Annual Alumni Game A Big Success

Oct. 10, 2012

It is hard to believe that we are only a few days away for our first official basketball practice (tryout) on October 15. The BC students leave for fall break this Friday and return to class on Wednesday, Oct. 17. So, we will have two days of tryouts and an intra-squad scrimmage on Saturday Oct. 20 after the football game. I am anxious to see which players got STRONGER, BETTER and most importantly HEALTHIER. I will have more on the team in the next blog.

I would like to say THANK YOU to all of the alums for making the SecondAnnual Alumni Game a huge success. I sincerely appreciate all of the alums’ help for getting the word out to all of your former teammates and coaches. Several former men’s basketball family members were unable to attend because of prior engagements but they were still on the phone lines and emailing to get others to attend the event. Once again, thank you.  

We had memorabilia set up on the tables , the alumni players sat on the bleachers for the game as they used to do several years ago, and on the opposite side of the court we placed padded chairs as “court side” seats for all former players who did not participate in the alumni game. We had sandwiches, deserts and beverages for all of the men’s basketball family members. With us adding the courtside seats, this allowed the current players and alums to fellowship more freely while watching the game, eating and looking at the old memorabilia. 

I will get the 2013 Homecoming dates to you as soon BC announces the date so you can mark your calendars for next year. You (the former players, coaches and family members) are what makes this event special and better each year. I look forward to watching this event get better with more participation each year. After the game it was great to see all of the Little Eagles, (children of the alums) and families socializing and shooting hoops after the game.

Below is a list of former players who played in the game.

Sean O’Connell ’85, Curtis Arey ‘ 82, Ashley Watson ’93, Todd DeBerry ’90, Kris Cecil ’09,            Jonathan Orrock ’98, Rob Rice ’09, Clay Michael ’06, Matt Drewer ’09, Jay Strotman ’08, Andrew Cathlin ‘ 09, Dominic Trawick’10, Drew Maynard ’11, Segar Jordan ’10  (injured), Justin Brake  ’11 and Rick Maloney  ’11                                                  

Also in attendance were Larry Pence ‘57, Paul Hatcher ‘ 66, Rick Wampler  ’70, Bob Boyle ’70, Jim Rehbock ’77 (athletic trainer), Bobby Fowler ’82, Tim Llewellyn ’89, Derek Hodge ’92, Jarrett Hatcher and Dan Rush ’95.

 

Coach Burgess

Back To School Means New Season Is Just Around The Corner

Sept. 3, 2012

It is hard to believe that we have started the 2012-13 school year.  Before I get any further into my blog I want to say congratulations to Cody “Cooter” Griffith (pictured at the right)  for accepting a job with Carter Lumber in Winston-Salem, NC.  I am very proud of this young man and very privileged to have had an opportunity to coach him and watch him grow over the past four years.

Bridgewater College is a very beautiful institution and it becomes even more invigorating when the students, faculty and staff are all on campus. 

Our team's motto over the summer was to get STRONGER, BETTER and HEALTHIER!  With most programs I have been associated with in high school and college the motto for the summer was always “get bigger, stronger, faster” but our coaching staff (Tim Meyers, Alvin Green and I) made a minor adjustment with the BETTER & HEALTHIER.  Last season was an eventful one with our injuries (fractured ankle, ACL, blood clot and mono to name a few) that occurred to starters and key contributors in our program.

We are very excited that the administration has hired a full-time Strength & Conditioning Coach (Adam Craft) for the athletic department.  Our returners came back in better shape, stronger and yes some are a little healthier.  We welcomed several newcomers  Zach Hunter (Woodside HS and Matt Hunter's younger brother), Jerome “JJ” Ziv (Coral Gables HS in Florida), Sammy Tyson (Wesleyan Christian School in High Point, NC), Justin Reife (the Village Academy  in Powell, OH) and Bryan Lynch (St. Anne's Belfield and Merchant Marine).  Coach Craft will have an opportunity to work with these guys in the pre-season.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Labor Day Weekend. I want to wish our fall sports the best of luck as they move into their seasons. 

Reminder that Cody Griffith, our one senior this past season, will return to campus on Oct. 6, homecoming weekend, for our 2nd Annual Even vs. Odd Years Alumni Game at 4:00 p.m. following the football game. 

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

Coach Burgess

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.