Opening Tip
National Signing Day was Wednesday and we're excited about the future of the Class of 2019.
 
The 12^th Annual Alumni Basketball Game takes center stage on Saturday afternoon, immediately following our home contest against UNC Greensboro, which tips off at 1 pm. 
 
We salute junior closer Skylar Hunter for being named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association preseason All-America third team and the preseason second team for the Southern Conference, as did shortstop Johnathan Stokes.  And, of course, baseball opens on a week from today, and if you don't yet have your season pass, give our ticket office a shout at 843/953-DOGS (3647) and we'll set you up.
 
We also salute Sarah Johnson, who established a new Citadel record in the 500 meters with a time of 1:19.10 as she took third place overall at the Captain's Invitational in Newport News, Va.
 
Congratulations are extended to our wrestling team who defeated VMI on Thursday night in Lexington, Va.  It always makes Spike smile whenever we defeat VMI in anything.
 
As you've come to expect, we have another solid issue full of news and notes, so enjoy and Go Bulldogs!!!
 
National Signing Day Inks 17 for Football
Coach Mike Houston announced on Wednesday the addition of 17 players who have signed National Letters of Intent and will join the Bulldog football program this year.

The recruiting class is slanted towards defense, with 12 players recruited on that side of the line of scrimmage and six being defensive linemen. Three newcomers are being brought in on offense including Jordan Black, who spent his first three seasons at Vidalia (Ga.) High School as a wide receiver before moving to quarterback and earning all-state honors from the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The coaching staff focused on the Southeast for this year's class, with all 17 players hailing from the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama. The Palmetto State leads the way with eight recruits including Lowcountry product Brady Cormier, a kicker from Beaufort High School. Seven come from Georgia and one each from Alabama and North Carolina, although Tar Heel native Kevin Graham attended high school in Georgia.

Four of the players from South Carolina (Tyler Davis, Rod Johnson, Aron Spann and Jordan Williams) were selected to play in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, and Khafari Buffalo and Jalon Williams were in the North-South All-Star Game.

The commitment from Tyler Jackson continues The Citadel's recruiting success in Mobile, Ala. The Bulldogs have brought in a player from that city in each of the last four classes, with Jackson joining former high school teammates James Riley and Cam Jackson. Cam Mobley, a senior on the 2014 team, is also from Mobile but attended a different high school.

Black is a nephew of Pittsburgh Steeler great and NFL Hall of Famer Mel Blount. Isaiah Hawkins, a defensive lineman, is a cousin of Erik Kynard, Jr., who won a silver medal in the high jump at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

In addition to the players who signing NLIs with The Citadel, three other recruited student-athletes will also be attending The Military College of South Carolina. That group includes safety Donald Rutledge (Sumter/Crestwood), linebacker/long snapper Patrick Keefe (Fort Walton Beach, Fla./Choctawhatchee) and running back Donovan Ward (Columbia/Dreher).

The Citadel's Football Signing Class
Ken Allen, DL, 6-1, 275, Elberton, GA/Elbert County
Jordan Black, QB, 6-1, 185, Vidalia, GA/Vidalia
Khafari Buffalo, S, 6-2, 185, Sumer, SC/Lakewood
Brady Cormier, K, 6-1, 170, Beaufort, SC/Beaufort
Phil Davis, ILB, 6-1, 195, Marietta, GA/Hillgrove
Tyler Davis, OL, 6-1, 280, Murrells Inlet, SC/Waccamaw
Noah Dawkins, DL, 6-1, 225, Lyman, SC/James F. Byrnes
Attorney Gallman, DL, 6-1, 255, Hiram, GA/Hiram
Kevin Graham, DL, 6-1, 265, Durham, NC/Rabun-Gap-Nacoochee (GA)
Isaiah Hawkins, DL, 6-1, 230, Alpharetta, GA/Milton
Tyler Jackson, CB, 6-1, 175, Mobile, AL/Davidson
Rod Johnson, A-Back, 5-11, 195, Ninety Six, SC/Ninety Six
Curt Nixon, Athlete, 6-0, 180, Folkston, GA/Charlton County
Aaron Spann, S, 6-2, 215, Spartanburg, SC/Dorman
Jordan Thomas, LB, 6-1, 225, Fairburn, GA/Our Lady of Mercy
Jalon Williams, DL, 6-2, 245, Columbia, SC/Spring Valley
Jordan Williams, Bandit, 6-2, 195, Columbia, SC/Spring Valley
 
