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November 21, 2007On The Road: Big Night In Big Appleby Josh at 08:08 PM on November 21, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Division I, NCAA Basketball, On The Road They tell me it’s the biggest party night of the year, so I’ve decided to have a blast inside Madison Square Garden. Unlimited Diet Cokes in the press box = outstanding fun. The semifinals of the NIT Season Tip-Off are tonight, and I challenge anyone to find a better time in the Big Apple this evening. We all know football is a big deal tomorrow, but for college basketball junkies, this is the marquee event of the holiday weekend. The stands aren’t full, which is somewhat baffling in a city of 8.5 million people. Sure, there’s cooking to do, friends to see and Seinfeld reruns to watch, but we’re talking big-time college hoops the day before Thanksgiving, right here in the heart of New York. The NIT has always been a tough draw, if only because it’s impossible to know which teams will make it to the final rounds in New York each year. For Washington, Ohio State and Texas A&M, this is a haul and it’s hard to spend thousands of dollars for airfare, hotel and expensive food at the last minute. I expect that Syracuse will draw well for the second game given the university’s proximity to New York City. There are a lot of legends in the stands, but I was thrilled to meet Lucy Carlesimo last night and hope to make it across the court to see her again tonight. Mrs. Carlesimo’s late husband Peter was the man responsible for keeping the NIT running for so many years, and his vibrant wife is still front and center at the preseason and postseason tournaments. Dining with her last night has been the highlight of my time in the city. It’s halftime of the first game right now – Washington leads Texas A&M, 36-32. On The Road: A New Ohio Stateby Josh at 12:47 PM on November 21, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Division I, NCAA Basketball, On The Road Ohio State had a remarkable run to the Men’s Final Four last winter and after losing in the championship game to Florida, promptly lost four starters, including freshmen all-Americans Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. The lone returning starter for the Buckeyes is senior Jamar Butler, who will lead his team into Madison Square Garden tonight against 21st-ranked Syracuse. Yesterday, I caught up with Jamar and asked him about the experience of Thanksgiving in New York and the competition he and the Buckeyes will face tonight.
November 20, 2007On The Road: Practice With The Orangeby Josh at 04:58 PM on November 20, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Division I, Division III, NCAA Basketball, On The Road I arrived in Penn Station around 11 this morning, took the subway up to Times Square, headed out into the rainy New York morning and walked the few blocks north to the Marriott Marquis. At noon, select players and coaches from Syracuse, Ohio State, Texas A&M and Washington arrived to have lunch and chat with the media for a couple of hours. Everyone is thrilled to be in New York to play big-time basketball games and enjoy Thanksgiving in the city that never sleeps. Following the press conferences, I headed west to 10th avenue and walked up to 58th Street, locale of John Jay College, a Division III institution that specializes in criminal justice and law. Syracuse is working out here for a couple of hours prior to a reception this evening at the historic Tavern On The Green. Perhaps the irony is clear to me solely because I was a Division III student-athlete, but I find it interesting that Syracuse, which plays its home games in front of 30,000+, is sharing an old-school gymnasium with the John Jay women’s basketball team as I write this post. When we discuss the New York experience – the games in Madison Square Garden, the dinner at Tavern On The Green, seeing the floats on Thanksgiving – this has to be part of it. The NCAA is a diverse association and it’s not all about arenas that are bigger than mid-sized American cities. There are more John Jays out there than Syracuse’s, so I have to think that part of the Big Apple learning experience for Jim Boeheim’s student-athletes is this shootaround at a school that specializes in criminal justice.
August 01, 2007On The Road: The Cape Cod Familyby Josh at 03:02 PM on August 01, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Baseball, On The Road  Chris Dominguez is having an awful lot of fun on the baseball field lately. An infielder and outfielder for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League, Dominguez hit seven home runs for Louisville during its magical run to the College World Series this spring. Each year, families on Cape Cod open their homes for two months, sometimes housing two or three ballplayers for the summer. Often, the families have children, many of whom look up to the players as big brothers and role models. The relationships are mutually beneficial, as each of the players I spoke with on the Cape said they will most definitely stay in touch with their host families well beyond this summer and their baseball careers. Following Monday’s game between Harwich and Hyannis, I asked Chris to comment on his relationship with his host family.
