tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10243675244561988362024-03-05T05:03:11.325-05:00Big South SHOUTThe home for an informal look at the goings-on in the Big South Conference of collegiate sports, Big South SHOUT will offer perspectives on the activities and adventures of the Conference and its member institutions.Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.comBlogger187125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-51516558546529538822011-06-23T12:17:00.005-04:002011-06-23T12:43:41.338-04:00An Early Summer SHOUT (for the old year and the new)!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, the 2010-11 year is put to rest...today is a massive cleaning day around the Big South headquarters (you have spring cleaning, we have SUMMER cleaning) as we set our sites already on the year ahead.<br /><br />For the Big South sports calendar, July 1st is New Year's Day...that's the start for the fiscal year and the dividing line on paper between the season past and the season to come. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdNaJ3K2RFlIOn6dRodjGGl1Qk0C4SNAwhKShq4j-BJrsIUGXtO5LnqrHN9obVElIoPcezsjoU3SUabJTMW1o7xt7T3iM3sXutRqQTHCwLZ2_FrenQjk18V25Oy0RnKKawiOn9PVtlWY/s1600/Running+Camel_C_08g+copy.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdNaJ3K2RFlIOn6dRodjGGl1Qk0C4SNAwhKShq4j-BJrsIUGXtO5LnqrHN9obVElIoPcezsjoU3SUabJTMW1o7xt7T3iM3sXutRqQTHCwLZ2_FrenQjk18V25Oy0RnKKawiOn9PVtlWY/s200/Running+Camel_C_08g+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621456155797983458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> This year, it also means the arrival of the Campbell University Fighting Camels to the Conference. Well, not "arrival" really--more like "return," since CU was a founding member of the Big South and p</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">articipated here from 1983-1994. So the Camels are back: WELCOME, FRIENDS!<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As for the year gone, well, Liberty won the Sasser Cup after taking 7 of the 18 Big South Championships outright (MXC, WXC, MITF, WITF, MG, MOTF, SOFT). Coastal Carolina was next in terms of hardware, with another four of the BSC titles (MSOC, WG, WOTF, BASE). Count High Point in for two (WSOC, VB), and then it's one each for Winthrop (WTEN), Asheville (MBB), Gardner-Webb (WBB), and Radford (MTEN)...all of which means none this time around for VMI, CSU, or PC. The only one not mentioned was football, and since that one is based just on regular season finish and not a tournament or championship like the ones listed above, we're left with a tie there between Coastal, Liberty, and Stony Brook (CCU got the playoff bid in a tiebreaker).<br /><br />The last gasps in the sports year included Coastal winning the baseball tourney and grabbing a big win at the regional before falling after that, and NCAA Track & Field efforts that topped out with another National Championship for Liberty's Sam Chelanga--this time in the 5K. We've said this in other spaces already, but there really aren't words enough to describe the success of Chelanga, a multiple national champion and an All-American many times over...a shame to see him go, but he's going to keep on running to even greater achievements, I'm sure.<br /><br />Meanwhile, some rotating vacation time around the office includes days off for yours truly next week, but once we get into July, we're full speed ahead into the 2011-12 season on all fronts. We are looking forward to updates and improvements to all our online outlets in the year ahead...psst...<a href="http://www.twitter.com/bigsouthsports">already tweaked our Twitter page--go see the simple yet sleek new background.</a><br /><br />I hope everyone in the wide world of Big South Conference fans, friends, and family has a great summer--enjoy the breather while you can, because the competition will be back and just as intense as ever, if not more so, in only a couple of months...so get fired up (but pace yourself)!<br /><br />And on that note, thanks, everybody...and...SHOUT...out.<br /><br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-23322571113589149682011-05-26T10:48:00.006-04:002011-05-26T11:40:53.901-04:00Baseball Bonanza, Gem Included<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxD7M79sqTFtn-98uf3s69AXWlkhT4rwRS-3UVic2jp8s3-Er0w7xBzLTRfYjJYWehioqyyysew7waTXbjFZgi1VgEY7P8LKIQWJj5xn_Jwdn1jdu2ywXL9yc_k-I47zkjNigdKyXLuk/s1600/BASEBALL.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxD7M79sqTFtn-98uf3s69AXWlkhT4rwRS-3UVic2jp8s3-Er0w7xBzLTRfYjJYWehioqyyysew7waTXbjFZgi1VgEY7P8LKIQWJj5xn_Jwdn1jdu2ywXL9yc_k-I47zkjNigdKyXLuk/s200/BASEBALL.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611047639259343986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here we are, in the midst of the Baseball Championship tourney--full name, "The 2011 Royal Purple Big South Conference Baseball Championship Presented by Triangle Rent A Car." </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> The event always promises a wealth of excitement and a list of storylines, but with five games completed, one stands out among the rest...keep reading, we'll get there.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />All the action is happening at VMI, where a number of renovations and improvements have made Gray-Minor Stadium a solid host for this event. Play follows the same model of recent seasons, with a single-elimination first night to pare the lower four seeds to two teams, and then four days of full double-elimination bracket play.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This year that formula meant the elimination of the event host school in the very first game, a 3-1 win for Radford over VMI...always tough to lose the home team early, as it can have a tendency to deflate some of the crowd size and enthusiasm, but baseball attendance often poses a riddle in any year, given that school is out for most students anyway.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />The other elimination game on Tuesday saw Gardner-Webb parade around the bases to mount a 14-4 victory against High Point. But, baseball being a fickle game, GWU got the other end of that stick the next day, when Liberty rode some home run hitting to a 13-5 win. For the Runnin' Bulldogs, the loss forces an elimination game on Thursday, while the Flames know they'll be around at least to Friday.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Like LU, Charleston Southern </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">knows it will have at least two games ahead. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">CSU & Liberty will meet Thursday night, given that the Bucs dealt Winthrop a loss in a 9-3 final Wednesday.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Thursday's first game is an elimination game setting Radford against GWU...each squad won Tuesday night to stay alive, but dropped a game the next day against a higher seed. Now they face off against each other to see who's going home and who lives to play another day.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Radford got put in that game by top-seed Coastal Carolina. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Well, they really got put there by star pitcher <span style="font-weight: bold;">Anthony Meo</span>, </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUbPZU0dvg1G_9Qv9ALKOae_tiN1OjaB3bxK02ogsLPQZa_bdpHse28O1zhcBlA8peSux90IWEDo1YikXvNUV0_p-DSxlftjgDyq_5Zk8BmDH4eZnXTZZswfc6MSem_BghsYZduULa6U/s1600/meo-nohitter-celebrates.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUbPZU0dvg1G_9Qv9ALKOae_tiN1OjaB3bxK02ogsLPQZa_bdpHse28O1zhcBlA8peSux90IWEDo1YikXvNUV0_p-DSxlftjgDyq_5Zk8BmDH4eZnXTZZswfc6MSem_BghsYZduULa6U/s200/meo-nohitter-celebrates.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611047620382379474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">who tossed an absolute gem</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">: <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">the first <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25462&SPID=1992&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=205154858">no-hitter</a> in Big South Conference Baseball Championship history</span>. Now THAT earns a real SHOUT-out from us--what a remarkable performance (CCU celebration pictured). </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> In fact, the no-no went both ways for the first four innings--neither side had mustered a hit by that point--but the Coastal bats awakened, while the Radford hitting could not find a solution for Meo's mastery. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Credit CCU for the 5-0 win, and salute Meo for doing what no Big South pitcher had done before in this tournament. The Chants next draw old rival Winthrop Thursday afternoon, </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2lWx9tTwQlGXQ90gAEk1hDTeu53bQ5GLeNm1nq3s0ZHazAeXZW2H3OldCaYTyfTtrOfozSUKpMQ8Q18X3y3R_F43YgJDoaYEQpKpV9cGuL3htYHgc6B8rKGBG6aOeSHXpTPNonoLdL8/s1600/Coastal.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 103px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2lWx9tTwQlGXQ90gAEk1hDTeu53bQ5GLeNm1nq3s0ZHazAeXZW2H3OldCaYTyfTtrOfozSUKpMQ8Q18X3y3R_F43YgJDoaYEQpKpV9cGuL3htYHgc6B8rKGBG6aOeSHXpTPNonoLdL8/s200/Coastal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611047628453976594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">with a chance to eliminate the Eagles (although WU will be naturally doing all it can to prevent that outcome).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Remember, all three games on Thursday and again on Friday can be seen on the <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml?&&&&DB_OEM_ID=4800">Big South Network</a> at <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/">BigSouthSports.com</a>, while the game(s) for the Championship final on Saturday will be shown instead by <a href="http://www.espn3.com/">ESPN3.com</a>.<br /><br />The full details of game schedules, with links to Live Stats, BSN streaming, and the tournament bracket, can all be found on the <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=204975704">Baseball Championship page</a>.<br /><br />And, just in case you missed it, you can find the full listing of Big South Baseball All-Conference and season award honorees at <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25462&SPID=1992&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=205154992">BigSouthSports.com</a>.<br /><br />Enjoy the games, everybody--another year of competition is nearly in the books!<br />SHOUT---out...<br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-26020251790732681872011-05-11T15:37:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:29:13.977-04:00It Came From the Blog!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Many demerits and well-deserved slaps on the wrists for not having a SHOUT in this spot recently...as they say in all the movies, it's been quiet--too quiet--here lately. Time to fix that with a quick reset.</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />First subject: the Big South </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Conference & the NCAA this spring...some nice extras this year...</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalOeqTFNgVr6Tll07ebusNYUC-P_qIUBaCRNq3dVpRO9VJz8pzWdbehfXNnWwfr__A9JremY_oNYUoYkgOAlGIjTOHmwfJcfNmHjKCY8xtDf6TJmzynVNkbJIi-2PCTXKIhC62UCxbSU/s1600/BigSouth-tag-dark.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalOeqTFNgVr6Tll07ebusNYUC-P_qIUBaCRNq3dVpRO9VJz8pzWdbehfXNnWwfr__A9JremY_oNYUoYkgOAlGIjTOHmwfJcfNmHjKCY8xtDf6TJmzynVNkbJIi-2PCTXKIhC62UCxbSU/s200/BigSouth-tag-dark.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605558262814371346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">WGOLF -- the Coastal Carolina women were thrilled to pull down the Big South title, but it turns out that was just the beginning, as last week the Chants nabbed fourth at the NCAA East Regional at Daytona Beach, qualifying for Nationals! CCU even managed to sit in the lead position briefly in that competition, and earned plenty of respect as the first team in school and Conference history to make the final stage of competition for the Women's Golf National Championship.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">MGOLF -- the men's teams are no mere duffers either: Liberty won the Conference crown by a crushing margin and earned the Big South's automatic qualifier position for regional play, but the Flames will not be alone when the squads hit the links next week--Coastal Carolina snared an at-large selection as well, giving the Big South two MGOLF NCAA teams for only the third time. In an odd twist of fate, LU will travel out to Arizona, while CCU heads up to Virginia for the next round.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">M/W TEN -- also on the calendar, we have our men's and women's champions in tennis ready for upcoming action in Knoxville--both of them...yes, unaware of what the other selection committee was up to, both the men's and women's panels sent the Big South champs to Tennessee's courts. For Radford's men, it is as a 4-seed for those pairings, and the Highlanders will indeed draw the Vols. For Winthrop's women, it is as a 3-seed, and the Eagles will see the Vanderbilt Commodores as they hope to play another day.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Meanwhile, next on the agenda: the teams still in action, trying to see if they too will have a chance at NCAA tournament play. This week, we have the softball championship at Winthrop (tonight, in fact, I will be emcee for the season awards banquet at WU). Play cranks up with six games Thursday (five at Terry Field, one on a different diamond), plus another four-to-six games on Friday (as needed), and the single-game championship final on Saturday. The Terry Field games on Thursday and Friday (5/12-13) can all be seen on the Big South Network, while Saturday's final (5/14) belongs to ESPN3.com.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlARNBtJQBYvSjwsjprwFHjiE5dpYuwgFdGwcj096B34Ar4qNLBzWKhRYZibr8kVrI62Ye1M97nE3Xf1mGJHPRr2PosnsmMi56EpRWA_hg4MRHM_RbPS12BE_SED9EWtgAQRvNhMeBMFI/s1600/BASEBALL.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlARNBtJQBYvSjwsjprwFHjiE5dpYuwgFdGwcj096B34Ar4qNLBzWKhRYZibr8kVrI62Ye1M97nE3Xf1mGJHPRr2PosnsmMi56EpRWA_hg4MRHM_RbPS12BE_SED9EWtgAQRvNhMeBMFI/s200/BASEBALL.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605558257757986338" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Two weeks later, we'll follow a similar plan for baseball at VMI, with games running on the Big South Network from Tuesday (5/24) through Friday (5/27) and capped off by the final on Saturday (5/28) on ESPN3.com.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">By the way, I don't know how long it's going to hold up, but Coastal Carolina has won four consecutive games without allowing a run -- in fact, the Chants have an overall streak of 37 consecutive shutout innings. While we're at it, let's give a SHOUT-out to CCU star pitcher <span style="font-weight: bold;">Anthony Meo</span>...all he did in his last outing was pitch eight shutout innings with a dozen strikeouts and no walks. Not too shabby, right? Wow. Coastal seems to be peaking at just about the right time. Whether Coach <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gary Gilmore</span> can get his guys to make another run to the Super Regional (or beyond) remains to be seen, but anyone who thought the Conway Kids were struggling this season should take another look.