Basketball Falls to Chattanooga & Mercer
ON THURSDAY NIGHT IN McALISTER FIELD HOUSE, Mercer forward T.J. Hallice scored 16 points to lead four players in double figures as the Bears completed a 76-53 victory over The Citadel.

Mercer closed the contest by hitting 32-of-55 (58.2%) from the floor and 8-of-19 (42.1%) from 3-point range. The Bears had a decisive edge in points in the paint (38-16) as well as second chance points (12-0), due in large part to 12 of the 34 rebounds coming on the offensive glass.

Ashton Moore kept The Citadel in the game during Mercer's early second half outburst as he singlehandedly scored 10 straight points during a 2:52 stretch.

The bright spot for the Bulldogs in the final 10 minutes of the frame was that they limited the Bears to 10 points. The Citadel managed 11 in that same stretch, including a 3-pointer by Brandon Thompson and five points from Marshall Harris III, as it dropped only its third game at home this season.

Moore led the Cadets in scoring with 19 points, converting 7-of-18 from the floor and 4-of-13 from beyond the arc. The four 3-pointers moved Moore into sixth on the school's all-time 3-point list as he passed Ryan Nesbit.

ON SATURDAY NIGHT IN CHATTANOOGA, Casey Jones notched a game-high 23 points as UTC completed a 78-73 victory over The Citadel at McKenzie Arena.

Ashton Moore led five Citadel players in double figures with his 18-point effort. He managed to hit 6-of-15 from the floor, converting four from beyond the arc, as he led the team in scoring for the 14th time this season.

Brian White, who finished 7-of-8 from the field en route to season-high 17 points, was also a solid presence on the board with a game-high six rebounds. He was joined in the paint by P.J. Horgan (10 points) and Quinton Marshall (10).
 
Point guard Warren Sledge came off the bench to close with 12 points and five assists, hitting 4-of-6 from the field and knocking down both 3-point attempts. The Citadel hit 27-of-46 (58.7%) from the field and was 7-of-13 from long distance. The Bulldogs also finished with a 24-22 edge in rebounds, hauling in 19 defensive.

For more information, please refer to www.CitadelSports.com.
  
Pack the Mac for the VMI Game on Feb. 15
The Department of Athletics invites all basketball fans to help us "Pack the Mac" on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 5:30 pm when the Bulldogs host military rival VMI at McAlister Field House.

Fans can receive four free tickets by visiting Packthemac.com. Once at the site, just click on the icon that corresponds to how you learned about the event, enter the promo code and your contact information and you will be on your way to McAlister for the game. The opportunity to receive free tickets through Packthemac.com expires at 11 pm on Feb. 14.

The game, sponsored by TD Bank with presenting sponsors Charleston Rental Properties and Balfour, will feature giveaways and promotions, including the opportunity to win $500 in a halfcourt shooting contest sponsored by CRP.

In addition to the halfcourt contest, fans will receive a Citadel koozie courtesy of CRP and a lucky few will get to enjoy a free pizza as part of the Domino's Delivery of the Game. A poster contest, with winners determined by fans, and the presence of the entire South Carolina Corps of Cadets will add to the day's excitement.

The Pack the Mac event is spearheaded by Dan Gowdown, a 1998 graduate of The Citadel and a letterman on the basketball team. He is one of the founders of Charleston Rental Properties, a full-service rental property management company serving Charleston and its surrounding areas.

