Eagles Back In Action Following Holiday Break

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas with family and friends.

We travel to Lynchburg tonight for a 7 p.m. tip-off. You can listen to the game on 96.1 FM beginning at 6:30 pm. Lynchburg returns all five starters and has four transfers on a very talented and athletic LC team.

Before we return home on Jan. 11th (Wed.) vs. Guilford College at 7 p.m. (Hope to see you at Nininger Hall) we will play at Randolph-Macon on Jan. 7th (Sat.) at 2 p.m.

After the two games in the Don Glick Classic we played at Ferrum and then we went to play in the Daytona Beach Shootout where we lost to two very good teams - Taylor Univ. (Ind.) (ranked #14 NAIA) & North Central (Ill.). Several guys played very well against top competition which will hopefully prepare these younger guys for ODAC games. While our games were in Daytona Beach the team stayed in Orlando. While in Orlando the team was able to go the Orlando Magic vs Miami Heat game on Dec. 21st. Thanks to a good friend who works with the Magic, my team was able to get onto the floor during warm-ups. It is amazing how BIG Dwight Howard and LeBron are in person. Then on the 22nd the team went to Islands of Adventures. This was a good trip that allowed our young team to play against top competition while also allowing them to bond and grow. The experience of the trip should pay dividends down the stretch for our program.

We have lost a few games after starting the season 4-2. The guys are playing hard and together while we are still trying to find consistent production from our 13 healthy bodies –all freshmen and sophomores. Cody Griffith, our leading scorer has missed six games and Daniel McClain, our leading rebounder has missed for 4 games. Unfortunately, we just received the news that Daniel will be out for the season with a torn ACL.

Currently, we are 1-1 in ODAC play which has us in the middle of the pack early on. We (the staff)have told our guys we have 14 conference games that we need to take one at a time and continue to get better each day so we are playing our best basketball come late February (ODAC tourney).

I want to thank everyone who attended our Don Glick Classic and donated a canned food item to the local food pantry. We were able to help reach out to over 100 families in the immediate area during the Christmas Holidays.

Also, at the top of the blog is a photo from our Holiday Hoop Clinic which is a FREE clinic for boys and girls during the Don Glick Classic. With the support of our partner - Wal-Mart of Dayton - each child receives a Bridgewater College basketball t-shirt, basketball, popcorn chicken and drink. This is just a small way for our basketball program and Wal-Mart of Dayton to give back to the community before Christmas.

Eagles Travel To Randolph Tonight

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and was able to enjoy quality time with family and friends.

Before the Thanksgiving break the team visited with the 4th grade and 1st grade classes at John Wayland Elementary school for our Read with an Eagle Program. Please view the link below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=SUP59IfE7bo

Our program enjoys visiting with the local elementary schools and reminding the students that reading is FUN and how important it is to read as much as you can while you are young.

Today we will depart to play Randolph College at 7 pm – you can listen to the game locally on 96.1 FM.

This will be like every ODAC game - a tough road test. Randolph is preseason pick #5 in the ODAC and return Senior Derrick Woods-Morrow, who is averaging a double-double, and Colton Hunt (junior) an All-ODAC selection last year.

I am pleased with the progress we are making. Once again, our young guys will have to step up and consistently produce with the quality minutes that they earn in order for us to successful throughout the season.

We are 2 -1. We were able to bounce back with a win over Johnson & Wales on Saturday Nov. 19th in the Hilton Garden Inn Classic at Guilford College after a loss on Friday to a very athletic and junior/senior loaded Greensboro team.

It was Great to see Coach Leatherman and Derrick Hodge ’92 and his family at the Hilton Garden inn Classic in Greensboro, N.C. I hope to see many more BC Alums and fans on the road as we travel and play in your area.

We will play at Guilford College on Saturday Dec.3rd at 3 p.m. Then we will host the Don Glick Classic on Dec. 9th (Friday) and Dec. 10th (Saturday) at Nininger Hall. If you bring a canned food item then you will be admitted to the game for free. These items are collected by the Men’s Basketball team and given to the local area food bank which will provide for over 100 families for the Christmas Holiday.

Cyndi Justice does an outstanding job of getting the local youth involved with our game day activities. I want to thank the Dayton /Bridgewater youth football cheerleaders for taking the time to do their cheer routine at our halftime of the Averett game and they helped to cheer us to victory as the team could hear their “DEFENSE” chant from the upper bleachers. Also, thanks to Brady Hylton (son of Becky Hylton in the Alumni office) for singing the National Anthem.

