Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Summer is Moving Fast
6/26/2013 12:00:00 AM | General
June 26, 2013
June 26, 2013
It has been a while since I have written. In fact, we have all been neglectful in writing the blogs. Some may assume it is because we are on summer break, but I can assure you there has been no break. One of our staff members, Dale, left for a great opportunity just prior to the baseball conference tournament. I appreciate the staff and know the work they put in but you really never know the full amount until you assume some, if not all, of their duties.
Dale did a great job for us. We all knew he was carrying the work of two especially during women's basketball and baseball when he not only did the media relations work but the broadcast work as well, something he truly loved.
Both Justin and I have been filling in on the media relations side and we truly got the best end of the deal. Justin was on hand for the team to record a perfect 4-0 record during the Sun Belt Tournament run for a conference title. The program's third in the five years that John McCormack has been head coach. I was on hand for the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional and while the team was 3-2, I must say it was very memorable. I'm around coaches 24-7 and I think if you asked them what they would like for their team the response would be to leave it all out on the field, the court or the diamond. Very few times in my 20+ year career can I say that was accomplished at the NCAA Tournament, to a player. I can say that without question about the baseball team's tournament run. The phrase "they were so close" is often used in the sports world and while it also has been uttered about the North Carolina final game, I don't think that is something this team wants to hear. They had it. they just needed to hold on, which proved a difficult task versus the nation's top-seed. Just ask South Carolina who suffered the same fate a week later.
Since that time, Michael Sylvestri was drafted. FAU has had at least one player drafted the last 15-consecutive years. Hugh Adams and Brandon Sanger also have been honored with post-season awards.
Football also is receiving recognition with several players earning a spot on pre-season teams. One of the nicest things to see is the football players listed under Conference-USA. I don't think that I fully understood the difference a new conference made until the last few weeks. C-USA has stepped to the plate to assist FAU with on-line streaming possibilities and has been nothing but proactive in the transition phase of the conference realignment. Thank you to the staff at C-USA.
The majority of the administrative staff, including myself and Justin, also had the opportunity to attend the profession's national convention. This was an opportunity to talk with vendors and experiment with products that we hope to use as well as see demonstrations of product upgrades. We were also treated to a daily schedule of seminars that were designed to make us better professionals. It has been some time since I was afforded the opportunity to attend these meetings, primarily because the football media guide is normally the center of my attention at this point. But, without that I ceased the opportunity to learn and become better at the profession.
I returned to a full slate of things to come. The first event is July 1. Owl fans are invited to attend the Conference USA Celebration from noon to 1 p.m. The football helmet and uniform will be unveiled at the event. It is free and open to the public, so bring a friend.
We will continue with these blogs but will cut the schedule back to once a week during the summer as we work diligently on prepping for 2013-14. By summer's end we will be ready for a new league, new goals and new success created by the 405+ student athletes. Enjoy your summer and Let's Go Owls!