12^th Annual Alumni Basketball Game Set for Saturday
The 12^th Annual Alumni Basketball Game, also known as the time to "Lace 'Em Up Again," will be held on Saturday immediately after the Bulldogs host UNC Greensboro (tipoff is at 1 pm).
   
This is the time to join many former Citadel basketball players (spanning several decades) in the special game that features the common bond of playing hoops for the Bulldogs in McAlister Field House.  The Alumni Game participants will be introduced at the Wofford game.
 
For information, please contact Associate Athletics Director Andy Solomon at andy.solomon@citadel.edu or at 843/953-6300.
 
Going to the Southern Conference Basketball Tournament in Asheville?
The Southern Conference Basketball Tournament returns to Asheville, March 5-9, and if you're planning to attend – and we hope that you will – we respectfully request that you secure your tickets from us. All of our tickets are good for any two-game session or the Championship game for either the men's or women's tournaments and are $17 each.  We have tickets on sale now through the Athletic Ticket Office, so call us at 843/953-DOGS (3647) and we'll set you up.  If you need assistance or suggestions for travel, please refer to www.SoConTravel.com.
 
Wrestlers Post 23-18 Win at VMI
The wrestling team took sole possession of third place in the Southern Conference standings on Thursday night following a 23-18 victory over VMI at The Thunderdome inside Cocke Hall in Lexington, VA. The Citadel assumed an early 3-0 lead to open the match when Marshall Haas posted a 5-3 decision in the 197 bout.

The Keydets answered with a resounding win in the heavyweight match as Juan Adams collected six points with a technical fall at the 3:48 mark over Joseph Bexley.

Coach Rob Hjerling's squad triumphed in the next five straight matches, beginning with a 4-0 decision by Joaquin Marquez in his victory in the 125-pound classification. That win was followed by Clarence Arrington's 3-1 victory in the 133 bout. The momentum gained steam when Tyler Buckiso posted a 4-2 decision in the 141-pound match that provided The Citadel with 12-6 advantage.

Matt Frisch pushed the lead to double figures when he earned a win by technical fall, at the 5:57 mark, in the 149 showdown. Sophomore Aaron Walker continued his dominance of SoCon opposition when he posted a win by fall at 1:39. That victory provided the Bulldogs with a 23-6 edge with three matches remaining.

VMI halted the five-match winning streak with an 18-1 technical fall win over Andrew Lock at the 6:43 mark of the 165-pound match. VMI continued the momentum swing with a 7-6 decision over Kenneth Radford, closing the team score to 23-14 heading into the 184-pound match. The Keydets won the final match of the dual as Derek Thurman posted a 10-2 major decision against Kendall Hemmings.
 
For more information, please refer to www.CitadelSports.com.

Shooters Takes Second at SEARC 5 Meet
The rifle team finished with a score of 4,415 points to place second at the SEARC 5 meet on Saturday at Spartanburg and hosted by Wofford. The Bulldogs shot 2,250 in air rifle and 2,165 in smallbore to finish behind only North Georgia, which had a team mark of 4,512. The host Terriers were third with a score of 4,308.

Robert Jackson and Richard Hunton were the top two marksmen for The Citadel. Jackson placed second overall in the air rifle with 576 points, while Hunton was first on the team and eighth overall with a 547 in smallbore.

Two other Bulldogs finished in the top 20 in air rifle, including Hunton in 13th (563) and Nathaniel Moy in 18th (557). Rounding out The Citadel men's scores were Morgan Long (553) and Charles Yeh (535).

Jennifer Burch was the top Citadel women's scorer in air rifle with 548 points, good for a 25th-place showing. She was followed by Amber Mills (541), Elizabeth Ordway (527) and Haley Osmer (514).

