Loyalty and support for their alma mater has long been a hallmark of Citadel graduates, and one in particular has shown his Bulldog pride by helping initiate the Pack the Mac event scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 15 at 5:30.
 
Pack the Mac, designed to fill McAlister Field House and create a true home court advantage when The Citadel hosts military rival VMI, is the brainchild of Dan Gowdown, a member of the Class of 1998 and a former basketball letterman.
 
Among the events planned for the contest are the opportunity to receive up to four free tickets and several giveaway items and on-court promotions, including a halfcourt shooting contest that can win a lucky fan $500 courtesy of Charleston Rental Properties (CRP), the company co-owned by Gowdown.
 
Along with title sponsor TD Bank, CRP and Balfour are serving as presenting sponsors for the game. In addition to his stake in CRP, Gowdown also operates an outdoor advertising company and has generously donated several of his billboards in the Charleston area to promote Pack the Mac.
 
The entire 2,300-member South Carolina Corps of Cadets will be attendance to add to the excitement inside McAlister and show support for their classmates.
 
"It started as an organic process, and then we began putting the pieces together," said Gowdown. "We thought about how we can entice people to come to the games and experience what a great place The Citadel is. I think everyone who comes will really enjoy the energy this event will generate."
 
Fans can receive four free tickets by visiting Packthemac.com. Once at the site, click on the icon that corresponds to how you learned about the event and enter the promo code and your contact information. The opportunity to receive free tickets through Packthemac.com expires at 11 p.m. on Feb. 14.
 
"This is something I've wanted to do for a long time – to give back to the school that has given me so much and do something for the basketball program and Coach (Chuck) Driesell," said Gowdown. "Of course, you want to have big home crowds for every game, but this is going to be a great place to start."
 
Future plans call for Pack the Mac events involving more basketball games as well as volleyball and wrestling matches at McAlister Field House. The goal is to create an environment that opposing teams dread playing in.
 
"I strongly believe that if 70 to 80 percent of the gym is filled, it will translate to four or five more wins a year just from the support that the players feed off," opined Gowdown. "On a larger scale, these athletes are playing hard every night to win for their school, and playing in front of large crowds will give them the collegiate experience they dreamed of."
 
For more information about Pack the Mac, contact The Citadel ticket office at 843-953-DOGS (3647).