July 30, 2007On The Road: Bob The Grillmaster Serves It Upby Josh at 07:55 PM on July 30, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Baseball, On The Road Homer Simpson would be proud of me. Before I left Yarmouth, I stopped by the concessions stand for a culinary experience that would make Iron Chef Bobby Flay nauseous. It turns out that Yarmouth-Dennis is famous for its cheeseburgers – which happen to be placed in the middle of delicious, sumptuous, sugary donuts. On my way by the grill, I grabbed a slider and a hurler – the former a cheeseburger in between a cake donut; the latter a burger with cheese whiz in between a jelly donut. I began my meal with a bite of each, and promptly called my wife to tell her what I had done. She told me I was disgusting 10 times, but I think my 11th description got her. She asked me to ship a hurler back to Indianapolis so she could taste it for herself. Unfortunately, that isn’t sanitary, so we’ll just have to make a return to Red Wilson Field next summer. Bob the Grillmaster was kind enough to pose with my burgers before I began consumption.  On The Road: Living The Dream On Cape Codby Josh at 05:38 PM on July 30, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Baseball, On The Road I have spent the past couple of hours at Red Wilson Field, home of the reigning Cape Cod Baseball League champion Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. It has taken me less than two hours to come to one simple conclusion – I’m in heaven. Right now, Orleans and Yarmouth-Dennis are in the bottom of the second inning, and about 1,500 of us are taking in the action. None of us had to pay, many of us have looked forward to this game all day, all of us are watching the best college baseball players in the country. For two months each summer, Cape Cod is transformed into a baseball fan’s paradise. On most days, five games take place on the Cape, all of them featuring future Major During my time in Yarmouth, I have chatted with a teacher who spends his summer coaching the Orleans Cardinals, a gentleman from London who is taking in his first game on the Cape, a player from two-time defending Division II national champion Tampa, the league leader in saves who hails from Baylor and many others. Before the game began, about 30 kids hustled out with the Yarmouth-Dennis players to stand on the field during the national anthem. Their smiles stretched about as far as you can imagine. Orleans first baseman Jose Jiminez (Tampa) says folks would be surprised that a Division II player is succeeding on Cape Cod.
May 07, 2007On the Road: 2007 National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Championshipby Zach at 10:36 AM on May 07, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to General Interest, On The Road, Volleyball Photos taken Saturday in Columbus
Bracket hanging outside the arena.
Welcome to St. John Arena.
IPFW lined up for introductions before the match.
UC Irvine huddles up before taking the court.
The Anteaters receive a serve in game four.
The teams shake hands after the match.
UC Irvine celebrates its first national title.
May 06, 2007On the Road: The Anteaters Take Home a National Championshipby Zach at 07:00 PM on May 06, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to On The Road, Volleyball
In the car for a six-hour round trip for a few hours of championship volleyball…I’ll call it an even trade. Saturday afternoon, a group of friends and I headed up to Columbus for the title game of the 2007 National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championship. The matchup saw UC Irvine defeat IPFW in four games for the first national title in program history. Coincidentally, it was the first time either team had advanced to the finals, so history was definitely going to be made. Obviously with so much on the line, the match was intense with some great players making great plays for their respective teams. It was my first trip to the men’s finals, so I was more than ready to be a witness to the atmosphere. There was a bit of a local flavor, too, as Fort Wayne, Indiana, home of the Mastodons, is only a few hours from Columbus. The fans were used to the drive and the arena since IPFW had played at Ohio State the weekend before on its way to the MIVA tournament title. UC Irvine also had a loyal fan base cheering with each kill and point won. Who knew Anteaters could be so rowdy? I can only imagine how these student-athletes felt on such a big stage—the game was also televised live on ESPN2—having practiced and played so hard all season building up to this one match. Having played volleyball for a little more than five years, I am still amazed by how high these guys jump, how hard they hit and how passionate they are about each and every point. I think it’s a testament to their competitive drive and will to win. Next year’s championship will take place in Irvine, California, so I can assume that will add a little bit more fuel to UCI’s fire to make another finals appearance for a repeat.