In men's smallbore competition, four Bulldogs joined Hunton in the top 20, with Jackson (542), Moy (539) and Patrick Meyer (537) taking spots 11 through 13. Colton Poole was 18th (514) and Long shot a 507. Ordway paced the women in smallbore with a mark of 506, followed by Mills (488), Burch (474) and Osmer (452).
 
For more information, please refer to www.CitadelSports.com.

Baseball's "Meet the Bulldogs Day" Set for Sunday
The baseball team will host its annual "Meet the Bulldogs Day" on Sunday, Feb. 8 at Riley Park. The day includes an autograph session with the players and coaches and a Blue-White scrimmage. Hot dogs, chips and drinks will be provided courtesy of the Charleston RiverDogs.

The gates open at 11 am, and fans will be allowed on the field from 11:30-12:45 to get autographs and meet the team. The scrimmage follows at 1 pm.

The Bulldogs open the 2015 season with a three-game series against Air Force at Riley Park on Feb. 13-15. A season punch card good for 36 entries to Riley Park is available for $149 ($112 for first-time buyers) and can be purchased by calling 843-953-DOGS (3647) or visiting the McAlister Field House ticket window during regular business hours.

Fans renewing their season punch cards from 2014 are eligible to receive the discount on any additional passes they purchase. Single game tickets are also on sale at a price of $8 for adults, $4 for children and students and $4 each as part of a group of 15 or more.

Tickets for the game against South Carolina on March 31 will be $10 for adult general admission and $4 for children and student general admission. In addition, fans interested in reserved seating behind home plate or behind the dugouts for this game only may purchase them for $12 for adults and $8 for children and students. There will be no group sales for the South Carolina game.
 
Hunter Named to NCBWA Preseason All-America Team
Junior closer Skylar Hunter has been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association preseason All-America third team.

Hunter enters the 2015 campaign with a career total of 28 saves, only one behind Citadel all-time leader and Athletic Hall of Fame member Hank Kraft. Hunter tied the school record for most saves in a season with 15 a year ago, ranking first in the Southern Conference and tied for 11th nationally.

The right-hander from Hanahan allowed 22 hits and struck out 44 in 43.0 innings, posted an ERA of 1.67 and held opponents to a batting average of .152. Among his saves were two against nationally-ranked teams. He closed out a Bulldog win over No. 8 Louisville when he retired the final six batters including three strikeouts and finished off a victory over No. 6 South Carolina when he fanned the potential tie run in the ninth.

Hunter also picked up two wins last year in which he went a total of seven innings. He struck out four and did not allow a run in season-high four innings against eventual Super Regional qualifier College of Charleston and tossed three innings of two-hit shutout ball with three strikeouts against Coastal Carolina.

Hunter assumed the closer's role during the fall of his freshman season and proceeded to save 13 games to rank second in the SoCon and 20th in the country. The first Bulldog to record double figures in saves since Link Saunders in 2006, Hunter struck out 44 in 35.1 innings, an average of 11.21 per nine innings, and was named second team All-SoCon and to the Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America squad.

Two other SoCon players - Western Carolina second baseman Brad Strong and Samford closer Andres Gracia - are also on the NCBWA preseason third team.
 
Stokes, Hunter Named to Preseason All-SoCon Team; Bulldogs Picked Sixth (and Seventh) in Preseason Polls
Senior shortstop Johnathan Stokes and junior closer Skylar Hunter have been named to the preseason All-Southern Conference second team in voting by the league's head coaches.

Stokes enters the 2015 season having started 131 of the last 133 games after taking over the shortstop spot towards the end of his freshman year. He has a career batting average of .272 with 25 doubles, seven home runs, 69 runs scored and 93 RBI.

The Cheraw native is looking to return to his offensive form from 2013 when he batted .309 and drove in 52 runs while starting all 60 games to help The Citadel reach the SoCon Tournament championship game.

