Previewing The Citadel – Furman Game
Saturday marks the 93rd installment in The Citadel-Furman series, marking the longest rivalry in the Southern Conference.
The Paladins hold a 57-32-3 edge in the series, but the two teams have split the last six meetings. The Citadel closed out its 2012 season with a 42-20 win in Greenville while the Paladins last topped the Bulldogs on Sept. 10, 2011 in a 16-6 defensive battle at Johnson Hagood Stadium.
The teams first met in 1913 and every season since 1919 except for three years (1943-45) during World War II.
For the third time in four years, the Bulldogs and Paladins square off in the month of September, but prior to 1993 the two teams played their traditional rivalry game on the final day of the regular season from 1977-92.
Furman last played on Sept. 14 when it blocked a Presbyterian field goal with seconds left to edge out the Blue Hose, 21-20, in Greenville.
Saturday Is First Responder's Night
All first responders with proper identification as well as immediate family members will be able to purchase a standard ticket for Saturday's game, normally priced at $25, for only $5.
The halftime show will be a presentation by The Citadel Pipe Band and the Charleston Police Department Pipes and Drums.Â
Bulldogs to Wear Throwback Jerseys for Furman Game; You Can Own One (or More)
The Citadel will wear a throwback jersey and helmet on Saturday against Furman.
The unique jersey has a large block "C" on the front while the helmet will display the player's number.
Fans interested in bidding on the throwback jerseys are reminded that the auction will close on Friday, Oct. 4 at 3 p.m.
Every number from 1 to 99 is available with a minimum bid of $150. Â Go to www.CitadelSports.com and click on the auction button to bid.
Football Coaches to Wear Patch for MD
As part of the American Football Coaches Association's "Coach to Cure MD" initiative, all members of The Citadel coaching staff will be wearing shoulder patches during the Furman game to help raise awareness of the program and Duchenne (Doo-Shin) muscular dystrophy.
The Pennsylvania Rushing Duo
Ben Dupree and Darien Robinson entered The Citadel together in 2010 and have been one of the most dangerous rushing tandems in our history. Although they are from different sides of the Keystone State, the two have rushed for a combined 4,389 career yards and 43 rushing touchdowns.
Last Saturday, the duo both rushed for over 100 yards in the same game for the third time in their careers.
Dupree hails from Harrisburg, Pa., where he was a 2010 graduate of Susquehanna High School, while Robinson is from McKeesport, Pa., and attended McKeesport High School.
Dupree (96.2) and Robinson (91) currently sit in third and fourth in the SoCon, respectively, in average yards per game.
Kicker Thomas Warren Breaks PAT Record
Senior kicker Thomas Warren booted seven extra points against Old Dominion last Saturday, extending his streak of successful PAT attempts to 58.
The 58 consecutive extra points is a new Citadel record as the Mt. Pleasant native passed Mike Adams (2004, 2006-07) who held the previous mark of 56.
Warren leads the conference, hitting 15- of-15 PATs in 2013, and sits in second in scoring (kick) with 21 points averaging 5.2 points per game. The fifth-year senior is 2-4 on field goal attempts.
We Love that Discipline
For the second consecutive season in 2012, The Citadel led the nation in fewest penalties (3.8) and fewest penalty yards per game (29.5), a testament to the discipline that has been established by Coach Kevin Higgins and his staff.
Currently, the Bulldogs lead the SoCon with just 11 penalties for 83 yards through four games.
On Sept. 14, against Western Carolina the Bulldogs did not commit any penalties, marking the fifth time in school history the feat has been accomplished and the first since 2008 against Florida.
The Citadel is currently fifth in the country, averaging just 2.75 penalties per game and third in penalty yards per game with 20.75.
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 1st.  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.
Basketball Releases Schedule
Coach Chuck Driesell this week announced the basketball team's 2013-14 schedule and it includes 14 home games and meetings with two of the three NCAA Division I service academies.
The season opens on Nov. 8 with the third installment of the All-Military Classic when the Bulldogs take on host VMI in Lexington, Va., preceded by a game between Army and Air Force.
The Citadel makes its home debut against in-state foe Presbyterian on Nov. 12 marking the first meeting at McAlister Field House between the two Palmetto State schools since 1982. Also highlighting the non-conference schedule are November meetings with Tennessee (Nov. 18) and Wake Forest (Nov. 21). It marks the second time in the last three seasons that the Bulldogs have visited Knoxville and the third different ACC opponent that The Citadel has faced in Driesell's time at the helm.