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Okay, that's good for checking in for now--</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGxXP5bCj4y8MglPkoG_WgoyyV0flDeY5SLMVZ3kZGBvLG3yc34Jy2wN4UdCc-YrAxoCGWy81d7Ad5ycqJ9D1XOOafoTG-fH680Bk0XgXzugcloeHhyphenhyphenvYk65bKgFyVlCtZmky-hXESjk/s1600/campbellcamels.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGxXP5bCj4y8MglPkoG_WgoyyV0flDeY5SLMVZ3kZGBvLG3yc34Jy2wN4UdCc-YrAxoCGWy81d7Ad5ycqJ9D1XOOafoTG-fH680Bk0XgXzugcloeHhyphenhyphenvYk65bKgFyVlCtZmky-hXESjk/s200/campbellcamels.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605558270748256322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">should see more from SHOUT in the coming weeks, plus some summer features and bonus items once we get beyond the season. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Oh, and don't forget, we have Camels in our future once we get beyond the softball and baseball championships--which will make for some interesting changes! Thanks for sticking with us...follow us on Twitter and Facebook, everybody! And that's SHOUT--out...<br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-39642266047599923522011-03-15T11:56:00.003-04:002011-03-15T15:19:22.297-04:00Postseason Hoops in Alphabet Soups<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lots of teams, lots of tourneys, lots of terms, right? That time of year...<br /><br />So let's try to clear up the postseason basketball picture for everybody, okay?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Right now it appears that no Big South teams this year will be going into things like the CBI and similar ad hoc tourney set-ups, so that leaves us with the "big four": the NCAA & NIT fields for both the men and the women.<br /><br />Interesting that this year the regular-season champions in the Big South both came up short in the finals of their respective tournaments, so they both wind up in NIT brackets: Coastal Carolina for the men and Liberty for the women.<br /><br />The teams that knocked those strong squads off the top of their mountains will be going to the world of NCAA brackets: UNC Asheville for the men and Gardner-Webb for the women.<br /><br />Of course, in Asheville's case, it still isn't that simple because they are in the "First Round" or "First Four" group, formerly known as the "Opening Round", yet widely regarded as play-in games by hoops followers across the country despite what branding the NCAA chooses in a given year.<br /><br />Let's break this down first by team and then by the calendar...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">UNC Asheville</span> -- the Bulldogs open with Arkansas-Little Rock in Dayton, Ohio...the game is Tuesday night (tonight, as I post this), tipping at 6:40pm on tru-TV. Start looking for that before you get to 6:30, just to be sure you find it. You probably have it without realizing it, as it's part of the CBS-TBS-TNT-tru-TV partnership showing the NCAA and the powers that be WANT you to have this channel. As a DirecTV guy, I can tell you it's on channel 246, but again, consult your local listings, as they say. Now as much as we all believe in Asheville, certainly last year's Winthrop vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff opener should serve as a sufficient cautionary tale that just because you're not playing Pitt yet, that doesn't mean you're not in for a tough game.<br /><br />Speaking of Pitt, that's the "reward" for the winner in that opening contest: a "Second Round" (what we've always called "First Round") game against the 1-seed Pitt Panthers in Washington, D.C., on Thursday afternoon. Win THAT one and we would have quite a story to tell!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coastal Carolina --</span> 2nd straight year in the NIT, certainly not what the Chants were hoping for, and the news gets tougher, as Coastal will open with 1-seed Alabama, a team that had spent lots of time on the NCAA bubble and stood a chance of making the other tourney...perhaps the disappointment will be larger for the Tide and open up a chance for CCU, who already dispatched SEC foe LSU on the road in the regular season...the game will be at 7pm Tuesday on ESPNU. If Coastal stems the Tide, next up would be the winner of the New Mexico-UTEP game (details tba).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gardner-Webb --</span> the third time WAS the charm for the Runnin' Bulldogs, who knocked off their nemesis, Liberty, in the Conference Final to earn the automatic NCAA berth...GWU got a 14-seed and faces Miami (the Hurricanes are a 3-seed) in Charlottesville, VA. That game is set for noon on Sunday the 20th and can be seen on ESPN2. The winner will face the winner of the Oklahoma-JMU ballgame on Tuesday the 22nd.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Liberty --</span> an odd position for the Flames, quite used to the NCAA side of life, but now moving into the WNIT bracket...Liberty opens up at Charlotte, Wednesday night at 7pm (no TV known). Strange part of that is it seems like the committee was using part of last year's bracket--GWU opened WNIT play at Charlotte's Halton Arena in 2010...go figure. The winner of this one would advance to play the winner of the South Carolina-App.St. contest. If the Flames are not too put out by falling short of their primary goal, they could do some damage in the WNIT field--watch out for that.<br /><br />Okay, so here it is chronologically:<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">TUESDAY</span> (today), March 15th:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />M-NCAA, UNC Asheville</span> vs. UALR in Dayton-OH, 6:30pm on tru-TV;</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />M-NIT, Coastal Carolina </span>at Alabama, 7pm on ESPNU <span style="font-style: italic;">(winner vs. New Mexico-UTEP winner tbd)</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WEDNESDAY</span>, March 16th:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />W-NIT, Liberty</span> at Charlotte, 7pm <span style="font-style: italic;">(winner vs. SC-App.St. winner tbd)</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">THURSDAY</span>, March 17th...<span style="font-style: italic;">(M-NCAA, Asheville-Little Rock winner vs. Pitt in DC, 3pm)</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />SUNDAY</span>, March 20th:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">W-NCAA, Gardner-Webb</span> vs. Miami in Charlottesville, 12pm on ESPN2</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">TUESDAY</span>, March 22nd...<span style="font-style: italic;">(W-NCAA, GWU-UM winner vs. Okla.-JMU winner tbd)</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hope that helps--that's about as much as we can say as of Tuesday--good luck to all our teams and we hope everybody enjoys the upcoming games! SHOUT -- out.<br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-47462285416960924762011-02-24T08:40:00.006-05:002011-02-24T09:21:05.775-05:00Happy Track-iversary (Blog-iversary?)<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's a few days early by the calendar, but not by the event: it's the three-year anniversary for Big South SHOUT!<br /><br />See, I'm writing this (in first-person no less--feels more appropriate) from the press deck of the Clemson University Indoor Track & Field facility, just like we did the very first official post of SHOUT in 2008. That first post, "Taking a LEAP," hit February 29th, 2008...making the "leap" a forced pun on the launch of the blog and the calendar's Leap Day...and it used the same clip art photo seen below...<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The wheel keeps turning...</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7HkZ2W_sm9Fv0zsGXrAAqLypxazegpg17WlOwNyMAQ9OmKJ1MKyJhCKHTEZfnZ_ulkeI-NDxinvjQtdDM2vFftDBNXKeux4946QYYgruk_9ujADdNH0F6GPberFG5d0_GfTWfdK_fws/s1600/baton+exchange.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7HkZ2W_sm9Fv0zsGXrAAqLypxazegpg17WlOwNyMAQ9OmKJ1MKyJhCKHTEZfnZ_ulkeI-NDxinvjQtdDM2vFftDBNXKeux4946QYYgruk_9ujADdNH0F6GPberFG5d0_GfTWfdK_fws/s200/baton+exchange.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577258956333093202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">that was my first stint streaming from the Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships--and I'm now on my fourth. Back then the event was a joint meet held along with the Southern Conference. Since then, the SoCon and Big South have gone back to staging separate events (although on consecutive days), which greatly simplifies the process--as many events as we see in a meet like this, imagine even more sessions and double the athletes. Separate events means a little more in rent for each league, but a less hectic process. And of course, I'll be handling the video streaming for it all on the Big South Network again this year.<br /><br />It's also the fourth year for the CCSA Swimming & Diving Championships, where I was last week...sweltering (and streaming of course) in the oppressive humidity in the otherwise very nice Gabrielsen Natatorium at the University of Georgia. Those four years have been on the move--Huntersville-NC, Athens-GA, Knoxville-TN, and back to Athens-GA. Those three-day meets can drag at times, but you can't deny the skills of the student-athletes who come out and give their all--some very impressive displays in the pool and the diving well. They come to compete from four different conferences, none of which have their own championship events: Big South, SoCon, MEAC, and the Atlantic Sun. Big South news of note from the CCSA: Gardner-Webb had an impressive dual finish, taking second for the men and third for the women (congrats), and Liberty's women finished 6th--which is an impressive performance for a first-year program, making the upper half of the field.<br /><br />Anyway, it's all part of the annual gauntlet of championships and travel: swimming, track, men's basketball, women's basketball (and board meetings) in consecutive weeks, after which we can fully embrace the spring sports...which have already begun. Such a busy time, but it's all part of the wheel that turns in collegiate athletics every year.<br /><br />So Happy Blog-iversary, SHOUT fans, here's a SHOUT-out to you!<br />Yours truly,<br />Mark Bryant<br />Big South Conference<br /><br /><br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-91108614082049202462011-02-09T14:16:00.008-05:002011-02-09T15:26:59.162-05:00Retail Therapy? Economic Stimulus? Sure, Why Not...<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Okay, here's the deal: most often we use this space to discuss issues/perspectives/events across the Big South Conference...but every so often we verge into "shameless plug" territory. And that's pretty much where we're going today-----wait, give it a chance!!!!<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.bigsouthstore.com">Big South Online Store</a> went up last year at admittedly sort of an awkward time for us; namely, in the middle of the baseball tournament, our calendar's final athletic event. Not ideal, no, but it allowed us to kick the tires and run some things along before the games resumed.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Well, now we have run most of the way around the calendar and baseball season is near its beginning while basketball approaches its dramatic conclusion, not to mention the several other sports that are active out there right now in the Big South. So I feel it is a good time not only to say that the <a href="http://www.bigsouthstore.com">Big South Store</a> has what fans are looking for, but has a greater variety of styles and items across the board than you'll find anywhere else.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yeah, I know, sounds like classic marketing hyperbole, right?<br />Except it's the truth.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkw2UoSO84R1CGsDO8HNhS3sD6PrGO-KLNUimPT7_bWGY4rrQmedV4DZsZZwHrtZ6abxdWWobhgCPGWQe2oRazDV0LbHdGN0GZxbtuCqC5aM7k1dixeXoAo7aFvuLYgMGYqUi88Fdz0s/s1600/e-commerce.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkw2UoSO84R1CGsDO8HNhS3sD6PrGO-KLNUimPT7_bWGY4rrQmedV4DZsZZwHrtZ6abxdWWobhgCPGWQe2oRazDV0LbHdGN0GZxbtuCqC5aM7k1dixeXoAo7aFvuLYgMGYqUi88Fdz0s/s200/e-commerce.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571785640958262370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I will concede that for any given school you may be able to find some close options out there if you look hard enough, but not likely all in one place (Coastal is obviously one, since they use the same vendor, so the selection is an EXACT match), but only one place has such a tremendous array of goods to pick from for ALL Big South schools, as well as the Conference itself...and you can get there via <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/">BigSouthSports.com</a> or <a href="http://www.bigsouthstore.com/">BigSouthStore.com</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Need a <a href="http://www2.advanced-online.com/shopDetails.aspx?productCode=6-72-LU0551">Liberty Golf Bag</a>?<br />...a <a href="http://www2.advanced-online.com/shopDetails.aspx?productCode=6-34-VM12R8">VMI Parka</a>?</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE70Y6-Jgv09GJeH4tl-hFu4YgmtGR-ae0o0I8_Ima1qwtMqk0fdT07cz8l_fk5sBAMqQK4o8-pb9K8Dn8PxEFRvl9-5zL6ij93BZaAnzFa9GUL7vq_-M2-T1EyiGbCvRmkjKprCzGgdw/s1600/stadiumchair.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE70Y6-Jgv09GJeH4tl-hFu4YgmtGR-ae0o0I8_Ima1qwtMqk0fdT07cz8l_fk5sBAMqQK4o8-pb9K8Dn8PxEFRvl9-5zL6ij93BZaAnzFa9GUL7vq_-M2-T1EyiGbCvRmkjKprCzGgdw/s200/stadiumchair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571785523609581682" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> ...a <a href="http://www2.advanced-online.com/shopDetails.aspx?productCode=6-33-GW05LE">Gardner-Webb Backpack</a>?<br />...an <a href="http://www2.advanced-online.com/shopDetails.aspx?productCode=6-33-UA16U5">Asheville Blanket</a>?<br />...a <a href="http://www2.advanced-online.com/shopDetails.aspx?productCode=6-33-WU02FE">Winthrop Cooler</a>?<br />...a <a href="http://www2.advanced-online.com/shopDetails.aspx?productCode=6-33-PN14JF">PC "Onesie"</a>?<br />...a <a href="http://www2.advanced-online.com/shopDetails.aspx?productCode=6-62-HP007G">High Point Frame</a>?</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> ...a <a href="http://www2.advanced-online.com/shopDetails.aspx?productCode=6-66-CC0280A">Coastal Camp Chair</a>?<br />...a <a href="http://www2.advanced-online.com/shopDetails.aspx?productCode=6-71-RU5113">Radford Umbrella</a>?<br />...a <a href="http://www2.advanced-online.com/shopDetails.aspx?productCode=6-36-CL1120">CSU Journal</a>?<br />...or perhaps a <a href="http://www2.advanced-online.com/shopDetails.aspx?productCode=6-66-BG046E">Big South Stadium Chair</a>?<br /><br />Just examples, of course...and you can get any of those items for any of those schools, along with the classic assortment of t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, hats, magnets, decals, license plates, bags, pens, notebooks, golf accessories, desk items and various gift "stuff" that you're looking for.<br /><br />Like I said, it's a pretty good place to shop...and right now there's even a special sale on magnets and decals, with 15% off, but only for another few days after this posting.