April 28, 2007On The Road: How Does Title IX Impact Men's Teams?by Josh at 06:54 PM on April 28, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, On The Road, Title IX, Women's Sports
Dick Gould spent 38 seasons as men’s tennis coach at Stanford, leading the Cardinal to 17 national titles during his tenure. When Gould started in Palo Alto, the men’s tennis team had more full scholarships than starting positions; nearly four decades later, the program is limited to 4.5 scholarships for its entire roster. Gould is a supporter of Title IX – he has three daughters who participated in intercollegiate athletics. He does believe, however, that the legislation encourages reverse discrimination for certain sports, including men’s tennis. While I am adamant about the fact that schools don’t need to eliminate program to comply with Title IX legislation, I can understand Coach Gould’s frustrations. During a panel discussion this afternoon, he cited data that showed that there is significantly more interest in tennis from males than females. Yet, Division I women’s tennis teams have nearly twice as many scholarships to offer as their male counterparts. I caught up with Coach Gould after his session: “Facts, Fiction, and the Future: Men’s Sports and Women’s Opportunities.” On The Road: A Climate Of Commercialismby Josh at 04:46 PM on April 28, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division I, Division II, Division III, On The Road, Title IX
I just spent the past 90 minutes on the edge of my seat, listening to three veterans of intercollegiate athletics administration share their thoughts about gender-equity issues in college sports. During a session titled “Strategies for Equality in a Climate of Commercialism,” Stanford athletics director Bob Bowlsby, California director of athletics Sandy Barbour and Women’s Sports Foundation CEO Donna Lopiano discussed a number of pressing matters. During her part of the presentation, Lopiano cited some startling statistics that helped me put the entire discussion in perspective. On average, a head football coach at a Bowl Championship Subdivision program earns $950,000 annually. Professors at the same institutions have an average salary of $91,000. What kind of message does that send? There are obvious inequity issues with regard to men’s sports and women’s sports, but I’m not so sure that the inequity isn’t a football/men’s basketball issue. Besides those programs, the rest of the teams on campus rarely turn a profit, so the issues of commercialism, inflated salaries and misplaced priorities should be directed to the “big two.” The point of contention among the panelists, however, was how to affect change when the majority of revenue for the department is generated by those two programs. Bowlsby doesn’t believe that there is much that can be done to slowdown the salary hikes of high-profile coaches, and he and Barbour posit that the enterprise of intercollegiate athletics will soon implode. After the panel discussion, I had a chance to check in with Bowlsby about how the Stanford athletics department likes to handle things. On The Road: Title IX Today, Title IX Tomorrowby Josh at 12:35 PM on April 28, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, On The Road, Title IX Sixty years ago, Jackie Robinson stepped onto the baseball field as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African-American to play in the Major Leagues. As we celebrate Robinson this season – and every season – it’s hard to ignore the lack of African-American players in today’s game. Less than 10 percent of Major League players are black, and that is a big problem. There is still a lot of work to be done to make sure kids in every neighborhood have the chance to play baseball. In June, we will celebrate the 35th anniversary of Title IX, the historic legislation that assured equality for men and women in education. In the 1950s, there weren’t many opportunities for women in higher education, but when Birch Bayh pioneered the legislation that prohibited gender discrimination in any federally funded education program, the world changed forever. If you think my words are overly dramatic, think again. In the last 15 years, Stanford has added seven varsity teams in women’s sports, increased the number of its female student-athletes from 220 to 400 and more than doubled the amount of athletics financial aid provided to female student-athletes. The advancements have occurred on campuses across the nation. Title IX alerted colleges and universities to blatant inequity, and in the last 35 years, significant progress has been made. There is still a long way to go, however, and that’s why I’m on the campus of Stanford this morning, attending the “Title IX Today, Title IX Tomorrow” conference. Some of the most influential people in women’s sports history are here, including Billie Jean King, Donna Lopiano, Anita DeFrantz and Judy Sweet. Today’s itinerary will serve as a celebration, but also an idea exchange, as we look for ways to progress women’s athletics in today’s world of college sports.