A year ago Stokes saw his average drop to .254 but still drove in 36 runs and finished the regular season on a high note by driving in seven runs in a sweep over UNCG. He ranked fourth in the conference with six sacrifice flies and seventh with 152 assists.

Hunter has a career total of 28 saves, only one behind Citadel all-time leader and Athletic Hall of Fame member Hank Kraft. Hunter tied the school record for most saves in a season with 15 a year ago, ranking first in the Southern Conference and tied for 11th nationally.

The right-hander from Hanahan struck out 44 in 43.0 innings, posted an ERA of 1.67 and held opponents to a batting average of .152 during his sophomore campaign. In his first season as a Bulldog in 2013, Hunter saved 13 games to rank 20th in the country and was named second team All-SoCon and a member of the Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America squad.

The Citadel was picked to finish sixth in the league's media poll and tied for seventh by the coaches. Western Carolina was picked first in both polls followed by Samford (second coaches; third media) and Mercer (third coaches; second media).

2015 Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll
Place    Team (1st-place votes)            Points
1.         Western Carolina (3)                   58
2.         Samford (3)                                 56
3.          Mercer (2)                                  55
4.         UNCG (1)                                   39
5.         ETSU                                          31
6.         Furman                                       28
T7.       The Citadel                                 23
T7.       Wofford                                       23
9.         VMI                                             11

2015 Preseason Southern Conference Media Poll
Place    Team (1st-place votes)            Points
1.         Western Carolina (11)                 137
2.         Mercer (3)                                   124
3.         Samford (2)                                 117
4.         ETSU                                           88
5.         UNCG                                          64
6.         The Citadel                                  59
7.         Furman                                        53
8.         Wofford                                       48
9.         VMI                                             30

Preseason Player of the Year
Jacob Hoyle, Sr., 1B, Western Carolina

Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Ryan Clark, Jr., RHP, UNCG

Preseason All-Southern Conference First Team
SP    Eric Nyquist, Mercer
SP    Ryan Clark, UNCG
RP    Andres Gracia, Samford
C      Danny Bermudez, Western Carolina
1B    Jacob Hoyle, Western Carolina
2B    Bradley Strong, Western Carolina
SS    Frankie Navarrete, Samford
3B    Chris Ohmstede, Furman
OF    Eric Kalbfleisch, UNCG
OF    Zac MacAneney, UNCG
OF    Heath Quinn, Samford
DH   Jared Watson, Samford

Second Team
SP    Alex Ledford, Samford
SP    Andrew Woods, VMI
SP    Matthew Milburn, Wofford
RP    Skylar Hunter, The Citadel
C      Charlie Madden, Mercer
1B    Howard Joe, Mercer
2B    Hunter King, UNCG
SS    Johnathan Stokes, The Citadel
3B    Chris Cook, ETSU
OF    Jake Jones, Furman
OF    Brandon Angus, VMI
OF    James Plaisted, Wofford
DH    Jarrod Rickman, Furman
 
Sarah Johnson Breaks Citadel Record to Lead Bulldogs
Sarah Johnson set a new Citadel record in the 500 meters with a time of 1:19.10 to take third place overall and lead the Bulldogs on day two of the Captain's Invitational in Newport News, Va.
 
Emani Little finished in seventh place in the same event and moved into fourth place in Citadel history, while Mariana Garcia-Torres posted a time of 1:21.56 to move into sixth place and Alex Moss moved into the top 10 with a 1:23.48 to notch the No. 9 spot. In the 1,000 meters, Jackie Thompson moved into the No. 5 spot all time with a time of 3:17.44, while Jess DeWitte (3:18.06) and Grace Jenkins (3:27.80) rose to sixth and seventh place, respectively, in the same event.
 
Nicole Ogilbee led the Bulldogs in the 3,000 meters with a career-best time of 11:14.07 to move into the No. 8 spot all time at The Citadel, while Callian Colquitt recorded a time of 11:16.53 and now holds the No. 9 spot in school history. Kaitlyn Moore threw her personal-best distance in the shot put with a heave of 35'10" to move into seventh place all time, and Asyria Daniels posted a leap of 31'10.25" in the long jump to place eighth overall.
 