<br /><br />The Big South Conference thanks and salutes its partners at <span style="font-weight: bold;">Advanced-Online</span> with a big SHOUT-out for making an Online Store we could all be proud of--and we know it's just going to keep getting better!<br /><br />So that's it, folks. I'm unplugging the plug for now. We'll get back into the hoops talk and ramping up baseball season, etc., soon enough...but until then, go get the stuff to dress the part for your role as a Big South fan. Cool? Cool. Till next time, that's SHOUT -- out.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-73196220494910920922011-02-04T13:02:00.003-05:002011-02-04T15:44:24.490-05:00Tier System?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1EhzxdWE89Gzgihl1Q2sPrMqwrRfywFscp_UMtA_9EyWeJByzVqQB5WmluDaNoTRkRx8hjST5hDGtNo4REaxfN6mhxOK3s4yIJZ-YNX_GsSUbSU52NWozCYhQ6TnxnVR0KBX1WEFnDmM/s1600/ball-net-photo.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1EhzxdWE89Gzgihl1Q2sPrMqwrRfywFscp_UMtA_9EyWeJByzVqQB5WmluDaNoTRkRx8hjST5hDGtNo4REaxfN6mhxOK3s4yIJZ-YNX_GsSUbSU52NWozCYhQ6TnxnVR0KBX1WEFnDmM/s200/ball-net-photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569937958730066322" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Under the current format of the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AdvanceChampionship">Advance Auto Parts Big South Men's Basketball Championship</a>, used for the past few seasons, there wind up being three races at once in the Conference standings, and this year is no different.<br /><br />At the top, it's obviously been a two-horse race all season, although one of those thoroughbreds is clearly up a length now. Coastal Carolina and Liberty have been the top of the heap throughout league play, with the Chanticleers sporting the edge and the Flames managing to keep pace right behind. Well, last night CCU held off a late LU charge to complete the season sweep of the challenger, thereby giving the Chants a two-game lead in the standings plus a tiebreaker edge over the Flames, with just six Conference games remaining in the regular season. With the Coastal win streak now at 19 games, it's a legitimate time to ask if the run has an end, and where it will fall.<br /><br />Surely it could go down as soon as Saturday, with VMI running and gunning at CCU. Fail to keep up with the pace or fail to hit your shots when you have the chance, and you're in trouble against the Keydets. That said, VMI has continued its habits of scoring 90 and giving up 100--defense is largely a non-factor in those high velocity contests. But one should note the Chants haven't lost at home this season to anyone. Down the schedule, we see at PC, at Winthrop (now THAT could be interesting, given the grudge match between those rivals), vs. GWU, vs. NC Central, vs. Asheville, at CSU, and then the tournament. If Coastal CAN keep this momentum running, they could be as strong as 28-2 riding a 26 game streak when March arrives and CCU hosts championship play. Surely any team can win any night, and all this could be moot in short order, but the speculation is intriguing. If, and I mean IF, Coastal runs the table, one would have to favor them to win three home games for the Conference Championship--and then what happens in terms of NCAA seeding? The record and the win streak would be wildly impressive, the RPI given a generally weaker out-of-conference schedule would not.<br /><br />In any case, that's putting a number of carts before their respective horses, no doubt about it.<br /><br />After all, let's look at Liberty--they've beaten all Big South comers save one...LU has lost only two Conference games, both to Coastal Carolina. You have to like THEIR chances to advance in the tourney, possibly to a final against CCU. Can the same team win the head-to-head match-up three times in one season? It has happened, but it's a tall order. The Flames' faithful know they have a beautiful chance to play spoiler in much the same way that Coastal's much-hated rival Winthrop did one year ago, knocking off the regular season champs on their own floor.<br /><br />So the captivating race and rivalry at the top is one drama playing itself out in front of us...and with FOUR teams hosting first round games, the next race then comes into play. If you can't be numero uno, you really, really want to be in the top four. As of this writing, with Coastal at 12-0 and Liberty at 10-2, those teams pretty well have one and two locked down--because the next squads are at least three games behind second place!<br /><br />The middle group could be considered as large as five teams fighting for two positions: Asheville and Charleston Southern have the lead of the moment, each with 7-5 records, followed by Winthrop, lurking on the perimeter at 6-6, and you can't yet count out VMI and HPU, holders of 5-7 marks, just two games off of the pace for hosting a game. There will still be plenty of shake-ups going on within that quintet for the remaining weeks of the season.<br /><br />Okay, so two teams currently in the top tier, FIVE teams in the middle tier, leaving three currently in the bottom tier, yes? Now if you consider that those first two groups we discussed include seven teams, that takes up every slot but one in the tourney field, still set at eight. Of the three teams remaining, PC has the unfortunate distinction of being ineligible for postseason play due to NCAA division transition rules. The Blue Hose have been forced to be content with the role of spoiler from day one--they can't play for seeds, tournaments, or championships. So that leaves us with two teams scrapping for one spot: Gardner-Webb and Radford. It seems so hard in this light to think that Radford was the Big South Champion the season before last, falling to UNC in the NCAA's, but the Highlanders have not enjoyed much high ground this season. In fact, both RU and GWU have staggered out to 2-10 Conference records. The "winner" in this contest will have the distinction of (almost certainly) making a trip to Conway to meet Coastal Carolina...some reward...but still, "that's why they play the games," right? It's not as if the team left out gets a better draft pick--you might as well be pushing for greatness. Win the right games at the right times and big things happen--the beauty of the college hoops Cinderella stories.<br /><br />Make sense? So as you're watching the MBB standings in the Big South, remember the three races at stake: the top one, top four, and top eight positions. If you keep those in mind, you'll start seeing more intrigue, more on the line than before--trust me.<br /><br />And finally, a huge SHOUT-out of support for our fans and friends facing the worst of the winter storms. Most of our region here is under merely cold rain, but beyond the borders of the Big South there are plenty of folks struggling with astonishing amounts of ice and snow--we send you our wishes for your safety and comfort through these difficult days!<br /><br />Enjoy the upcoming games, everybody---------SHOUT, out.<br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-23660560496126641162011-01-28T14:56:00.004-05:002011-01-28T15:59:50.924-05:00Talkin' Baseball (?)...and Plenty More<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Okay Big South peeps, this weekend still seems simple enough on its face: Conference match-ups for men's and women's basketball take center stage, right? Sure, but it's not that simple any more, certainly not beyond this weekend anyway.<br /><br />Here's the deal--Saturday has a full line-up of men's hoops, with five games tipping off throughout the day, plus a quartet of women's games also hitting the court. But January is coming to a close and February is coming in fast, so those games get the most buzz right now, but it's just the tip of an athletics iceberg that will culminate with a parade of championships in the spring.<br /><br />Put another way, the tennis teams are facing off against out-of-conference foes right now, while the golf teams are rolling out their tournaments, and, most notably, the indoor track and field squads are making lots of noise in various meets around the region. How much noise? Good enough for the men to make the USTFCCCA (it's the governing body, don't worry about the alphabet soup, just go with it) top ten for ALL conferences in the country! The Big South ranked eighth, coming in behind only the six large power/BCS leagues, plus the Mountain West Conference.<br /><br />Is that all, you ask? Well, noooo...although not under the "Big South Sports" umbrella, don't forget about the wrestling competition happening out there right now for some schools (</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">VMI, Liberty, and GWU all wrestle...catch </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">the VMI-Citadel competition streaming tonight on the <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml?&&&&DB_OEM_ID=4800">Big South Network</a>). Then there's the swimming and diving, which has been growing, with Liberty joining GWU, VMI, and Radford in the pool. All have been actively competing and await the CCSA Championships in February, featuring the swimming schools from four regional conferences that do not have enough participants to stage their own individual championship meets.<br /><br />And then there's this...baseball and softball practice. Seriously, the ball-and-bat sports will hit their respective diamonds soon, and there's a sizable and eager fan base waiting for play to begin. The preseason polls were released this last week, and it probably does not shock anyone following the sports to see that Coastal Carolina had the nod for tops in baseball and Radford the same for softball. In fact, both are getting a little national attention as well.<br /><br />For baseball, Coastal not only won the top spot in the coaches' vote, but did so unanimously! The Chants will start the season ranked 24th nationally, and will be watched closely to see how they follow last year's Super Regional finish. For softball, Radford will not begin ranked, but the Highlanders have votes in the national preseason polls, so they are not far off the radar.<br /><br />Interestingly enough, Liberty lurks just behind the leaders in both sports in the preseason count. The Flames matched CCU baseball's unanimous first-place prediction by collecting a unanimous set of second-place votes. It seems clear that the Big South's baseball skippers agree that the 2011 season begins where the 2010 season left off: with Coastal ruling the roost but Liberty burning it up right behind. It wasn't unanimous for softball, but it was nearly as decisive, as the softball coaches made the Radford-Liberty duo a clear one-two.<br /><br />For those already wanting to get their hands on for spring streaming packages on the <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml?&&&&DB_OEM_ID=4800">Big South Network</a> (presented by State Farm), good news: those packages will be available starting February 1st at BigSouthSports.com. Individual games will be available for order soon after that.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Okay, okay, let's get back to the whole HOOPS thing!</span><br /><br />Opposite poles? Matter and anti-matter? Call it what you like, but the still blistering-hot Coastal Carolina Chanticleers play at ice-cold Radford Saturday. It's the upset of the year within the Conference if the 1-9 Highlanders stop the 10-0 Chants and their 17-game win streak, "but that's why they play the games"...<br /><br />As amazing as the Coastal run has been (and it has been stellar), don't overlook the fact that the Liberty Flames have paced CCU every step of the way. The only loss for the 9-1 Flames was to Coastal Carolina, and it will be very interesting to see if that's still the case when these teams meet again: February 3rd in Conway. First, LU will have to dispatch a pesky GWU squad that has shown some resilience after a huge losing skid.<br /><br />Other games for the men this weekend: Asheville at VMI -- two contenders trying to sort out the seeds behind the leaders, CSU at HPU -- Panthers trying to salvage a rougher season than expected vs. Buccaneers in that contender mix, and Winthrop at PC -- Eagles fighting for position and Blue Hose trying to play perpetual spoiler.<br /><br />On the women's side, there are four Saturday games and four Monday games, but for the fans of recent Big South history and rivalry, there's only one game to watch for: Liberty at Gardner-Webb, Monday night (1/31, 7pm, on <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml?&&&&DB_OEM_ID=4800">Big South Network</a>). The Flames and Bulldogs are two of the three teams (along with RU) in a tight race for first, but that's just a bonus in what has become one of those rapidly intensifying rivalries...which tends to happen when you battle for the title a couple times, yeah? Conference competition at its best.<br /><br />By the way, speaking of championships, did you know the Advance Auto Parts Big South Conference Basketball Championships have their own official Facebook page now? It's true. You now have a perfect companion to the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/bigsouthsports">Big South Facebook page</a> (covering all Conference news) with the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/advancechampionship">"Advance Championship" page</a>, updating the races in the standings and the pursuit of records, plus the promotions, contests, events, and fans of Big South basketball. Go now and "like" both pages if you haven't already!<br /><br />While I'm shilling, go <a href="http://www.twitter.com/bigsouthsports">follow us on Twitter</a>, please...<br /><br />For my final shameless plug, don't forget to browse through items at the <a href="http://www.bigsouthstore.com">Big South Online Store</a>. If you haven't tried it yet, you will be surprised by the variety and quality of items available for you to order for your favorite school or for the Big South Conference. It's the best across-the-board merchandise for the Big South membership that you'll find anywhere--and right now (through the weekend), they're running a 15% discount special on personalized team basketball jerseys...go--what are you waiting for? After all, I'm done.<br /><br />Have a good weekend, everybody...SHOUT--out.<br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-83381006999697283962011-01-14T10:09:00.004-05:002011-01-14T11:03:40.849-05:00Ice, Ice, Baby...Musings on the Week<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">First came the snow--hey, how nice, it's snowing...but then the ice, and more and more ice, all over the snow, and all freezing into a rink-like glaze over the world. That's how some stretches of Big South territory started this past work week...certainly that's how things got going (or not going) here at the home office in Charlotte, and in nearby Rock Hill (Winthrop) and Boiling Springs (GWU). Asheville of course got even more snow--and then another batch of snow. And so it went, as the early 2011 winter storm that paralyzed Atlanta for a week did its work across our region as well. The women's games scheduled for Monday wound up being played on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, as different schools addressed their area and travel needs in the most appropriate ways they could find. <br /><br />So the weather stole its share of headlines, but there have certainly been stories from the sports side of the ledger as well. Let's run through some notes...