The Citadel opens December play in Annapolis, Md., against Navy before completing the non-conference road slate at Nebraska (Dec. 21) and Radford (Jan. 2). The Huskers and Cadets have faced off three times, and the Bulldogs will be heading to Radford for the first time in program history after the Highlanders visited Charleston a year ago.
The Citadel hosts three non-conference games during December, including Gardner-Webb's first game at McAlister Field House in the series history on Dec. 7. The month culminates when the Bulldogs square off against College of Charleston (Dec. 29) for the first time since the Cougars joined the Colonial Athletic Association.
To view the entire schedule, please refer to www.CitadelSports.com.
Volleyball Beats Savannah State; Tops Bethune-Cookman at Winthrop Invitational
Katie Briggs drove home a team-high seven kills and was responsible for five assisted blocks as The Citadel completed its third sweep of the season with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-18 and 25-23) victory over Savannah State on Wednesday evening in Savannah.
Briggs, one of nine Bulldogs to record a kill in the contest, committed just two errors in 12 attacks to finish with a .417 attack percentage. She was joined offensively by the front row combination of Bailey Kernodle and Lauren Hurt, who added four kills apiece.
The Citadel limited Savannah State's offensive production due in large part the combination of 12 digs by Erin Bucherl and the front row blocking of Briggs and Rachel Keefer, who were responsible in the Bulldogs' 14-0 edge in assisted blocks.
For the second time in as many weeks the volleyball team completed a 3-0 sweep of its opponent. This time it came as a result of a 3-0 (25-20, 25-14 and 25-17) victory over Bethune-Cookman at the Winthrop Invitational in Rock Hill.
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Behind a pair of eight-kill efforts from the front row tandem of Ise d'Angelo and Kernodle, the Bulldogs finished with 38 team kills and a .248 attack percentage. Junior Mallory Moore (seven kills) and Briggs (six) rounded out the well-balanced effort. The defense was again anchored by Bucherl, who finished with a match-high 13 digs, as well as Keefer, who added nine digs to go along with 32 assists. Hurt came through with four assisted blocks, giving her 35 on the season, as the Bulldogs out-blocked the Wildcats, 12-4.
In the final match of the invitational, host Winthrop took a 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-14 and 25-13) win over The Citadel.
The Bulldogs were led offensively by Hurt, who recorded a season-high 11 kills. She was joined on the front row by Moore (eight kills) and Amanda Rudnik (six) as the Cadets tallied 40 as a team. Hurt also made her presence felt defensively with five assisted blocks, tying a season-best, complementing Bucherl's team-high 13 digs.
In Friday afternoon's opening match, UNC Wilmington completed a 3-0 (25-12, 25-13 and 25-23) win over The Citadel.
The Bulldogs were led offensively by d'Angelo and Megan Sowell, who posted eight kills apiece. Bucherl recorded a team-best 14 digs and was joined in double figures by Keefer, who had 11 digs to go along with 25 assists.
For more information, please refer to www.CitadelSports.com.
Robert Jackson Paces Rifle Team to Second Place Finish at SEARC 1
The rifle team took second place in the first Southeastern Air Rifle Conference match of the season hosted by VMI in Lexington, VA, carding an aggregate team score of 4,451.
The Bulldog marksmen took second place to No. 15 NC State in the conference air rifle match with a 2,274, and earned a second place finish in the NCAA portion, falling just two points shy of North Georgia University.
The Citadel regained the school rivalry flag against military foe VMI, topping the Keydets by 61 points, who took third place.
Robert Jackson, who led all Citadel shooters last season with an air rifle average of 573.1, fired a 574 in the first match of his junior campaign to take 10th place. Richard Hunton and Nathaniel Moy carded marks 571 and 569, respectively, while Ashten Byrne shot a 560 to round out the top four scorers for The Citadel.
Jackson took third place overall and Hunton nabbed fourth in smallbore action, carding 554 and 549, respectively. Moy (546) and Charles Yeh (543) accounted for the final two smallbore spots on the Bulldogs' scorecard.
For more information, please refer to www.CitadelSports.com.
Golf Competes at Myrtle Beach Invitational
The golf team completed the final round of the Myrtle Beach Invitational, hosted by High Point, on Tuesday with top honors on the team going to sophomore Eraina Manor, who fired a 160 and tied for 16th place.
Manor recorded rounds of 83 and 77, tying Radford's Alexandra Austin in the process. The Citadel's Kellie Anderson (79-84=163) joined her teammate as the only Bulldog to fire a round in the 70s tying for 21st. The pair led the Cadets to a team score of 669 (342-327).