The men's team traveled to Annapolis, Md., for the Wesley A. Brown Invitational where they set multiple personal-best times with Darrell Hayden leading the Bulldogs in the 800 meters, taking home the crown with a season-best time of 1:57.45. In the 400-meters, Tevin Williams ran his season-best with a mark of 50.85 to finish third, Garrett Graham ran his personal-best time of 51.51 to finish fifth and Corey Williams took seventh with a time of 52.41.
 
Keith Cummings finished in sixth place in the 60-meters with a mark of 7.18, while Devin Singleton placed seventh with a 7.39. In the distance events, Raeven Lantz recorded his personal-best mark in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:57.22 to finish in fifth place while his brother, Michael Lantz, ran his career-best time of 8:57.36 and placed sixth. Grant Smith finished in seventh place in the 5,000 meters with a time of 15:52. The 4x400 relay team of Hayden, Williams, Graham and James Urban finished in second place, clocking in at 3:24.04.
 
In field events, Jackson Nosbisch won the high jump with a mark of 6'4.25", and Ian Aikman recorded his season-best height in the pole vault with a jump of 12'11.5".

Tony Cuccaro finished in fourth place in the triple jump with a mark 39'2.25", while Geno Porter threw 51'1" in the weight throw to finish in fifth place. Sadarius Lucas threw his personal-best toss of 44'4" to finish fifth in the weight throw, and Richard Bertrand also recorded his career-best with a toss of 41'11.25'.
 
ON THE FIRST DAY OF COMPETITION, the women's 4x200 relay team of Sarah Johnson, Tanisha Bethel, Emani Little and Ty'Rhonza Harris notched the No. 1 spot in The Citadel record book with a time of 1:47.65 and placed fourth overall at the Captain's Invitational.

Taylor Viana continued the record setting with a career-best time of 30.21 in the 200-hurdles to secure the top spot in Citadel history and a first place finish overall. Viana also ran her personal-best time in the 60-meters hurdles with a mark of 10.22 to qualify for the finals and notch the No. 8 spot in Citadel history. Alex Moss clocked in right behind Viana at 30.54 to earn her personal-best mark and a second place finish. The time moves Moss into third place in the record books. Sabrina Necelis finished in ninth place in the same event with a mark of 34.47 and now holds the No. 7 spot in Citadel history.

The 4x800 relay team of Little, Johnson, Jackie Thompson and Mariana Garcia-Torres ran 9:55.91 to take third and earn the No. 2 spot on the all-time list while Tanisha Bethel ran a season-best time of 7.97 to qualify for the finals in the 60 meter. Elizabeth Webster ran her personal best in the 5,000 with a time of 20:14 to take third place while Emily Fields ran a season-best time of 20:38 to take fourth. Savannah Emmrich jumped a season best in the pole vault with 9'10" to finish in fifth place.

On the men's side, Malik Diggs set his personal-best time of 8.77 in the 60 hurdles to finish in first place and qualify for finals. His time moved him to eighth place in Citadel history. Diggs also moved to third place in the record books for his 200-hurdle time of 26.34 and earned a second place finish. Charlie Walker finished in fourth place in the 200 hurdle with a time of 27.08 and moved to fourth place in the record books while Will DeBruhl ran the hurdles in 28.43 to take eighth place and move to seventh in Citadel history. Greg Bolus joined his teammates in the top-ten list at No. 9 with a time of 30.36 and finished in fourth place overall.
 
For more information, please refer to www.CitadelSports.com.
 
Netters fall at Georgia Gwinnett, Georgia Tech
Georgia Gwinnett, the No. 1 NAIA team and 2014 national champions, swept through the doubles point and all of the singles en route to a 7-0 shutout of the Bulldogs on Jan. 31.
 