<br /><br />--Coastal Carolina narrowly beat Liberty last Saturday in the battle of men's basketball unbeatens, and since they each followed up by winning on Thursday, it remains a clear pair of teams at the top: the 6-0 Chanticleers and the 6-1 Flames. Again, watch for that rematch February 3rd in Conway.<br /><br />--While those two duke it out for the important first seed and the right to host throughout the tournament, remember that the top four teams all host first round games, because that race (presumably for spots three and four, based on Coastal/Liberty so far) will also be a good one. After Thursday's games, SIX teams fit in the range from 4-2 (CSU) to 2-4 (PC/HPU), with marks of 3-3 (WU/ASHE) and 3-4 (VMI) for the teams in the middle. That's a pretty big pack of contenders for just two probable positions...should be fun.<br /><br />--Those with attention to detail will note two teams didn't make the cut in the previous two items. Well, Radford and Gardner-Webb have both fallen to 1-5 records in the Big South, and it's going to take something big to turn these ships around now, because they have been running hard in the wrong direction. But here's the catch: since PC can't play in the postseason due to the NCAA terms of transition to DI, only one of these teams will be eliminated from the Conference Championship event. As one camper said to another, "I don't have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun you." In other words, if one of these teams can slow that descent, they'll get their shot...mind you, that's likely on the road at the top seed, but beggars cannot be choosers in this situation.<br /><br />--On the women's side, we have a chance at an early treat on Monday, but that will still depend on how things turn out Saturday. Two teams survived to 3-0 starts: Liberty and Radford. They are slated to meet on Monday the 17th, but you have to play one game at a time...RU faces Winthrop before that collision, while Liberty does not have a Big South game in the way (instead playing at Longwood this evening).<br /><br />--Meanwhile, Gardner-Webb is just one game back of that undefeated duo, and will certainly contend, just as the Runnin' Bulldogs have done so well the last two seasons. Behind those top three teams, the WBB standings are as bunched up as they are in MBB, with four teams at 1-1 or 1-2 (WU/PC 1-1, HPU/CSU 1-2). Two teams still seek Conference win number one: CCU at 0-2 and Asheville at 0-3.<br /><br />I enjoyed taking part in the Big South's first basketball game to be available exclusively on ESPN3.com last night. Liberty won by six at High Point, and I had the good fortune to be on play-by-play (I'm Mark Bryant, for those who don't know the name behind SHOUT), along with Nate Ross as analyst. Nate has been a frequent broadcast partner in both football and basketball, and it's a pleasure working with him--particularly when we get good material to work with, as we did at the Millis Center. Sure, it was really low scoring for a while, and Liberty led most of the way, but the HPU comeback and the excitement of the late second half made for a good payback after the sluggish start. Fun stuff.<br /><br />Gotta roll on to other things now, but I hope this post has helped update you on the early layout of the Conference races and put the upcoming games in context. Should be a great weekend--get out to a game if you can, or catch the live video streams on the Big South Network if you can't attend in person. Enjoy! SHOUT...out.<br /><br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-33089503113038084672011-01-07T15:34:00.005-05:002011-01-07T16:48:48.850-05:00Here We Go!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Okay, people, it's 2011, so grab your hoverboards and head on over to catch some hoops.<br />What?<br />Sorry, my mistake...we get the hoverboards in 2015...use your jetpacks instead.<br />Hmm?<br />Never mind then, I thought this was the future...Happy New Year!<br /><br />So instead, let's deal with the present, and it's a pretty good one for Big South basketball observers, with Conference play in full swing and plenty of good games out there. It's not perfect, at least not for most teams, but few things are, so let's give a look to life in men's basketball across the Big South right now (we have enough of a barometer to read tendencies on the men's side, but the women have only played one Conference game so far, so we'll save that talk for another day).<br /><br />I mentioned the word "perfect", and that aptly describes the undefeated starts for Liberty (5-0) and Coastal Carolina (4-0). How timely, then, that these two teams collide Saturday evening! The overall Coastal win streak has climbed to an impressive eleven games and a total record of 12-2 this season. For the Chants, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Desmond Holloway</span> has scored at least 13 points in every game this season, the only player in the Big South to have double-digit points every time his team has taken the floor. There's a pretty good amount of talent and depth happening for Coach <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cliff Ellis</span> in Conway, and CCU has earned the attention increasingly pointed that way.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Coach <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dale Layer</span> has Liberty exceeding expectations at this point, and anxious to keep his Flames red hot. Solid defense and teamwork have gone along with strong performances at home and on neutral floors (9-1), although the road record could use a little work (2-5). Clutch play from junior guard <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jesse Sanders</span> helped last week--now we'll see if he will have the right shot at the right time with the Chants in the building.<br /><br />Those two teams are the unquestioned top two--and although general appearances make Coastal seem the stronger squad and likely to keep on rolling, it would not be surprising to see Liberty eke out a win in Lynchburg. Whether they do that or not, the Flames had better be prepared for a furious challenge when they meet again in Conway in February!<br /><br />After the top two, the standings and relative power rankings actually get kind of murky for a while...<br /><br />Perennial contender Winthrop? Lurking, of course, and always a threat come the tournament, but the Eagles just lost badly on the home floor to Asheville on the heels of a weak offensive showing against PC (that nonetheless netted a victory thanks to Coach <span style="font-weight: bold;">Randy Peele</span>'s "grind it out" approach to the game). Still, this is a team that knows when to peak, and the answer is not January.<br /><br />And what about that aforementioned PC squad? Pulling down road wins against Auburn and Wake Forest in the same week remains quite the feat, but what have you done lately, Blue Hose? Up and down performances have brought PC to 2-2 in the Big South and 8-8 overall: they're treading water in another year of waiting for full Division I status. No, they won't be a problem for anyone in the tourney because they can't go, but with the mix of talent and experience they do have, the Blue Hose could be a heckuva spoiler for someone along the way.<br /><br />So you like lots of points? Then it's time to look at VMI, because once again, the Keydets are scorching scoreboards...on both sides. Yes, a familiar problem--score 87, but give up 109. That's what happened when Coastal came to town. Some teams will go with the flow and others will be swept under, but the familiar pattern of "score a lot, give up more" continues in Lexington. The Keydets have a dangerous team when the shots are falling, and one that often makes for entertaining games, but it is uncertain when everything will come together for that elusive title run for Coach <span style="font-weight: bold;">Duggar Baucom</span>.<br /><br />Speaking of living and dying by your shooting percentages, it's time to talk about Charleston Southern. When senior guard <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jamarco Warren</span> and company have the threes raining in from all over the floor, watch out; but when the shots aren't falling, life gets tough for the Buccaneers. So, like VMI, they're a tough out on any given night, but the right defense against them might just make all the difference, just by impacting shot selection and opportunity.<br /><br />It's finally time to touch on High Point. The Panthers have not found any sort of rhythm this season, nor has Big South Preseason Player of the Year <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nick Barbour</span>. Losing the last two Conference games on the road and the last four overall have not helped matters for HPU. This is a team needing a win and needing it soon...surely the Panthers are anxious for Saturday's game at winless Radford.<br /><br />Beaten Bulldogs? UNC Asheville and Gardner-Webb have had injury struggles dominate their storylines so far this season. For Asheville, it's been a roller coaster that could still see the team contend with enough healthy bodies...but for Gardner-Webb, once leading scorer <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jon Moore</span> (out indefinitely) went down, things went south. GWU has now lost seven straight.<br /><br />Finally, let's touch on Radford...here's a team that finished 2008-09 as Big South Champion in the NCAA Tournament, opened 2009-10 as a Conference favorite by many, ended last season with a relatively disappointing finish, and has skidded this year to an 0-4 start in Big South games, holding last place in many team stat categories. It's just not pretty for the Highlanders right now.<br /><br />So there you have it, the quick rundown of what's out there right now for Big South men's basketball. The beauty of it all, of course, is that things can change so fast in this Conference, so what holds this week may not resemble what we're looking at next week, or next month...fun, isn't it?<br /><br />Lineup for Saturday, January 8th:<br />CSU at VMI, 1pm<br />CCU at Liberty, 6pm<br />GWU at Winthrop, 7pm<br />HPU at Radford, 7pm<br />Asheville at PC, 7:30pm.<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/">CATCH THE GAMES ON THE BIG SOUTH NETWORK!</a><br /><br />That's enough for me...have a great weekend--get out to one of the games if you can, or watch on the Big South Network, OR catch updates from <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/">BigSouthSports.com</a> or our <a href="http://www.twitter.com/bigsouthsports">Twitter</a> or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/bigsouthsports">Facebook</a> pages! SHOUT--out.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-62274714481219776792010-12-15T16:50:00.004-05:002010-12-15T17:18:02.244-05:00Presents & Presence<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm going to get today's entry started with a shameless plug, then get into the hoops and such after that...here goes:<br /><br />TEN DAYS until Christmas--and you still have time to get Big South gear from our online store. Visit <a href="http://www.bigsouthstore.com/">BigSouthStore.com</a> (or link from <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/">BigSouthSports.com</a>) for more details. Yes, that would mean expedited shipping, but it can be done...if you're not feeling as time-sensitive, don't worry about Christmas delivery, just start thinking about Conference play for basketball rolling out as we bid 2010 farewell and work our way into 2011</span><a href="http://www.bigsouthstore.com"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eHMyyfak7yhD0at6D1GXf1PjcP54StlnG5Yog0VApNlVq6YjeS9OMUqwV85EVJwz0ZcjbHFIo8rDqjvei4L8RIrNc3dqZjAYrtyQLHlRUTv5OeApdXYE90ZfzN-k6ypoM2awbH4UQBE/s200/BIG_BB-JERSEY.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551036220551053970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. You'll want to look the part, so take advantage of the basketball jersey sale happening now at <a href="http://www.bigsouthstore.com/">BigSouthStore.com</a> through January 2nd.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I know I'm shilling here, but trust me--you're not going to find all this stuff for all these schools and the Big South Conference in one place anywhere else. This store, done in partnership with Advanced-Online, is the best selection the Big South has anywhere--or has ever had, for that matter, so pay a visit and pick up what you need for gifts, for games, for good times ahead. Enjoy!<br /><br />Okay, okay, enough of that. Hopefully you sat through my little commercial and didn't just zap past it--I'm telling you, it's worth a look. Anyway....<br /><br />We salute some of the Big South alums doing big things recently in the professional ranks:<br /> -- Mike Tolbert (Coastal Carolina) of the Chargers, scoring TDs, blasting past people, and making himself more indispensable to San Diego every week.<br /> -- Rashad Jennings (Liberty) of the Jaguars, taking one long distance for a score last week and getting more carries in the Jacksonville mix with superstar Maurice Jones-Drew.<br /> -- Reggie Williams (VMI) of the Warriors, who has gone from last year's D-League call-up to this year's important role player and starter as needed for Golden State.<br /> -- Dustin Johnson (Coastal) of the PGA, who has had an incredible year altogether, but just last week added a win in the Shark Shootout, paired with Ian Poulter in the scramble tournament.<br /><br />Speaking of big-time success, how about Coastal Carolina getting a big overtime win against LSU in Baton Rouge? Yes, it's true, and the Big South can now claim a pair of SEC wins (Asheville-Auburn, Coastal-LSU), along with one in the ACC (Winthrop-Wake) this year. Fairly impressive, and hopefully something the Conference can build on for RPI purposes going forward. Meanwhile, where does USA Today get off referring to "tiny Coastal Carolina" in its write-up? Small, sure--all our schools would be compared to Louisiana State--but that word choice makes it sound a bit like a one-room schoolhouse, doesn't it? I would say all of our schools deserve a little better than that, but I'm at the Conference office, so it may be natural to get defensive on points of that type.<br /><br />Okay, enough selling, enough ranting--I'm moving on...until next time: SHOUT -- out.<br /><br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-92206277368468910582010-12-02T10:24:00.005-05:002010-12-02T11:39:57.391-05:00Hoops Time...& a Fall-Out Review<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Ah, yes, let's tip this thing off for real today.<br />But, you say, "The season started weeks ago."<br />True.<br />Yet it's so hard to gauge what should be learned from a combination of road games against superior opposition and home games against weaker opponents. Sure, it's not ALL that, but it's generally the case that Big South teams spend a lot of time in November going out to major conference foes and bringing in lower level squads. The results are predictable, but not absolute: on the men's side, Asheville started out by beating Auburn and Winthrop knocked off Wake Forest, while on the women's side, there were some disappointing losses to very small visiting schools...let's not bother with those details, too depressing.<br /><br />So why get excited now?<br />Because tonight (Thursday) there are four Big South Conference games for the men, with another five coming on Saturday. If you're wondering about the math, that's two games for eight members this week, with two teams only getting one game (CCU & CSU).