April 15, 2007On The Road: Former Three-Sport Student-Athlete Is President Of Alma Materby Josh at 08:06 PM on April 15, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road
Brian Barefoot understands the relationship between athletics and education. A three-sport athlete during his days at Babson, the president went on to become a great success in the business world after graduation. President Barefoot credits his experience on the courts and fields at Babson as a reason for his success after he left campus. In our conversation in his office Friday afternoon, President Barefoot discussed how he stumbled into his position at Babson and why he has stayed for the past six years. On The Road: Babson Soccer Standout Gears Up For Monday's Marathonby Josh at 07:18 PM on April 15, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road
Caitlin Cronin finished her collegiate soccer career in the fall, and instead of sitting around and watching her teammates play in the non-traditional season, she decided to take her athletics pursuits to a new level. Caitlin will run the Boston Marathon on Monday, putting her body through the rigors of the grueling 26.2-mile course simply because she loves to compete. A first-time NEWMAC all-conference performer this season, Caitlin spent her time at Babson in the center of the midfield. She led the team in scoring during her senior season, and has 10 game-winning goals during her career. On The Road: Babson Hockey Coach Happy To Be Back Homeby Josh at 05:41 PM on April 15, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road Jamie Rice wouldn’t want to be anywhere other than Babson. The former Beaver ice hockey standout recently completed his third year behind the bench of his alma mater, leading the program back to the NCAA tournament for the first time in years. On The Road: Patrick Mulvihill Is All Businessby Josh at 05:07 PM on April 15, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road
Patrick Mulvihill hasn’t wasted one moment of his Babson experience. Recruited by schools to play both football and lacrosse, Patrick chose the Wellesley school because he wanted to be one of the 97 percent of graduates who had a job within six months of graduation. He has fulfilled that goal, and has had a dynamite lacrosse career along the way. A two-time team captain, Patrick is one of those kids who will do anything to help the team win. In our conversation, he talks about his love of Babson, lacrosse and his preparations for a career in business. On The Road: Kully Reardon Loves Her Jobby Josh at 05:02 PM on April 15, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road, On The Road
I could have chatted with Kully Reardon for hours. The head women’s lacrosse coach at Babson, Reardon is one of the most energetic and passionate people I’ve ever met. She loves her job and it was refreshing to chat about college sports with her for a while on Friday. Coach Reardon was a three-time national champion as a student-at Middlebury, winning two national titles with the lacrosse program and one with field hockey. She then went on to coach at Wesleyan (Connecticut) while getting her master’s degree. She has been at Babson for the past six years, building the Beaver program into one of the best in the region. Having gone to school at two of the nation’s prominent institutions, Kully takes education seriously and makes sure her players are doing good work in the classroom. She also relishes her role as a mentor to the student-athletes on her team, and says that’s one of the best parts of being a coach. On The Road: Kully Reardon Loves Her Jobby Josh at 05:02 PM on April 15, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road, On The Road
I could have chatted with Kully Reardon for hours. The head women’s lacrosse coach at Babson, Reardon is one of the most energetic and passionate people I’ve ever met. She loves her job and it was refreshing to chat about college sports with her for a while on Friday. Coach Reardon was a three-time national champion as a student-at Middlebury, winning two national titles with the lacrosse program and one with field hockey. She then went on to coach at Wesleyan (Connecticut) while getting her master’s degree. She has been at Babson for the past six years, building the Beaver program into one of the best in the region. Having gone to school at two of the nation’s prominent institutions, Kully takes education seriously and makes sure her players are doing good work in the classroom. She also relishes her role as a mentor to the student-athletes on her team, and says that’s one of the best parts of being a coach. On The Road: Babson's Colleen Burke Is Going Pro In Something Other Than Sportsby Josh at 04:57 PM on April 15, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road
An all-conference point guard, Colleen Burke is all about teamwork. A two-time basketball team captain at Babson, Colleen led the Beavers on and off the court during her four-year career with the program. Burke excelled in the classroom, compiling a 3.44 grade point average with a concentration in finance and earning academic all-conference honors three times during her career. Colleen spent last summer working at Price Waterhouse Cooper and so impressed her supervisors that she was offered a full-time job following graduation. Among the school’s all-time assists leaders, Colleen will begin her job after the summer.