Best of luck to women’s Basketball this week as they travel to Va. Wesleyan today. The women will host Randolph College on Saturday Dec. 3rd at 2 p.m.

Go EAGLES!!!

The Season Begin Tonight

Nov.15, 2011

Well, the 2011-12 season is officially here! We host Averett University tonight at 7 p.m. in Nininger Hall.

I hope the students will come out and fill the Nininger NUTS section and be the 6th MAN that every basketball team needs.

We travelled to High Point University this past weekend and played a very talented yet underrated HPU team. They had two all-conference guards (Nick Barbour & Shay Shine) and one of the BEST college athletes in the country in Corey Law (6’6” 225 lb).

Our guys played hard in front of a great college basketball crowd. We did not shoot well from the floor even though we had open looks, but we were able to compete on the boards, which is a concern because of our size. We had several young guys step up and play well against HPU. It is always good for us to play a Division 1 opponent early in the season. The team works hard in the preseason and this is a good way to reward them, yet remind them we have a ways to go as a team.

Averett is a very athletic team that has four guys who are between 6-3 and 6-5 and they can score inside and outside. They like to get up and down the floor so, it is imperative that we communicate and stop the ball in transition defense. Also, we have to do an excellent job of rebounding because they have so many athletes going to the offensive glass. Offensively we have to attack to score yet be patient to take a GREAT shot instead of a good shot.

I hope to see you and all of the BC fans in Nininger Hall tonight at 7 p.m.

Alumni Game A Big Success!

Once again, I want to thank all of the former BC men’s basketball players, coaches and their families for coming to our Alumni Game (Even years vs. Odd years) following the football game this past Saturday.

It was a close game that came down to the end with the ODD years defeating the EVEN years. Brad Williamson ’85 drained several 3-pointers, Ashley Watson ’93 is still jumping out the gym (yes, he can still dunk) and Dan Shomo ’97 showed off some nice post moves on the right block for a few points. Jay Strotman ’06 dropped a few “dimes”, Kris “Bulldog” Cecil ’09 was running the point for his squad and Michael Oblitey ’10 got two dunks on the fastbreak off of the VERTICAL (wow)!

Also, I want to thank coach Alvin Green, coach Tim Meyers and my wife Stephanie for all of their help behind the scenes to make this event successful.

We had a GREAT turnout that included Coach Leatherman and Coach Bobby Stevens ’74 (still Top 5 in assists at BC with 342), Lindsay Woolfolk '59, Jim Ellis ’67, Jim Upperman ’68 (BC's all-time leading scorer with 2,237 points), Wes Allen ’76, Tom Wright ’76 (BC's all-time leading rebounder with 1,112 boards), Brad Archer ’89, Craig Shoemaker ’90, Derek Hodge ’92, Matt Stevens ’02 and Matt Ross ’10.

Former players who played included Brad Williamson ’85, Ashley Watson ’93, David Brimmer ’94, Dan Shomo ’97, Jay Strotman ’08, Kris Cecil ’09, Rob Rice ’09, Matt Drewer ’09, Andrew Cathlin ’09, Segar Jordan ’10, Dominic Trawick ’10, Michael Oblitey ’10, Drew Maynard ’11, Mark Gibbs ’11, Justin Brake ’11 , Rick Maloney ’11 and Kyle Hammond ’11.

Next year please mark your calendar as we will have our second (Even vs Odd) Alumni game during the Homecoming weekend following the football game. I hope for this event to evolve for ALL of our BC former basketball players and their families to participate in some capacity. This is YOUR and OUR program!

Below you will see a couple photos from the event. Teammates and families had an opportunity to catch up on old times. We also had old uniforms, yearbooks and media guides on display. It was a sight to see how the game shorts have changed over the years.

Go EAGLES!

Coach Burgess

The Season Is Almost Here!