<br /><br />Yes, Conference games. <br />The unquestionable peer-to-peer measuring stick, when we'll be able to get a clearer picture of what we might expect down the road. Obviously the league schedule does not begin in earnest until we're ready to bid farewell to 2010 and swing into 2011, but the games of early December will count just as much, so they'd better be ready for them!<br /><br />Here's the schedule:<br />Dec. 2nd...<br />Gardner-Webb at High Point,<br />PC at Liberty,<br />UNC Asheville at Radford,<br />Winthrop at VMI...I do like this one in particular--the "grind it out" defense of Winthrop and the "run and gun" offense of VMI--you figure something's gotta give...<br /><br />Dec. 4th...<br />PC at VMI,<br />CSU at Coastal,<br />GWU at Radford,<br />Asheville at HPU,<br />Winthrop at Liberty.<br /><br />From there, it's a couple light weeks to get through the month and the holidays, but get fired up again for New Year's Eve and the roller coaster ride that follows, with the full regular slate of Big South Conference games--and that applies to the women in January as well.<br /><br />For those who live for the hoops side of things, this is the start of--as the song says--"the most wonderful time of the year."<br /><br />If you're looking for more on the early part of the men's season, <a href="http://rushthecourt.net/category/checking-in-on/cio-big-south/">you can find our check-in with "Rush the Court" here</a>.<br /><br /><br />RECAP TIME<br />Yes, so SHOUT has been quiet recently, but let's fix that and get caught up with a quick review of what the fall sports brought us this season...<br /><br />Cross Country -- championship-wise, it was another sweep of the Men's & Women's Championships by the Liberty Flames. No one was surprised to see Liberty's Sam Chelanga run away with the individual title again for the Big South...just as you couldn't be too surprised to see Chelanga cross the line as the individual National Champion--a back-to-back winner of the NCAA title! Our congratulations and appreciation for Sam's accomplishments truly runneth over...he is simply the best. Factor in Josh McDougal's win in the event a few years ago and the Flames have produced three of the last four Men's Cross Country National Champions!<br /><br />Women's Soccer -- would you believe a FIVE-way tie for the regular season title? Yeah, seriously. So tiebreakers sorted out the seeding among a pool of virtual equals, and when the dust settled, the High Point Panthers had made it as back-to-back Big South Champions (the highlight of which was the golden goal bicycle kick in the final by Jillie Johnston). HPU then fell to Maryland in the NCAA First Round.<br /><br />Men's Soccer -- speaking of High Point, the men's squad for the Panthers roared through the year with a fast, high-scoring attack, going undefeated against Conference foes all the way to the Championship's final game...and that's when they got tripped up: Coastal Carolina took the title, downing HPU 3-1. Coastal then lost at Duke in the NCAA First Round.<br /><br />Volleyball -- another tight battle through the season played its way into the Big South Championship, and the tournament had its own plot twists--this time favoring the Panthers in the final. High Point stunned top seed Liberty by rapidly sweeping the Flames in the final match. LU may have been exhausted from a five-setter over host Winthrop the night before, but whatever the reason, HPU is the survivor...and the final chapter there has not yet been written, as the Panthers play at Duke (them again?) on Friday to start NCAA play.<br /><br />Football -- we've mentioned tiebreakers and twists from other sports, but football definitely had its share and then some. With the Big South's first-ever Automatic Qualification entry to the NCAA FCS Playoffs on the line, the whole year came down to the last two games on the last day of the regular season. Stony Brook and Liberty dominated Big South play out of the gate and lasted as undefeated most of the way...but Coastal Carolina found itself mid-season and started an amazing push. The Chants lost to SBU early, seemingly part of the tailor-made set-up for a clash between the Seawolves and the Flames in the end, but everything changed when Coastal Carolina upset Liberty later in the year. <br /><br />Suddenly a very real possibility existed for a three-way tie at the top among those schools...all would share the regular season title, but who would get the AQ? If Liberty beat Stony Brook, the head-to-head match-ups would only lead in a circle (A beat B beat C beat A, etc.), so no winner...and comparing records against the remaining teams would also not matter, as they all beat everyone else...meaning that the tiebreaker would come down to fewest points allowed in Big South games, a test of relative defensive strength.<br /><br />So to the final week we go, SBU seemingly holding all the cards--win and in, no ties to break...and even if they lost, they had a cushion of about 40 points in the tiebreaker. Get ready for the playoffs? The answer was a two-part resounding NO. First Coastal obliterated Charleston Southern 70-3 (interestingly enough, only the "3" matters, as it was irrelevant how many points Coastal scored on CSU...the whole point of the defensive tiebreaker was to attempt to avoid running up the score...tiny bit of irony there, as you'll see). In doing that, the Chants actually knocked Liberty out of the running for the AQ just as the Flames began their own game. How? Because LU entered the day four points behind CCU in the tiebreaker and CCU only surrendered three! Unless the Flames figured out how to put SBU in negative numbers, Liberty was already done. For Coastal, the issue became one of hoping for two more things: Liberty winning, and doing so with 42 or more points on the board. And again, all SBU needed was the win--making everything else immaterial. So what happened? Of course, the wild scenario played out--in a game breaking a number of offensive records (both for Liberty and the Big South), the Flames defeated Stony Brook 54-28 -- pandemonium!<br /><br />Summing up: three teams shared the Big South Conference Football Championship, but when the tiebreakers sorted out the one team receiving the automatic bid, that went to Coastal Carolina. From there, the good news was that CCU got to host the opening game...the bad news was that the Chants fell 17-10 to Western Illinois (who will play next at App. State). Also unfortunate was that Liberty once again was denied an at-large bid to the playoffs. The Flames can claim all or part of four straight Big South titles now, but regrettably no trips to the postseason for all that success.<br /><br />Okay, so those are the soap operas of the fall, wrapped up for you in one wordy package.<br />If you hadn't guessed by the mentions above, the fall Sasser Cup leader (standings for all sports) is High Point. HPU has never won the Sasser Cup, but the fall was certainly a good start. Liberty and Coastal (who have each won multiple Sasser Cups over the years) sit in second and third, so watch out, Panthers. That same 1-2-3 order held at the top of the rankings for the men's, women's, and overall standings.<br /><br />OKAY, time now to ramp up your hoops attention, if you have not done so already. <br /><br />Enjoy the games, and remember this thought: Thanksgiving should not be the only time for giving thanks, and Christmas should not be the only time for peace on earth and goodwill. Make the most of your holidays, everyone--may they be happy and safe for all. And Happy Hanukkah to those celebrating this week (it came early this year)!<br /><br />That's all (that's plenty) for today...SHOUT--out!!!<br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-46873306815299708392010-10-29T10:09:00.002-04:002010-10-29T12:48:45.360-04:00Tricks, Treats, Titles<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Happy Halloween weekend, SHOUT fans!<br /><br />My goodness, just look around the Big South Conference right now--tricks and treats abound.<br />That's what happens in late October, as the fall sports engage in critical Conference play and approach their seasonal conclusions and championship tournaments--while the basketball machine begins to hum to life (IT'S ALIVE! IT'S ALIVE!)<br /><br />Football? Got that...and no trick there--fans are getting treated to what was expected coming into the season: Liberty and Stony Brook on top. Neither of those squads would be forecast to stumble this week, but you never can tell with this bunch--"any given Saturday" and all that. The Flames and Seawolves have each begun Big South play 2-0 this year, and the conclusion-jumpers are already pointing to that late November clash in Lynchburg, when those teams could meet with a playoff berth on the line. Too early to call, but it could happen.<br /><br />Volleyball? Yep, got that too--Liberty is on top as I write this, but the margin is small: Flames at 10-1, High Point Panthers at 9-2. Looks like those two could easily wind up as the top two seeds, but there are a couple more weeks of Conference play to sort that out...<br /><br />Soccer? Two times over, of course...for the men, High Point has already clinched the regular season title, thanks to a double-overtime victory at Coastal Carolina this week. The Panthers have been ROLLING, mounting goal after goal on the way to a 7-0 Big South record. Meanwhile, the women's side is going to be a lot messier than that...not a treat for those trying to sort out tie-breakers: as of this morning, Winthrop is 6-1-1, with FOUR teams tied for second, just one game back, at 5-2-1...that's CSU, Coastal, Radford, and HPU. Yep. Messy.<br /><br />CROSS COUNTRY????? So glad you asked! Men's & Women's Cross Country will be the first championship events of the season, kicking off the 2010-11 Big South Championships with a running start in Radford, VA. Liberty swept all the running sports a year ago and would appear to be the favorite yet again for this year's contest. So will the Flames burn brightest again--or can someone else "run away" with the title this year? We'll have the answer by early Saturday afternoon.<br /><br />And...basketball? You bet. Practices have begun and preseason games are right around the corner. The seasons for both men and women tip off officially on Friday, November 12th, just two weeks away from right now. Lots of hoops fans have their countdowns running with anticipation for another great batch of thrills on the court, and with good reason.<br /><br />So, is it the most wonderful time of year? Well, that's all about perspective of course, but you have to like what you're seeing out there right now.<br /><br />That's your recap for today -- gotta run, folks -- and that's SHOUT -- out.<br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-27726784460060431072010-10-15T16:02:00.000-04:002010-10-15T16:04:24.607-04:00SHOUT in the Dark?<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I know, trust me...what's the biggest blogging sin? For many folks, the answer is disappearing or coming and going on an irregular basis. You want to know the blog will be there, you want to know the info is dependable, and so on...and yes, I know that somehow it's been three weeks since the last SHOUT (star</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ting to sound like Confession in here).<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But we're here today...with some news to share, so let's try to hit som</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">e of the many goings-on in the Big South Conference...starting with perhaps WHY the SHOUT hasn't been making as many appearances lately. I'll preface this by saying it's an explanation--not an excuse.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, the truth is (if we peek behind the curtain here) the Big South Conference--while always growing in its general presence and strength of its membership--is still a small shop. Office-wise, there are eight full-time "permanent" employees and three annual interns who work full-time schedules and rotate out each year. Our Multimedia Department covers most of our <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/">website</a> maintenance, all our video streaming administration, this blog, our <a href="http://www.twitter.com/bigsouthsports">Twitter</a>/<a href="http://www.facebook.com/bigsouthsports">Facebook</a>/<a href="http://www.youtube.com/bigsouthsports">YouTube</a> outlets, along with the addition this year of handling our n</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ew fall programming lineup (Super 7, FLIPPED, Coach Camp)...plus various and sundry other tasks that involve the whole staff, like working championships, meetings, etc. And you'll know </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">who to turn to if you have any issues or questions with this stuff, because that multimedia "department" is me.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJW9L_83TtjQyRFso2s0euxL1eKnIYEWVGo055hff09AVIm6lsTbJz6ykxF9sfSIpwrE2FAFvihEI1jOxPb4Ti1Gyf2mQUEAuezKaA1qzfJqQ-z_oiMb9ZHSEraSZ-w98gz-toGbEpnjE/s1600/season-misc.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJW9L_83TtjQyRFso2s0euxL1eKnIYEWVGo055hff09AVIm6lsTbJz6ykxF9sfSIpwrE2FAFvihEI1jOxPb4Ti1Gyf2mQUEAuezKaA1qzfJqQ-z_oiMb9ZHSEraSZ-w98gz-toGbEpnjE/s200/season-misc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528366000891067298" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's been a wild fall this year and tricky to keep up at times. Fact is, I al</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ways want SHOUT to have some breathing room for fleshed-out thoughts and musings on what's going on. To impart the "quick hits", Twitter has become much more of the go-to source, and we're trying to meet demand in that micro-blogging environment, so short items wind up there. Video-centric items wind up with YouTube and Big South Network. Conversational topics seem to gravitate toward Facebook. SHOUT occupied all these roles when it began -- the quick breaking news, the video connection, the ai</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">r of banter, but the rapid evolution of the internet has altered the working space.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This blog still has a role to play, but it takes time to make it work best, and time has been a precious commodity lately. One thing we definitely need to look at more seriously than in the past is the role and value of bringing guest bloggers into the space as well. So don't despair, SHOUT still loves you! We'll try to do a better job showing it in the weeks to come.<br /><br />MOVING ON NOW...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This week was the Big South Basketball Media Day,</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> with the release of the Preseason Polls (<a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25346&SPID=1987&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=205010939">for men</a> and <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25897&SPID=2026&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=205010765">for women</a>), along with the the Preseason All-Conference Teams and Players of the Year (again <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25346&SPID=1987&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=205010775">for men</a> and <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25897&SPID=2026&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=205010779">for women</a>). </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQRgdGmZcBTojsQRhen3EUM13MJOSSumf52q0y8ERWGwMYgnqsN5JiZC9Kncmv1GdPeaPqk4AhrmVc9uX0HhttLz1SidGjdqW2biuFjG0OzU9Edl14CH5j2JQEbL6LEmARpQFCvm7R6E/s1600/ball-net-photo.