April 13, 2007On The Road: Babson Blogs To Be Posted Saturdayby Josh at 07:08 PM on April 13, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to On The Road Blogs from my excursion to Babson will be posted tomorrow due to technical difficulties. On The Road: Five Things You Should Know About Babsonby Josh at 12:38 PM on April 13, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road, On The Road
• Babson College, located in Wellesley, Mass., is recognized internationally for its entrepreneurial leadership in a changing global environment. • Within six months of graduation, 97 percent of Babson’s senior class is employed. The average starting salary for the first-year employees is $47,000. • Beginning in 1908, Roger Babson offered through Babson's Statistical Organization a correspondence course on how to sell bonds. The endeavor was an instant success, and courses in economics, finance and distribution soon followed. He then saw the need for a private college that specialized in business education. In June 1919, in a special letter to clients of the B.S.O., Roger Babson announced the establishment of a school of business administration to provide not only practical but also ethical training for young men wishing to become business executives. On September 3, 1919, with an enrollment of 27 students, the Babson Institute [renamed Babson College in 1969] held its first classes in the former home of Roger and Grace Babson in Wellesley Hills. • Believing experience to be the best teacher, Roger Babson favored a curriculum that was a combination of both class work and actual business training. Seasoned businessmen instead of career academicians made up the majority of the faculty. To better prepare students for the realities of the business world, the institute's curriculum focused more on practical experience and less on lectures. • In addition to its 22 varsity athletics programs, Babson offers 12 club sports including ice hockey, rugby, cheerleading, soccer, badminton, synchronized swimming, cricket and martial arts. On The Road: Five Things You Should Know About Babsonby Josh at 12:38 PM on April 13, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road, On The Road
• Babson College, located in Wellesley, Mass., is recognized internationally for its entrepreneurial leadership in a changing global environment. • Within six months of graduation, 97 percent of Babson’s senior class is employed. The average starting salary for the first-year employees is $47,000. • Beginning in 1908, Roger Babson offered through Babson's Statistical Organization a correspondence course on how to sell bonds. The endeavor was an instant success, and courses in economics, finance and distribution soon followed. He then saw the need for a private college that specialized in business education. In June 1919, in a special letter to clients of the B.S.O., Roger Babson announced the establishment of a school of business administration to provide not only practical but also ethical training for young men wishing to become business executives. On September 3, 1919, with an enrollment of 27 students, the Babson Institute [renamed Babson College in 1969] held its first classes in the former home of Roger and Grace Babson in Wellesley Hills. • Believing experience to be the best teacher, Roger Babson favored a curriculum that was a combination of both class work and actual business training. Seasoned businessmen instead of career academicians made up the majority of the faculty. To better prepare students for the realities of the business world, the institute's curriculum focused more on practical experience and less on lectures. • In addition to its 22 varsity athletics programs, Babson offers 12 club sports including ice hockey, rugby, cheerleading, soccer, badminton, synchronized swimming, cricket and martial arts.
April 12, 2007On The Road: Wheaton Photo Blogby Josh at 12:23 AM on April 12, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Division III, On The Road Photos taken Wednesday at Wheaton College.