In the doubles point, the Cadets' No. 1 team of Peter Bleach/Nick Bradley was the most competitive of the three matches, as they fell, 8-5. In singles play, no Bulldog went three sets and the best match came at No. 2 as Bleach dropped his match to the No. 2 ranked NAIA player, Jordan Cox, by 6-2, 6-3 scores.
 
Later in the day, the Bulldogs traveled to Georgia Tech where the Yellow Jackets stung the Bulldogs, 7-0.
 
Tech took the doubles point with the No. 2 team that featured Oliver Dedding/Artemie Amari playing the best before falling, 6-3.  In singles, Nick Bradley was the lone Bulldog to go three sets before he fell at No. 4 by 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 scores.
 
For more information, please refer to www.CitadelSports.com.
 
The Citadel Extends Partnership with CLC
The Collegiate Licensing Company, the licensing affiliate of IMG College, announced a five-year extension of its partnership with The Citadel to continue managing the school's highly successful trademark licensing program. The new agreement will extend to June 30, 2020.

The Citadel's licensing program has grown significantly since partnering with CLC, achieving an average of more than 20% annual royalty increases the past 12 years. Since the relationship with CLC began in 2003, licensing royalties have grown more than 820%.
 
The Citadel licensing program continues to gain momentum with 2013-14 representing the largest royalty collection in the history of the school's licensing program. 
   
Through the partnership, The Citadel maintains access to the leading brand protection, brand management and brand development services that CLC currently provides to its nearly 200 collegiate partners in the $4.6 billion collegiate licensed segment of the retail market. The partnership with CLC also allows the institution to leverage best-in-class licensees, tap into key retailers, access exclusive retail intelligence, and participate in a range of national retail marketing programs.
 
CLC, the leading collegiate licensing agency in the U.S., signed or extended its licensing agreements with more than 50 partner institutions in 2014. CLC currently represents nearly 200 collegiate institutions, including 25 bowl games and the College Football Playoff.
 
17^th Annual Broxton Bridge Fun Shoot Set for Feb. 21
Truly one of the more exciting gatherings that The Citadel Brigadier Foundation orchestrates is the annual Broxton Bridge Fun Shoot that is slated for Feb. 21 in Ehrhardt.  Started 16 years ago by Jerry Varn '51, a member of The Citadel Athletic Hall of Fame, the shoot begins at 9 am and concludes at 1 pm with lunch and the award presentations. 
 
A $100 donation per shooter includes 100 shells and 100 clays, in addition to the lunch. A $150 sponsorship secures a station that will promote your business or organization.  All shooters will receive a free Citadel cap and five free raffle tickets for the post-shoot prizes. 
 
For information, please refer to www.brocktonbridge.com or call 800/437-4868. 
 
CFA Hosts Mike Houston Golf Tournament on March 13
The Citadel Football Association presents its second annual Mike Houston Golf Tournament on Friday, March 13, at the Summerville Country Club.  Play starts at 10 am with a shotgun start. Cost is $100 per player and includes a stocked beverage cart and a hot lunch at the turn.  Members of the football coaching staff will join Coach Mike Houston in the tournament. Awards will be presented at the conclusion of play, and the tournament is provided compliments of Buford Blanton '54 and the Summerville Country Club.
 
Sponsorships are available and all proceeds go to improve The Citadel Football program and facilities.
 
For complete information, to enter the tournament and/or become a sponsor, go to www.cfabulldogs.org.  Specific questions may be addressed to committee chairman Connie Tuza at 843/452-9801 or elcid58@knology.net.  You may also call The Citadel Football Office at 843/953-5123.
 