A couple of more days and our 2011-12 season officially begins. We will have our first official tryout on October 15th before the football game. Our lone senior Cody (Cooter) Griffith just stopped by the office and is just excited as the coaching staff (Tim Meyers and Alvin Green) is about the upcoming season. I will speak more about the team in my next blog once our roster is finalized after tryouts.
It has been an eventful past few weeks for the Burgess family and the men’s basketball program. My father and I were inducted into the Harrisonburg High School Hall of Fame along with eight other quality young men and women. I am truly honored and humbled by the selection to go into the Hall of Fame and entering the HOF with my dad leaves me speechless.
Also, Mark Gibbs ’11 got married to Erin Cartwright ’10 (a former BC Lacrosse player) and my wife and I attended. It was a beautiful wedding filled with lots of love and in attendance were several BC alums as well as several former student-athletes. I wish the couple much happiness!!!
Earlier this week, Coach Willi and I spoke at the Shenandoah Valley Athletic Club dinner which is an engagement I look forward to attending each October. The Club does a great job of supporting all of the athletes from each of the local colleges and high schools in the area. If you have not attended one of the dinners of the SVAC, you should.
This weekend is Homecoming weekend at BC. The Hall of Fame banquet is on Friday the 14th. Congratulations to all of the inductees and their families. Coach Bill Leatherman is being inducted on Friday and I am looking forward to seeing him and all of the former BC basketball players. On Saturday after the football game we will have an ALUMNI GAME beginning at 4 p.m. in Nininger Hall. I want to invite folks to come over after the football game and enjoy visiting with the alums.
Signed up to play are Brad Williamson ’85, Sean O’Connell ’85, Ashley Watson ’93, Jacobie Napier ’06, Kris Cecil ’09, Rob Rice ’09, Matt Drewer ’09, Matt Ross ’10, Segar Jordan ’10, Dominic Trawick ’10, Michael Oblitey ’10, Drew Maynard ’11, Mark Gibbs ’11, Justin Brake ’11, Rick Maloney ’11 & Kyle Hammond ’11. We are still looking for others to play.
Even if you are not interested in playing please stop in the gym to fellowship with your fellow teammates.
Best of luck to all of the BC teams competing this weekend.
GO EAGLES!!!!!

Alumni Game Scheduled For Oct. 15

I hope you enjoyed your Labor Day weekend!

Today is the first day of classes for the 2011-12 academic year on the beautiful campus of Bridgewater College.

These guys pictured to the right will be missed on our campus as they are embarking on a new chapter in their lives - the “real world”. The photo includes Rick Maloney, Mark Gibbs, Justin Brake, Drew Maynard and Kyle Hammond after graduation.

Rick Maloney is an account management associate at the Corporate Executive Board in Washington, DC. He resides in Arlington.

Mark Gibbs is working at Normal Balance Company as a patient associate/personal trainer. Mark also resides in Arlington.

Justin Brake is teaching fifth grade at McGaheysville Elementary School and is the head boys basketball coach at Elkton Middle School. Justin is living in Harrisonburg.

Drew Maynard is a physical education teacher at Crozet Elementary School in Albemarle County and an assistant boys basketball coach at Albemarle H.S. Drew is continuing his education at West Virginia University to obtain a Master’s degree in sports management. He is living in Earlysville, Va.

Kyle Hammond earned his degree in allied health science and is working and living in Bluefield, W.Va.

These guys along with several other BC alums will return to campus on October 15th for an ALUMNI GAME (even years vs odd years) following the football game. The game will begin at 4 p.m. in Nininger Hall.

If you are a BC Men’s Basketball alum and have an interest in playing please contact the basketball office at 540-828-5403.

And, congratulations to our fall sports this past weekend on their teams' success!

Senior Night

We are in the last week of the regular season of ODAC play. We play tonight at 7 pm vs Emory & Henry in Nininger Hall and we play @ Roanoke College on Saturday at 2 pm.

Tonight is “SENIOR NIGHT”. Please come out and support our Men’s Basketball team this evening and give a strong farewell on “SENIOR NIGHT” to Mark Gibbs, Rick Maloney, Justin Brake, Drew Maynard & Kyle Hammond as they will play their last home game in Nininger Hall. These five young men are outstanding ambassadors for Bridgewater College and our Men’s Basketball program. We do not have the total # of wins which we want to have but this young and unproven team has improved throughout the season.

L to R: Kyle Hammond, Justin Brake, Rick Maloney, Coach Burgess, Mark Gibbs, & Drew Maynard

Next week we will begin the ODAC tournament on Tuesday (Feb. 22nd); teams and location are still TBA. Hope to see you tonight on SENIOR NIGHT! If you are in the Roanoke area this Saturday please come out and cheer us on at 2pm.

GO EAGLES!!!