April 11, 2007On The Road: Meet Wheaton President Ronald Crutcherby Josh at 08:47 PM on April 11, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road
After chatting with Wheaton President Ronald Crutcher, I made a mental note to head to the gym in the morning. Dr. Crutcher, 60, looks like he’s 45 and moves around like he’s 35. A renowned cellist, he wakes up most mornings at 4 to ply his trade, as he still performs regularly in concerts. After he has finished with the cello, he meditates and heads to the Wheaton gym for a rigorous workout. When he has finished exercising, Dr. Crutcher approaches his day on campus with vigor and enthusiasm. Dr. Crutcher is extremely proud of the academic successes Wheaton has had, but he also gushes about the performance of the school’s athletics teams. Given his own background, he believes individuals need a release from their academic pursuits and for Wheaton’s student-athletes, it comes in the form of a competitive Division III program. On The Road: Meet An Aspiring Olympianby Josh at 06:59 PM on April 11, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Division III, On The Road Don’t think Division III student-athletes dream about the Olympics? Meet Chizoba Ezeigwe. An all-American on the track last year, the sophomore has her eyes set on Beijing. On The Road: Paul Souza Is A Track Coach And A Rock Singerby Josh at 06:26 PM on April 11, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road
You’d think coaching a national championship contender would keep Wheaton track and field coach Paul Souza busy. The lead singer of two bands, Souza’s picture should appear next to “busy” in the dictionary. But this admirer of the Renaissance Man wouldn’t have it any other way. On The Road: Barrett Roberts Gets It All Doneby Josh at 06:15 PM on April 11, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road
At today’s baseball game, I chatted with all-American swimmer Barrett Roberts. A highly decorated swimmer and school-record holder in several events, Roberts is even more impressive in the classroom. An economics major, Barrett is a two-time member of the College Swimming Coaches Association of America all-academic team and has also earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honors for his performance in the classroom. During our chat, Barrett fills me in on how he gets it all done. On The Road: Meet Wheaton's Executive Director Of Athletics Chad Yowellby Josh at 06:01 PM on April 11, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road, Student-Athlete Reinstatement
When Chad Yowell arrived at Wheaton 19 years ago, he had his work cut out for him. The school had just started to admit male students and the women’s athletics teams were nothing to write home about. Nearly two decades later, the Lyons have won eight national championships and have been in the mix for a whole bunch more. While Chad has enjoyed the athletics success, he has never wavered in his commitment to the Division III philosophy. A representative on a number of Division III and Association-wide committees over the years, Chad has taken every opportunity to fight for the student-athlete during his career. On The Road: Tennis Player Makes Difference Through Musicby Josh at 05:55 PM on April 11, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Community Service, Division III, On The Road
Prior to this afternoon’s tennis match, I chatted with Wheaton senior Payum Payman, who brought a whole lot of his culture to the Norton campus in November. Payman, whose parents are of Persian descent, is a big fan of Middle Eastern music and organized a concert at Wheaton in an effort to raise awareness about conflict in that region of the world. The event was a huge success, raising more than $10,000 for victims of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. On The Road: Learn About The Pictures On The Wallby Josh at 05:03 PM on April 11, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road
Softball coach Gina Loudenburg has been at Wheaton for the past 18 years and is three wins shy of 500. Coach Loudenburg has led her team to three Division III softball championships, in 1997, 2001 and 2004. This Saturday, Wheaton welcomes back the 1997 team in a 10-year anniversary celebration. Coincidentally, Coach Loudenburg could win No. 500 that afternoon. Coach Loudenburg’s office wall is filled with photographs of players who have passed through her program. She discussed their significance in our conversation this afternoon. On The Road: How The Lyons Got Their Biteby Josh at 03:03 PM on April 11, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road
While playing college baseball in New England, I often wondered how Wheaton’s athletics teams got their nickname. After spending a few hours on campus, I now have the knowledge I’ve been seeking. Before it became a college, Wheaton Seminary offered young women the means to pursue serious education when those opportunities for females were at a minimum. In planning the school, Wheaton turned to one of the day’s most prominent leaders in female education, Mary Lyon, who went on to create the seminary’s first curriculum. Lyon, who was also integral in the development of Mount Holyoke, has since had the athletics teams of both schools named in her honor. Mary Lyon Hall, the oldest building on the Wheaton campus, is named in her honor. On The Road: Wheaton Celebrates Head of the Peacockby Josh at 02:24 PM on April 11, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road