TCBF Blue & White Bash Set for March 14
The 27^th Annual Auction is set for March 14 in McAlister Field House and more information is available at www.brigadierfoundation.com.  While food stations and open bar are among the highlights, there will also be a DJ and dancing after the live and silent auctions.  This year we are partnering with Bidding for Good to bring you mobile bidding.  This means no more bid sheets!  Beginning February 20, Brigadier Foundation auction items will be available for bidding online at www.biddingforgood.com/citadel.  Bidding is open to the public but you still won't want to miss the live event.  The cost is $75 per person (open seating) and reserved tables are available for $1,000.  For more information and to donate gifts, visit www.brigadierfoundation.com or call 843/953-5277.
 
CFA's 5^th Annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest Set for March 14
The 5^th Annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest will be held at 12 noon on March 14 at Johnson Hagood Stadium and online registration is underway at Citadel Football Association.
 
The Citadel Football Association sponsors the event each year to raise funds to assist with caring for the live mascots and for a scholarship program. This year's contest will again be held conjunction with The Citadel's Corps Day weekend celebration.
 
The highest award provided will be Most Beautiful Bulldog and there will also be winners in the following other categories that include Best Smiler,  Best Coat/Markings, Best Physique, Miss Congeniality/Mr. Personality and Most Beautiful Bulldog
The entry fee is $50 per contestant. For specifics and to register, go to Citadel Football Association.  Registration will close at 5 pm on Thursday, March 12. The contest is limited to only 40 English bulldogs and they must be at least one-year old. 
 
All human friends and family of dog owners are encouraged to visit the dogs in the judging area and attend to the spring game, which kicks off at 1 pm.  There is no admission fee for spectators of the football game or the Beautiful Bulldog Contest.
 
Citadel Mascots Memorial Columbarium Dedication Ceremony Set for March 14
The dedication ceremony for The Citadel Mascots Memorial Columbarium at Johnson Hagood Stadium is planned for Saturday, March 14 at 11 am.  This 6-feet tall granite display is shaped like Second Battalion and features bronze plaques of all past bulldog mascots and space for future ones.  It sits on a base which provides space for cremated remains of mascots to be kept.
 
They Said It
"Having been a collegiate athlete and a cadet, I know what Citadel players are going through.  But on a larger scale, these players work hard every day to represent The Citadel and win games for their school. They deserve to be supported by fans and their fellow cadets, and I hope this event is the first step in making that a reality."

Dan Gowdown '98, a founder of Charleston Rental Properties, on the promotion of "Pack the Mac" Night

"The Citadel is excited to continue our long-standing and successful relationship with CLC. The partnership has resulted in steady growth since its inception, and we look forward to continuing our work with CLC. CLC is an industry-leader and has been a strong supporter of The Citadel's core values of 'Honor,' 'Duty' and 'Respect.' This long-term agreement will further allow for continued growth, strengthening of our brand and also help our loyal Bulldog fans show their Citadel pride in many different ways."

Director of Athletics Jim Senter, on the long-standing relationship with the Collegiate Licensing Company
 
Upcoming Birthdays
Feb. 10            Caleb Furrow                         Administration
Feb. 19            Lori Bonacci                           Golf
Feb. 28            J.P. Gunter                             Football
 
Upcoming Events
Feb. 7              Alumni Basketball Game                    McAlister Field House
Feb. 8              Coke Zero Meet the Bulldogs             Riley Park
Feb. 21            TCBF Fun Shoot                                 Broxton Bridge Plantation
Mar. 13            Mike Houston Golf Tournament         Summerville Country Club
Mar. 14            Citadel Mascots Memorial
Columbarium Dedication                                            Johnson Hagood Stadium
Beautiful Bulldog Contest                                           Johnson Hagood Stadium
Spring Football Game                                                Johnson Hagood Stadium
27^th Annual TCBF Annual Auction                              McAlister Field House
 
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!
 
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 quarterly.  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/subscribe.aspx.
 
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 ……………..Jim Senter & Jerry Baker
Editor ………...………...Andy Solomon
Layout/Distribution….....Mike Hoffman