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQRgdGmZcBTojsQRhen3EUM13MJOSSumf52q0y8ERWGwMYgnqsN5JiZC9Kncmv1GdPeaPqk4AhrmVc9uX0HhttLz1SidGjdqW2biuFjG0OzU9Edl14CH5j2JQEbL6LEmARpQFCvm7R6E/s200/ball-net-photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528364884311446466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">All the coaches did interviews for a number of media outlets and talked up the upcoming season. For the record, Coastal Carolina got the preseason nod for the men and Liberty for the women, but these predictions are far from done deals by any stretch.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />In men's hoops this year, five different teams got first place votes, so you can tell there is no true consensus ther</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">e. In women's hoops, Liberty has taken the vote in 13 of the last 14 years, and has most of the titles in those years to go along with that, but the team that pushed them to the wire is right there with them at Gardner-Webb, and there are lots of experienced players trying to win the tourney on their home court at High Point, so the Flames will be challenged.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If you want some additional thoughts on the men's side, check out the <a href="http://rushthecourt.net/2010/10/06/rtc-conference-primers-29-big-south/">write-up at Rush the Court</a>, submitted by yours truly, with some support info from the RTC staffers.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The football TV package is getting underway this weekend, with <a href="http://www.espn3.com/">ESPN3.com</a> coverage of Gardner-Webb at Charleston Southern. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-55Kl-MeZTfvTLdHiaX1ehuDXKCslea_pXAuMEW_1GqgjjV0E7zmUPpBz26sJ5tR5oPo-UVga2DwOP1H0lkktOeY9g5ctGmGeU9nzhx3_aJT82rSRRnt55oEFU5_B5_03HQwPNDvZBnw/s1600/BSC+helmet-ball.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-55Kl-MeZTfvTLdHiaX1ehuDXKCslea_pXAuMEW_1GqgjjV0E7zmUPpBz26sJ5tR5oPo-UVga2DwOP1H0lkktOeY9g5ctGmGeU9nzhx3_aJT82rSRRnt55oEFU5_B5_03HQwPNDvZBnw/s200/BSC+helmet-ball.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528365433354730466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yes, this one is a bit of a gray area--call it part of the trend toward "convergence" of internet and television. ESPN is asserting its E3 arm as a contender in event programming, and the Big South accepted that as part of its annual TV agreements. It's full TV-style production and gear, nothing scaled down, so it will be treated as TV even though it will be primarily on the internet. Of course, if spectacular thin</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">gs start happening, it could always get picked up by other parts of the ESPN family--another of the advantages of that association. Those two teams pushed to the end in a dramatic finish at Boiling Springs a year ago, and now it's on to Charleston for more. I'll be handling the play-by-play duties for the g</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ame, with Nate Ross as my partner and game analyst.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCU7eC5C0YR5DQ0XUz1idRiYam3yj8jgPFBwau4Gb3F1j6tZ44pgDIbbG3ms3YeP6iBxOIwsuZ0UYLEkc8-Bs-DRFy4jkIB7xhpMTbI5Dv9MaN2edLmqHB7CmCUzjaZJviSnNj-2fSKlk/s1600/5K-FEATUREspace.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 131px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCU7eC5C0YR5DQ0XUz1idRiYam3yj8jgPFBwau4Gb3F1j6tZ44pgDIbbG3ms3YeP6iBxOIwsuZ0UYLEkc8-Bs-DRFy4jkIB7xhpMTbI5Dv9MaN2edLmqHB7CmCUzjaZJviSnNj-2fSKlk/s200/5K-FEATUREspace.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528364879435816978" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And for a bit of a different spin, the Big South is staging an event that does not directly involve any of its members, although it could benefit them: The Inaugural Big South 5K Road Race. If you're going to be anywhere near the Charlotte area for the morning of October 23rd, come join us at the Blakeney Shopping Center for a fun run going to a good cause. Proceeds will go toward a donation to area middle school athletics--programs in jeopardy at our schools. Some of the money will also go into a scholarship fund for Big South student athletes. How can you go wrong? Hey, get a whole team together. Full information can be found at <a href="http://www.bigsouth5k.racesonline.com/">www.bigsouth5k.racesonline.com</a>.<br /><br />Okay, enough for now--writing this is always fun, but work always calls me back...we'll have plenty more to SHOUT about in the near future, so stay tuned...and that's SHOUT--out.<br /><br /><br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-23632084683745841652010-09-24T14:10:00.008-04:002010-09-24T14:45:45.040-04:00Getting Better All the Time<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Truth is, Friday consistently seems to be the best day of the week to get a SHOUT out there for everybody, but last week was a sick Friday so your resident SHOUTer was down for the count--sorry to miss one like that, but I'm back!</span></span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvL8ph9HOcTmvv0v0c5ulmiFgmjUUA2TSE8CosdrstlCrdz_Qnn0TGfLrdrpq15DGxMYyO6nHlqQLg4gymZNOtxHNmefdZ_rKMrzuDPN3n3WISoX7zqFe2jVybXdzuqViqUPRriJyCzo/s1600/TeamLogo-GWU.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvL8ph9HOcTmvv0v0c5ulmiFgmjUUA2TSE8CosdrstlCrdz_Qnn0TGfLrdrpq15DGxMYyO6nHlqQLg4gymZNOtxHNmefdZ_rKMrzuDPN3n3WISoX7zqFe2jVybXdzuqViqUPRriJyCzo/s200/TeamLogo-GWU.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520552252342474786" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Big South has been going through some interesting growth </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and development in recent times..</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.nearly every member plus the Conference itself has seen online renovations in the form of key website redesigns -- the most recent ones to the party are </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Gardner-Webb and PC.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> If you haven't done so already, check out the all-new <a href="http://www.gwusports.com/">www.GWUSports.com</a> and <a href="http://www.gobluehose.com%20now/">www.GoBlueHose.com now</a>! It's okay, I'll wait...</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Nice, huh?</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNo8-nVFSwH1HTBN4u0lJd2ov94db_mxTBPbEmzIUh81EBQUhONs1DMVBLbJaP-w86u2ckRXZ7UCtREtYi0oXrt58U44ileXYJdS_kVUz3HEJnzXCYeuWCWWlZAhORHoyk2Q74zZ49AM/s1600/TeamLogo-PC.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNo8-nVFSwH1HTBN4u0lJd2ov94db_mxTBPbEmzIUh81EBQUhONs1DMVBLbJaP-w86u2ckRXZ7UCtREtYi0oXrt58U44ileXYJdS_kVUz3HEJnzXCYeuWCWWlZAhORHoyk2Q74zZ49AM/s200/TeamLogo-PC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520552250279423778" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Factor in the other web face-lifts seen pretty much everywh</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ere else this year and you've got a pretty sleek online profile for the Big South Conference!<br /><br />On top of that, we're seeing a growing trend for more schools to try their hands at supplementing the sites with more video production. Keep your eyes out for the efforts at Charleston Southern, High Point, and Winthrop, among others. I'm telling you, the difference between what's happening out there now and what was going on just a few short </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">years ago when there was resistance to the idea of streaming games and blank stares in reaction to the concept of additional video coverage...well, it's just staggering.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8lry5FdjHncGv152iEUmtiXE9iPgxPq3lzNDIJABtPt1F71Vg0tBfSDeOlQ0IksrFazd6jMGBnnbLX_ccU2f_nuMXW9ku2XBB2TsRpDOSr7yp5bMlkOjK2DYh9LrdKvEmTj5SsBa5u0/s1600/BSN-by-StFarm.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8lry5FdjHncGv152iEUmtiXE9iPgxPq3lzNDIJABtPt1F71Vg0tBfSDeOlQ0IksrFazd6jMGBnnbLX_ccU2f_nuMXW9ku2XBB2TsRpDOSr7yp5bMlkOjK2DYh9LrdKvEmTj5SsBa5u0/s200/BSN-by-StFarm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520552675504388018" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So much effort and initiative is out there now, and good work is being done. If you find yourself with a few minutes to kill sometime, do your own Big South "Web-O-Rama" like we do every so often here at SHOUT. Hit each member site and you'll see revised looks, fresh video, community stories, athlete profiles, new blogs and journals, and more every day. It really makes you proud to be part of the Conference.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Growth doesn't stop at clicks either--it extends to bricks, too. In athletic facilities,</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> you have the remarkable upgrades performed at Liberty, the new baseball stadium at Gardner-Webb, construction proceeding at Asheville, and other projects on the books around the League. Turn from the athletic department for a moment and you see things like High Point University and its desired expansion from a growth campaign of $300 million to one of $2.1 BILLION over the next ten years.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIGbn_hJWGa96r-wWkgJlFb5JPV3dG-8jRqMxk2AD5bPDl70azqDqzpAuPu2lnf394DAIRN21W6yM_FEeH5dAUVo8gD-8TVE4zWd3j50g0nXv1FU_3w6P0fhc7_Y_fXsP7-QSRy56Gxk/s1600/HPU+Seal+2008.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 159px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIGbn_hJWGa96r-wWkgJlFb5JPV3dG-8jRqMxk2AD5bPDl70azqDqzpAuPu2lnf394DAIRN21W6yM_FEeH5dAUVo8gD-8TVE4zWd3j50g0nXv1FU_3w6P0fhc7_Y_fXsP7-QSRy56Gxk/s200/HPU+Seal+2008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520551817768051250" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Yeah, that's billion with a big "B" right on the front.<br />And yeah, that gets a "wow"...<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The virtual homes are better, the physical facilities are better, the envisioned futures are better. The best part may be simply that it's all true and not just optimism on my part.<br /><br />And while I'm feeling generous with the compliments, kudos to the <a href="http://www.bigsouthstore.com/">NEW Online Store</a> at <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/">BigSouthSports.com</a>. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eK9mHj7bgL6tQrlNWQDd0D_ow3QUSxn6bfpal879g_PivDRgBA35rx-M8JSnAvV4bnvP1NbxVM1_dTlar4IZilCPTZw_CWCcaQfa51py5vVzWsFm3j0cYppO-WUjfIYp6mZr91pYwCc/s1600/HAT.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eK9mHj7bgL6tQrlNWQDd0D_ow3QUSxn6bfpal879g_PivDRgBA35rx-M8JSnAvV4bnvP1NbxVM1_dTlar4IZilCPTZw_CWCcaQfa51py5vVzWsFm3j0cYppO-WUjfIYp6mZr91pYwCc/s200/HAT.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520551433324919970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> If you haven't taken a peek, give it a look--I think you'll be impressed with the variety and quality of merchandise for any chosen school and for the Conference itself. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I speak from first-hand experience: I've ordered stuff for myself, and I've been pleased with the goods--and with the turnaround time. So a SHOUT-out to the Big South's new partner, Advanced-Online, for making the store bigger and better in every way!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Okay, that's enough gushing...let's just go out there and get some victories against those out-of-conference foes, okay??? Volleyball and men's soccer are already getting deeper into Conference play, which is exciting, but football and women's soccer are still getting some outside tests, so let's beat up on everybody else before we start beating up ourselves...<br /><br />Enjoy the games! SHOUT...out.<br /><br /><br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-79845430386594668452010-09-10T09:48:00.004-04:002010-09-10T15:26:27.176-04:00Feeling Super Flipped at the Big South<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Today I want to expand on a couple things I've referred to before with a little more detail, as I talk about bringing something new to the table this fall.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />The Big South has been a pretty progressive collegiate conference when it comes to embracing technology and changing outlets for reaching out to fans. Obviously <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/">the website</a> has been around for a long time now, although it's been through a number of updates over the years--the most recent and most positive </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">one coming early this year. That's still the fundamental core of the modern interaction with fans, friends, and followers, of course.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We're a few years into video streaming live events, growing the streaming arm (first "The EDGE" and now the Big South Network) to a robust 700+ events last year and planned again for this year. And not just games, but press conferences, media days, and other happenings Big South fans want to see.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Meanwhile, as that growth has been progressing, the social media/networking side of things has exploded from non-existence to an essential modern communication tool. The Big South branched out from its home site first with this blog 2.5 years ago, but in the year that </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">followed, the Conference found itself with a presence on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/bigsouthsports">YouTube</a>, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/bigsouthsports">Twitter</a>, and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/bigsouthsports">Facebook</a> as well. In the more than 18 months of social media activity since then, the Big South has earned over 570 Facebook fans and nearly 750 Twitter followers, along with literally thousands of video views on YouTube.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So what would be next? With a jam-packed website, live video, social networking, and all the pieces and parts that interconnect those outlets, where would the Big South look now?<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdkbs5lxr5Fmec-RLLdoGXm11Hy187bYcAojPyTOjRFRX6XE09Ef-JE9zF_hpuwtDVbdgFTN_PsjdVClNk76S7Yb0sPpP-6xY2l6_pIdmi3ymd7fpS1kjkZgogw4oqaJOUT2mgHbqNzA/s1600/BSNLOGO+copy.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 96px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdkbs5lxr5Fmec-RLLdoGXm11Hy187bYcAojPyTOjRFRX6XE09Ef-JE9zF_hpuwtDVbdgFTN_PsjdVClNk76S7Yb0sPpP-6xY2l6_pIdmi3ymd7fpS1kjkZgogw4oqaJOUT2mgHbqNzA/s200/BSNLOGO+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515364958689634482" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Turns out the answer is a little of the past and a little of the future. The <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/regflow/MoreInfo.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4800">Big South Network </a>did what any self-respecting network has done for ages: <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=204991380">announce its new fall line-up</a>.