Wheaton has made a huge commitment to intramural activities for its student body. When Dave Begley arrived on campus six years ago, about 15 percent of the student body participated in intramural sports. The director of intramurals, recreation and club sports, Dave has made a quick impact on the campus environment, as 50 percent of the Wheaton’s 1,550 students are now active in the intramural program. One of the hallmark events of the spring, the Head of the Peacock race brings nearly 100 students to the on-campus pond, where students have teamed up to build their own vessels for the prestigious competition. Almost 1,000 spectators show up for the activities surrounding the race, making it one of the most popular events of the year. On The Road: 10 Years Later, Wheaton Baseball Program One Of The Bestby Josh at 12:01 PM on April 11, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Baseball, Division III, On The Road Wheaton has a baseball doubleheader against Bridgewater State this afternoon, so I started my day by chatting with head coach Eric Podbelski before he headed out to the diamond. Coach Podbelski, who also played his college ball at Brandeis, took Wheaton to its first College World Series last year and has amassed nearly 300 wins in 10 years at the helm of the program. I spent four years playing against Coach Podbelski, and there’s no question that he runs a first-class program. He’s passionate about what happens on the field, but also fully subscribes to the academics-first philosophy of Division III. On The Road: Five Things You Should Know About Wheatonby Josh at 10:09 AM on April 11, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road
• Wheaton students have won more than 60 prestigious national scholarships recognizing their academic accomplishments since 2001. They include three Rhodes (only one liberal arts college in the country has produced as many in that time), a British Marshall, Goldwater, Beinecke, Mitchell, three Watson, six Truman, 25 Fulbright (fourth in the U.S. for number of Fulbright Scholars), six Rotary Ambassadorial scholarships, a Boren National Security Fellowship, four Udall, two James Madison Fellowships and an American Council for International Education scholarship. • Wheaton's athletics program is consistently ranked among the top Division III programs in the country by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). In the last eight years, Wheaton teams have garnered eight national championships and won 63 NEWMAC regular season and tournament titles. Nearly a dozen athletes have signed professional sports contracts or competed for places on U.S. Olympic teams. • Wheaton's educational programs begin with a 1:11 faculty/student ratio and an average class size of 15-20 students. Students collaborate regularly with professors working in the sciences, social sciences, humanities and the arts. The Wheaton Research Partnership program offers students part-time employment opportunities as research assistants to professors in a wide variety of disciplines. • For the Class of 2010, 3,614 students applied for 400 available spots. Forty-one percent of applicants were accepted. The mean grade point average (G.P.A.) of accepted applicants to Wheaton's class of 2010 was a 3.50 on a 4.0 scale. Wheaton is committed to an optional standardized test policy, valuing a student's academic achievement first and foremost. Approximately 40 percent of the applicant pool did not submit standardized test scores. • Wheaton's Filene Center for Work and Learning enriches students' academic endeavors by facilitating experiential learning opportunities through fellowships, community and public service, jobs and internships. Each year, the college dedicates more than $350,000 for students' research, travel and internships. The Center for Global Education helps students achieve global perspectives and learn in a stimulating international environment, providing more than 30 programs around the world.
April 10, 2007On The Road: What's Better Than Home?by Josh at 11:41 PM on April 10, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road Before I left Brandeis this evening, I sat down with Sheryl Sousa, who has been the school’s director of athletics for the past four years. Sheryl assumed her post during my senior year and we’ve stayed in touch since I left school. She is extremely passionate about her job and about Brandeis athletics. It’s not surprising that she loves Brandeis so much – she also happens to be an alum. In fact, many of the school’s athletics administrators are graduates and have returned to make a career at their alma mater. In my conversation with Sheryl, I ask her what it’s like to run the show at a place she holds so dear. On The Road: Brandeis Student-Athletes All About Giving Backby Josh at 06:14 PM on April 10, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Community Service, Division III, On The Road, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee One of the most rewarding experiences I had while at Brandeis was working with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. This afternoon, I chatted with men’s soccer player Jordan Skolnick, who is co-president of the committee. In addition to community service, the Brandeis SAAC has done a lot of great work to enhance the campus experience for all students. On The Road: It's Freezing Out Thereby Josh at 04:57 PM on April 10, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road It’s April 10, but it might as well be