Other scorecards for The Citadel included McKenzie Duncan (89-80=169; t32), Hollie Salvo (91-88=179; t39) and Renata Sucha (99-86=185; 41).
The host Panthers collected the team title with a 602 (299-303; +26) followed by Gardner-Webb (618; +42) and Winthrop (619, +43).
High Point's Sarah Bae (68-72=140; -4) dominated the Myrtle Beach National par-72, 6,089-yard course to earn top individual honors. Second place went to Presbyterian's Abby Driscoll, who finished eight shots back after carding a 148 (72-76).
For more information, please refer to www.CitadelSports.com.
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 also have several cadet-student-athletes contributing, so check their unique perspectives.
We hope you enjoy them.
7th Annual Kevin Higgins Golf Classic Set for October 18
The 7th 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:
- 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.
- 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. Â Â
Bulldog Business Partners
The Citadel Brigadier Foundation has once again begun the "Bulldog Business Partners" for the 2013-14 academic year and the first to sign up are:
- All-American Awards
- Allstate - Kevin Shealy Agency
- East Bay Deli
- Gateway Hospitality
- Kickin' Chicken
- Moe's Crosstown Tavern
- Moe's Southwest Grill
- Palmetto Brewery
- Radiate Technologies
- Wilson & Quirk, CPA
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.
He Said It:
 "On the road, our defense was struggling to stop them and we were moving the ball effectively. … We missed it by 6 inches."
- Coach Kevin Higgins, explaining why the Bulldogs went for two to tie Old Dominion in the closing minutes of Saturday's game in Norfolk.
"The one thing we can take from this game is a little bit of confidence. We moved the ball at will against an (FBS) team. Granted, they are not good against the option, but they are bigger than everyone in our league."
- Quarterback Ben Dupree, after the ODU game.
"The All-Military Classic has truly grown into a special event and I can't think of a better way to kick off our 2013-14 season than playing on ESPNU in front of a national television audience. I know our players and fans will be excited to watch and be a part of this year's tournament."
"Wherever we are now, if we go win this game, we've got two (victories). Win the next one, and we're back where we need to be. We can't worry about what took place in the first three or four games, other than learn from them. Let's just do everything we can to get a win against Furman."
- Coach Higgins, on Saturday's game against rival Furman.
"Coach Taaffe was my first real mentor in football. … He's someone I trust, whose opinion I seek out when I 'm making a decision. He's been in the business for 40 years and he's won everywhere he's been."
- Hall of Fame fullback Everette Sands '93, currently the running backs coach at USC, on his Citadel coach, Charlie Taaffe, who is now the offensive coordinator at UCF.
"There's no question in my mind that Everette will get that opportunity. You just don't find many candidates as qualified as Everette."
- Coach Taaffe, commenting on Sands' desire to be a college head coach one day.
"I didn't need The Citadel, at least I didn't think I did, but in spite of all those things, I am what I am today because of The Citadel. A lot of my work habits, a lot of my network, a lot of my things that I do from the habits of my personality, my work habits and my organization. Things that I do, there's a lot of structure that I got from that college education. Not just book sense but the overall educational value of it."
- Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson '74, on his Citadel education.
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. Â Also, the baseball and football teams now have their own Twitter accounts at www.twitter.com/citadelbaseball and www.twitter.com/citadelfootball. Â Follow them today!
Upcoming Birthdays
Sept. 28         Lt Gen John Rosa                  President
Oct. 7             Gerald Dixon                         Football
Oct. 13           Rob Burke                              Basketball
Oct. 14           Fred Jordan                            Baseball
Upcoming Events
Oct. 18Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7th Annual Kevin Higgins Golf Outing @Summerville Country Club
Nov. 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 23rd Annual Homecoming Golf Tournament @Patriots Point
                      7th Annual Homecoming Jamboree @Charleston Visitors Center
Nov. 15Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 36th Annual Citadel Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet @Holliday Center
Feb. 8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 11th Annual Alumni Basketball Game @McAlister Field House
Feb. 15Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 15th Annual TCBF Broxton Bridge Fun Shoot @Ehrhardt
Mar. 15Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4th Annual CFA Beautiful Bulldog Contest @Johnson Hagood Stadium
                       26th Annual TCBF Auction @McAlister Field House
May 20-25Â Â Â Â Â Â Southern Conference Baseball Tournament @Riley Park
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, SCÂ 29409 (office 843/953-5277).
Publishers……………...Jerry Baker & Larry Leckonby
Editor…………………Andy Solomon
Layout/Distribution…...Brian Gargone