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=834959">massive game schedule</a> is a given, and is assumed by all the </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Big South faithful, so that's not the "new" part here--no, we're talking about new programming: original "shows" on the BSN.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Viewers have the games and media activities, along with support programs like the BSN Viewers Guide, <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=204983778">Royal Purple Round-Ups</a>, and such, but what about original content designed for the Big South Network?<br /><br />And that's my role, coming up with some of those answers--which direction would we go and how would we go about it? The concepts needed to be interesting enough to engage the viewers and valuable enough to get the critical participation from the member schools.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Commissioner <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kyle Kallander</span> felt a highlight program was essential, and everyone certainly agreed with that, which eventually gave birth to the "<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Big South Super 7</span>"...</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX92is79C7bwKxEkw2B5UvufDcgvCPT0fclzBeRRWgsWz4KLtx5zZH8Pni3xfnvg3z6K1k61UKVpV66LEJI4M6nsd7Uoqlt8cHzp9KoYW43gcXcNypId7hJwzbj9t2rkGZw1IpUb5W85w/s1600/BSN-SUPER7-logo.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX92is79C7bwKxEkw2B5UvufDcgvCPT0fclzBeRRWgsWz4KLtx5zZH8Pni3xfnvg3z6K1k61UKVpV66LEJI4M6nsd7Uoqlt8cHzp9KoYW43gcXcNypId7hJwzbj9t2rkGZw1IpUb5W85w/s200/BSN-SUPER7-logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515364943103449330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">after all, everybody does a top ten, right? So that's all part of the hook--a weekly show, therefore "the best seven plays from the last seven days", and not just one more top ten list. In two weeks, we've already seen some remarkable plays and players from football, soccer, and volleyball featured, with plenty more to come.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Two behind-the-scenes facts to share with you, dear SHOUT reader: one--we can't make the highlights from thin air, so the seven you see may not match the WOW of something you saw in person at a Big South event, but if the host school doesn't feed us the video, we have nothing to use...two--in addition to the hook of the alliterative "Super 7" and the tie to a show every seven days, the number was selected to confirm to the membership that, unlike many other things that are done here, not everyone was guaranteed equal footing--ten </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">highlight slots for ten schools might have implied to some that there was a 1:1 correspondence, while starting with seven openings for ten members makes it clear that not all can make the cut.<br /><br />Two editions of the Big South Super 7 have already appeared at <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/">BigSouthSports.com</a> and at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/bigsouthsports">YouTube.com/BigSouthSports</a>, so check them out to see what we're up to these days.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Also already into its season is "<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Big South FLIPPED: On Campus</span>".</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzH4OzF8Pg7iR8rqpRUNFJcmlrWQjVVEL1ag9jz0IAAj-_n4FdEphuyKOV5iAUPmNMTAVYxOiS7gsgooBtsXJF7uk5PJQmc4qsVJ3FfJlCerpW23gMy6TR0NNJGqB_8sYc3l7mqODWt7E/s1600/BSN-FLIPPED-logo.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzH4OzF8Pg7iR8rqpRUNFJcmlrWQjVVEL1ag9jz0IAAj-_n4FdEphuyKOV5iAUPmNMTAVYxOiS7gsgooBtsXJF7uk5PJQmc4qsVJ3FfJlCerpW23gMy6TR0NNJGqB_8sYc3l7mqODWt7E/s200/BSN-FLIPPED-logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515364952578941090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I know, it may sound like there's a lot going on in that title, but there's a method to the madness. First off, all the program titles are going to have "Big South" in there for sure, because the branding of your content is important in a time with internet video bouncing all over the world. Next is the seemingly obvious </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">part, with "FLIPPED" -- because we gave each member school a Flip camera to capture video for this effort, and the Flip has become shorthand for that immediate, first-person video experience. So why keep going with "On Campus"? Why not stop with FLIPPED? To leave no doubt: these stories would not be told from afar; these stories would come from the source; these stories would bring the viewer closer to the experiences and atmosphere surrounding the student-athletes, athletic programs, and campus environments.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Already we have seen some interesting images and experiences shared with us this way: the first stop on the Big South Back-to-School Tour at Liberty, the help from Buccaneer football players for move-in day at CSU, the fun with volleyball players interacting with students at UNC Asheville, plus a chance to join a road trip with Asheville men's soccer (hop on the bus to Kentucky). These editions are only the beginning of what should be a fun way to learn more about our student athletes and athletic programs.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The third new show has not yet made its first appearance, but should make its debut nex</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">t week: "<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Big South Coach Camp</span>". </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LqThdduZ9p8x11RUJL1zn0TdhCqq3zvN4WtA4BccspNBnVmP2thG5J10ShzPtHQdyRW8y9Oct8bhc3VXQ3opuQV4WKj-H8UzJRC8p8IZ464bs3410IDALEi9wVGCSVaKCTGW0luVSZ8/s1600/BSN-COACHCAMP-logo.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LqThdduZ9p8x11RUJL1zn0TdhCqq3zvN4WtA4BccspNBnVmP2thG5J10ShzPtHQdyRW8y9Oct8bhc3VXQ3opuQV4WKj-H8UzJRC8p8IZ464bs3410IDALEi9wVGCSVaKCTGW0luVSZ8/s200/BSN-COACHCAMP-logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515364956643189266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> No, this will not be another one of the traditional coach shows as you've become familiar with over the years. "Coach Camp" will engage a different coach from one of our member schools each week, as they share a few observations on the team, on leadership, and other newsworthy topics from a personal perspective--and then wrap up with a simple tip or example for improving your own game or coaching techniques. We have high hopes for this one as well.<br /><br />So each week, the Big South Network should provide...</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">--a healthy selection of live streaming competition (especially so on the weekends),<br />--solid support programming, such as the Round-Ups and Viewers Guides,<br />--and a weekly slate of original content.<br /><br />Roughly speaking, you should see something like this for your fall sports calendar:<br />Monday-- all collected events from weekend competition archived for On Demand viewing,<br />Tuesday-- LIVE football coaches teleconference in the morning (archived in the afternoon), plus the "Best of Big South FLIPPED" compilation show from clips posted that week,<br />Wednesday-- BSN Viewers Guide goes live, Big South Super 7 gets posted,<br />Thursday-- Big South Coach Camp gets posted,<br />Friday/Saturday/Sunday-- our biggest days for live events.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjmBQxwibnO_Pp7cifvLkMSQTsfLD_Crix56yrgtyJXm3C89GKLMsB6uOjy-AAc6DpZBH6udoH_GrL4AwXvPwqSvjSiUskvXTXYwRWokm6MGoF5d0lfGlPFfunnmRZmn3JpMfo88r0K8/s1600/Webset-quad2+copy.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjmBQxwibnO_Pp7cifvLkMSQTsfLD_Crix56yrgtyJXm3C89GKLMsB6uOjy-AAc6DpZBH6udoH_GrL4AwXvPwqSvjSiUskvXTXYwRWokm6MGoF5d0lfGlPFfunnmRZmn3JpMfo88r0K8/s200/Webset-quad2+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515366249176523890" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What do you think? Personally, I think it should all be a lot of fun--but only if you watch, so be sure to keep up with the goings-on at the Big South Network. Plus of course we'd love it if you subscribed/liked/followed us in our various outlets:<br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.BigSouthSports.com">www.BigSouthSports.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.Twitter.com/BigSouthSports">www.Twitter.com/BigSouthSports</a><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.Facebook.com/BigSouthSports">www.Facebook.com/BigSouthSports</a><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.YouTube.com/BigSouthSports">www.YouTube.com/BigSouthSports</a><br /><br />Lots of fun match-ups out there this week -- enjoy the games! SHOUT--out.<br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-16850508057527795662010-09-03T15:36:00.004-04:002010-09-03T16:55:24.798-04:00Football Football Football<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Okay, it is finally time for the football fanatics to get their game on.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">In fact, we've already started -- how about PC getting ESPN SportsCenter's Top Play for Thursday? Yeah, not just in the Top Ten, but the number one ranking for the day. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">If you haven't seen it yet, <a href="http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5527327&categoryid=2378529">try this link to ESPN Video</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">There's a pretty good chance it will make this week's "Big South Super7"--more on that in a moment.</span><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So you want to know a little bit more about what to expect, gridiron-wise?<br />Of course you do...</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Here are the team-by-team preview capsules from <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/">BigSouthSports.com</a>:<br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25301&SPID=1985&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=204987598">Liberty</a><br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25301&SPID=1985&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=204987065">Stony Brook</a><br /><a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25301&SPID=1985&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=204986330">Coastal Carolina</a><br /><a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25301&SPID=1985&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=204985672">Charleston Southern</a><br /><a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25301&SPID=1985&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=204984818">Gardner-Webb</a><br /><a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25301&SPID=1985&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=204984597">VMI</a><br /><a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25301&SPID=1985&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=204984261">Presbyterian College</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=25301&SPID=1985&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=204987256">And here's where you'll get the Conference's notes for the week one games (link).</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">But hey, you say, I'm a REAL fanatic -- I need plenty more to go on for my football fix!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Okay, gotcha covered:</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=204971105">The 2010 Big South MEDIA GUIDE</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=204985793">This week's football coaches teleconference</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=204983778">This week's Royal Purple Round-Up</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">...and the mother ship for all possible things Big South Football, fresh off the assembly line for the 2010 season:<br /><a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=204983593"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">THE BIG SOUTH FOOTBALL MEDIA CENTER</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span></strong> </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Whew -- that should be enough to get you connected & get going for Opening Weekend... at least I hope so.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">As alluded to above, we have a new regular highlight package for you as part of our BSN fall programming. Be sure to check out our new feature on the Big South Network: <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?&db_oem_id=4800&id=720909&DB_MENU_ID=&SPSID=&SPID=&DB_OEM_ID=4800">the <strong>Big South Super7</strong> -- here's a link to the first edition </a>(since Blogger is fighting back on embedding the video here for you, darn it...)</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Enjoy the games, everybody -- and have a fun/safe/happy Labor Day Weekend!</span></p>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-42234453794475189262010-08-25T11:24:00.004-04:002010-08-25T12:21:43.699-04:00Of Shopping, Streaming, and Scoring<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So much going on around here, I almost didn't get the chance to SHOUT about it!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbV2v7W_rhfDIpfyvdulix2PMbe9BQesG1UnJ8lcCJOQqhSXXuuLWK9DCibFllSlKSY87w8cK7fenw9h4JaKF0p0ACjtpR4U19l0Ft4Iqsyi_CrHlIvE4iMIIEYd3LWFSNLPMIDs59DA/s1600/StoreFeaturegfx.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 131px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbV2v7W_rhfDIpfyvdulix2PMbe9BQesG1UnJ8lcCJOQqhSXXuuLWK9DCibFllSlKSY87w8cK7fenw9h4JaKF0p0ACjtpR4U19l0Ft4Iqsyi_CrHlIvE4iMIIEYd3LWFSNLPMIDs59DA/s200/StoreFeaturegfx.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509381801863008674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">First, let me get the shameless plugs out of the way, because we're all fired up about having a <a href="http://www.bigsouthstore.com/">NEW Big South Online Store</a> up and running. This site really does have the most apparel and merchandise for the Conference and its members that you can find in one location anywhere, which explains the excitement.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Anybody can do shirts and hats, but we start there and keep on going: backpacks, jackets, decals, jerseys, pens, umbrellas, etc. All with the logo of your favorite school from the Big South, or the logo of the Conference itself, of course. Many thanks go out to our merchandising partners at Advanced-Online.com for making the new Online Store possible.<br /><br />Give it a look, do a little browsing, you'll probably find something you like!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Okay, so probably enough about the Big South Store already...let's move right along to the <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml?&&&&DB_OEM_ID=4800">Big South Network</a> and what's shaking for the fall...<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4fXzjfs-QW2iX9hAgDc3wiUQ_M6-avSOLg4t46TV83pQt_4pLjgJ5F_uo21eSIaDfT_bGzc_LTrz4hWN-tOhGLt40odc-Hme8xu4tgGhflwhxlkYz2_4lcR8uymNyNbSsTHuNeqT-yo/s1600/BSNLOGO+copy.