February 10. It’s about 35 degrees outside but baseball and softball season are in full swing in New England. I seem to have lost a bit of my bite since I left school, because I’ve definitely headed inside a couple of times while watching the games this afternoon. The forecast doesn’t look good for the next few days, so these kids are looking at maybe two weeks of warm temperatures for their seasons. But as softball player Danielle Mayer tells us, that’s what it’s about in New England. On The Road: Interview With My Coachby Josh at 03:25 PM on April 10, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road At Brandeis, the baseball program is synonymous with Pete Varney, the former big league catcher who has been at the helm for nearly three decades. I met Coach Varney on a recruiting trip after my junior year of high school and after meeting the man, knew I wanted to grow up in his program. Coach Varney is serious about baseball – I’ve never met anyone who wants to win as much as he does. Although this is the Division III level, Coach has produced a number of professional players including Major League pitcher Nelson Figueroa. His commitment to excellence extended well off the diamond, as he always emphasized the importance of education to his players. In our conversation this afternoon, Coach Varney discusses his time at Brandeis and the student-athletes who have kept him there. On The Road: The Locker Room Of My Dreamsby Josh at 11:54 AM on April 10, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road
I’m back at Brandeis. I can’t fully explain it, but when I walked into the athletics center, my heart was beating through my chest. It felt a bit like my freshman year when I had to meet with coach about whether or not I was making the spring trip to Florida. One of my first stops was down in the baseball locker room. I’m not exactly sure why I was drawn back to the small room that I shared with 25 teammates, but it’s the first place I wanted to be. In the time that has passed since my graduation from Brandeis, I’ve had the opportunity to walk into many locker rooms – both on the college and professional level. It’s no secret that higher-profile Division I programs like Oregon and Florida have the money to pull out all the stops for high-tech, luxurious locker rooms. At the Division III level, there’s no money for things like that. At a lot of schools, teams actually share locker rooms from season to season. Sure, it would have been nice not to fight for a spot on the locker room bench after practice or games. I guess I could have dealt with recliners, Xbox systems and big-screen televisions. But the truth is, I wouldn’t have traded our old boombox, small lockers and cracked mirror for another locker room in the world. When I walked in, it was like the nostalgia smacked me in the face and I had to take a step back. Or maybe the step back was due to the horrendous odor that characterizes every locker room I’ve ever been in – the smell of sweat and hard work. The small baseball locker room was the site of many smiles, laughs, sandwiches eaten, jokes told, doors slammed, songs sang and conversations had with my best friends. Oregon can have its locker room; I’ll keep mine. On The Road: Five Things You Should Know About Brandeisby Josh at 09:59 AM on April 10, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road
• Brandeis is ranked in the top tier of the nation's universities. Characterized by academic excellence since its founding in 1948, Brandeis is one of the youngest private research universities, as well as the only nonsectarian Jewish-sponsored college or university in the country. • Named for Justice Louis Brandeis of the U.S. Supreme Court, the university combines the faculty and resources of a world-class research institution with the intimacy and personal attention of a small liberal arts college. • The many centers and institutes at Brandeis are an integral part of its identity as a research university with an international reach and a strong commitment to social justice. They encompass a wide range of academic interests and human concerns, from theoretical neurobiology to Middle East studies, from behavioral health to investigative journalism, from global entrepreneurship to Jewish education. • Athletics is an integral part of the life of the university. The roster of coaches who have been part of the Judges' family reads like a Who's Who of Boston luminaries, from Bud Collins and the men's tennis team in the late 1950s and early 1960s, to K.C. Jones leading the men's basketball squad in the 1960s to the more recent tenure of Chris Ford, and Pete Varney's 25 seasons [and counting] at the helm of the baseball team. Over the years, Brandeis has won NCAA team championships in men's soccer and men's cross country and 24 individual titles. Brandeis competes in the University Athletic Association, a unique Division III affiliation which includes the University of Rochester, New York University, Emory University, Carnegie Mellon University, Case Western Reserve University, the University of Chicago and Washington University (St. Louis). • Enrollment is 5,300 students, of whom 3,300 are undergraduates, and 2,000 are in graduate programs. Students come from 47 states and 103 countries.
April 09, 2007On The Road: Wellesley Photo Blogby Josh at 10:35 PM on April 09, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, On The Road Photos taken Monday at Wellesley College.
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