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 96px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4fXzjfs-QW2iX9hAgDc3wiUQ_M6-avSOLg4t46TV83pQt_4pLjgJ5F_uo21eSIaDfT_bGzc_LTrz4hWN-tOhGLt40odc-Hme8xu4tgGhflwhxlkYz2_4lcR8uymNyNbSsTHuNeqT-yo/s200/BSNLOGO+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509381813478260370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Naturally we have the full array of <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml?&&&&DB_OEM_ID=4800">live streaming events</a> you've come to expect from the Big South Network: nearly 200 for the fall sports, with plenty of football, volleyball, and soccer (men's and women's) for everybody.<br /><br />Beyond that, we'll still bring you the Royal Purple Round-Ups with host Matt Hogue, the weekly football teleconferences, and our guides to what's happening with the BSN.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But new this year, we'll have more specialty programming, with fresh video from our member schools: <span style="font-style: italic;">Big South Coach Camp</span>, with short coaching interviews and insights, including tips from each week's coach on his/her sport...the <span style="font-style: italic;">Big South Super Seven</span>, featuring "the best 7 plays from the last 7 days"--our very own weekly highlight show...and one we're really excited about (<a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?&db_oem_id=4800&id=719387&DB_MENU_ID=&SPSID=&SPID=&BIO_PLAYER_ID=&DB_OEM_ID=4800">and one that's already started</a>)--<span style="font-style: italic;">Big South "Flipped": On Campus</span>.<br /><br />We armed each of our schools with a Flip Camera and the instructions to find fresh happenings and learn new stories about the events on campus and around the athletic departments of their institutions. We want "Flipped" to take us inside our schools to see what's going on outside the field of play for our student-athletes and coaches. This is one show that could go in a million different directions, and we want to see where it takes us</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">!<br /><br />Now let's get to the action...the fall season has begun, and although things seems to begin slowly, events will quickly accelerate to full speed.<br /><br />Right now, <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4800&SPID=2022&SPSID=25860">women's soccer</a> has most teams just a game or two into the young season, while at the same time, it's been exhibition play for <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4800&SPID=2024&SPSID=25877">men's soccer</a> and <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4800&SPID=1986&SPSID=25322">volleyball</a>. Those two sports join women's soccer and get into it for real within the next few days, and then <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4800&SPID=1985&SPSID=25301">football</a> gets its turn in the spotlight, with PC in the first game for any Big South team this year (9/2 at WFU), and all the others kicking off with the first Saturday of play on 9/4.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If you look to the preseason polls for any guidance, here are the favorites going into the season:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Football -- Liberty</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Volleyball -- Coastal Carolina</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Men's Soccer -- High Point</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Women's Soccer -- Liberty</span><br /><br />Of course, those things have a way of changing, but that's where expectations are (according to coaches and media representatives, anyway).<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdothNZ7qju5kI9iS8GQcMOcDLqPFEcqPAoYV9JGAIwsa6SACUKWGueficINXXhnuUwABge2YvINTNjQ-JaygMfFGFuP4ezADB2YSxCqnHUX_CeBAXSd2lgm50KMc89Ht7G9iHk05b02k/s1600/BSC+helmet-ball.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdothNZ7qju5kI9iS8GQcMOcDLqPFEcqPAoYV9JGAIwsa6SACUKWGueficINXXhnuUwABge2YvINTNjQ-JaygMfFGFuP4ezADB2YSxCqnHUX_CeBAXSd2lgm50KMc89Ht7G9iHk05b02k/s200/BSC+helmet-ball.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509381822151558706" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Before I wrap up, a big SHOUT-out to former LU running back <span style="font-weight: bold;">Samkon Gado</span> for not only signing recently with the Titans, but then hitting the end zone twice on Monday Night Football for Tennessee in preseason play. Gado is one of about ten former Big South players in camps right now hoping to hang on through the cuts to make their respective NFL squads (familiar names like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Thigpen, Teal, Simpson, Simpkins</span>, and more). Good luck to you all!<br /><br />It's "go" time now, so look for SHOUT to ramp back up for another big season ahead...and that's SHOUT--out.<br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-41667575104161412052010-08-03T08:56:00.005-04:002010-08-03T10:16:28.872-04:00Big Bid-ness<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=204971995">Football Media Day</a> is behind us, and the calendar page has </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">turned to </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">August...so grab onto whatever glimmers of summer you have left, because we are on the stretch run to the fall sports blitz now.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRN2Zf68M8SiAT0EnPSItTG3OL_ShFs_eQHuMZgYSQym_6cTI0cK6tfLwXghWrlwraB2wvz9sCjJ56llTkLvXTgiGLLIYUZ6Hbn6dTQQISSoDywOQ-6OV0ijF2XcvQiv-IR-WS8V_YzMs/s1600/MDpic3.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRN2Zf68M8SiAT0EnPSItTG3OL_ShFs_eQHuMZgYSQym_6cTI0cK6tfLwXghWrlwraB2wvz9sCjJ56llTkLvXTgiGLLIYUZ6Hbn6dTQQISSoDywOQ-6OV0ijF2XcvQiv-IR-WS8V_YzMs/s200/MDpic3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501183420853017282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">There were plenty of discussion points from the sessions last week in Charlotte for all our football members and attending media representatives, but the number one topic was clear: THE BID.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In case you've been ignoring the football talk thus far, this is the big turning point year for the Big South as a football conference: the season that the Conference champion is assured of a position in the FCS Playoffs.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8no7Oyad_uJGMPb24_IJgdbfJuGhlD3eEebJSjh2oPAQqpqbkEMjMmzyS1LxooIMr0tdQ3t-DwrZ9bsr33e7trZO94suEa4K0Y0O_aRXXJeS1hV178Oal8vTt5tmxEZV2tAfA0QBMF18/s1600/10Football_M1c.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8no7Oyad_uJGMPb24_IJgdbfJuGhlD3eEebJSjh2oPAQqpqbkEMjMmzyS1LxooIMr0tdQ3t-DwrZ9bsr33e7trZO94suEa4K0Y0O_aRXXJeS1hV178Oal8vTt5tmxEZV2tAfA0QBMF18/s200/10Football_M1c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501183551294970146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> The Big</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> South doesn't even have ten years under its belt when it comes to play on the gridiron and does not yet have the championship pedigrees established by some of its neighbors, but now a seat at the table is reserved for the Big South Conference Football Champion, and that is indeed a big deal.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Coastal Carolina snared an at-large berth a few years ago. More recently, Liberty has seen a couple of well-deserving squads get snubbed when the invites went out. In all, it's not much on which to hang one's helmet, but a new game begins now.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbH0ff1Cd_QNi2WcmeIO1zg7m1TGLG2abOhPkwx9G0d-DIVI0tbPAIIA7xnbtzY3rkXMyupIdb3kW3ehREoO11TQGKS9aVKMFT1eN0qxk-Bm-WUyfFnzFPwyRoYxHu_89yry5-WEeybYA/s1600/NCAA_FCS_hp.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 46px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbH0ff1Cd_QNi2WcmeIO1zg7m1TGLG2abOhPkwx9G0d-DIVI0tbPAIIA7xnbtzY3rkXMyupIdb3kW3ehREoO11TQGKS9aVKMFT1eN0qxk-Bm-WUyfFnzFPwyRoYxHu_89yry5-WEeybYA/s200/NCAA_FCS_hp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501183423465772898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The coaches and players had a variety of reactions to the new scenario, but all echoed one sentiment--this will be good for the Big South Conference. That is to say, not just good for this y</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ear's teams, but in perpetuity. The new FCS playoff format includes 20 teams (up from 16), and for the first time, it's guaranteed that at least one will be from the Big South. Yes, read that carefully, I sa</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">id "at least one"...it may seem like a leap of faith, and that may likely be true for year one, but with more teams involved and one team locked, it actually creates greater possibilities of an additional qualified at-large team making the field (like the scenario last year with Liberty & Stony Brook). A whole new line of thought, right?</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQi1j56THN_PTR2xYyOtpE1s7QZFEx-RFxC1fpGWDlnEZ1tT13L_HFiw3qbaYhND1VY3sqwQ-CZyiUnJ1EzTcfXN-0XbCoFAmQeCfHZpzVwm6Wg5THKWYhvjmo-n5A3ciohWUIl2g_dJU/s1600/MDpic1.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQi1j56THN_PTR2xYyOtpE1s7QZFEx-RFxC1fpGWDlnEZ1tT13L_HFiw3qbaYhND1VY3sqwQ-CZyiUnJ1EzTcfXN-0XbCoFAmQeCfHZpzVwm6Wg5THKWYhvjmo-n5A3ciohWUIl2g_dJU/s200/MDpic1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501183407972983906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Among the interesting takes on the new dynamic...<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GWU Coach Steve Patton</span> suggested this was a "put up or shut up" time for the Conference, that after years of working to get this qualifier, the Big South needs to demonstrate its worthiness.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">CCU Coach David Bennett</span> said that rivals wouldn't be able to use the lack of a bid against Big South teams anymore, but added that getting a game is just a step--that hosting a game would be the next rung on that ladder.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CSU Coach Jay Mills</span> believed that it wouldn't change week-to-week readiness or emphasis for teams, but that the automatic bid would have a lot of impact on the thinking and preparations in the off-season.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">LU Coach Danny Rocco</span> assured us that the goals of his team were no different than ever--that the Conference title is always their main target, but that the validation of the playoffs would make it that much sweeter if reached.<br /><br />And still more from all the coaches and players involved...you can hear them share their thoughts on the automatic bid and the season ahead, the preseason poll and All-Conference team, last year's results, and other stories of life on and off the field, with our Media Day video coverage. Right now you'll find the Media Luncheon speeches from all the coaches at the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/bigsouthsports">Big South YouTube page</a>, plus the Streaming Interview Room sessions from each team on the <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?&db_oem_id=4800&DB_MENU_ID=&SPSID=&SPID=&DB_OEM_ID=4800">Big South Network</a> (on the "Press Box" channel). The Preseason Preview videos with team capsules and All-Conference team selections can be found in both locations!<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kZkoxlxK_81_zJPs09o9wmLZd8zI2bpI_uK1Qxm0dnqKmMnKWfKD11GecJJ9MXhF2yxlYKn3UO5kbU7q8j8GAoy-iqNZ-PuuIA8uJXK7iE8SpSfKRfEo2FcD5iJFfH21TjBvMLv-ECM/s1600/MDpic2.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kZkoxlxK_81_zJPs09o9wmLZd8zI2bpI_uK1Qxm0dnqKmMnKWfKD11GecJJ9MXhF2yxlYKn3UO5kbU7q8j8GAoy-iqNZ-PuuIA8uJXK7iE8SpSfKRfEo2FcD5iJFfH21TjBvMLv-ECM/s200/MDpic2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501183411593568146" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If you're still looking for more once you've finished going through all that, don't worry, we collected more great sound from all our visiting coaches and players: thoughts on role models, leadership, and more--and we'll be revealing more of those interviews as we approach the season and progress toward the 2010 FCS Playoffs. Should be a fun year...<br /><br />Many thanks to everyone from our football schools for making the Media Day event a success--the coaches, the players, the athletics directors, the sports information staffs, and also a special nod of gratitude for the football-hungry fans who have been following all the Big South developments. Blow the whistle--let's go! And that's SHOUT...out...<br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-23605804065557660882010-07-28T12:07:00.004-04:002010-07-28T13:30:59.761-04:00Media Day Blitz<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDHuqdk4WVZ9yfEv_R_khCTmRnUxPRPtGLM3CB0v4FjewY8dkWpJpoCbz8r4oHR1w-jj9_FB_H5xBKX136ixAFgTCCsOcGPFnNSDBmjt1Md_TMcJacpmA-_12LjCS6QMdaKUIX5ZWnns/s1600/BSC+helmet-ball.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDHuqdk4WVZ9yfEv_R_khCTmRnUxPRPtGLM3CB0v4FjewY8dkWpJpoCbz8r4oHR1w-jj9_FB_H5xBKX136ixAFgTCCsOcGPFnNSDBmjt1Md_TMcJacpmA-_12LjCS6QMdaKUIX5ZWnns/s200/BSC+helmet-ball.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499009816553736482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">'Tis the season...for Football Media Days.<br /><br />Surely you've seen the festivities working their way through college football lately--the monster-size conferences get the most attention for their events, but they definitely don't have an exclusive on such things.<br /><br />This week the <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com">Big South</a> stages its annual launch/gathering/showcase in Charlotte, and football fanatics throughout the Conference will get their fix as we go into the last month before teams begin play.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here's what Thursday's <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=204971526">2010 Big South Football Media Day</a> will bring:<br /><br /> --first off, meetings...in the morning, the football coaches will gather to go over issues, followed by a joint session of those coaches and their athletics directors;<br /><br />--next up, lunch...with the morning sessions concluded, the focus turns to a banquet hall--but it's not just about the food;</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <br />--featured presentations...the centerpiece of the luncheon is the formal release of the Big South's Preseason Poll and All-Conference Team (as shared in a preview video produced last week...so I know all those answers already, but I can't share for another 24 hours, sorry)...PLUS the coaches will each get a brief opportunity to address the room and the preseason players of the year (offense/defense) will have short interviews on stage;<br /><br />--free-for-all frenzy...okay, so it's not really all that frenzied, but a lot happens in the couple of hours after the luncheon's conclusion, with basically three rooms abuzz: the main media room, where individual outlets will all be collecting sports information materials and grabbing lots of interviews...the player interview room, where the Conference will ask questions of the team representatives for use during the season...and the streaming broadcast room, where Matt Hogue (fresh from leading the luncheon) will put questions to all the coaches and players for a <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml?&&&&DB_OEM_ID=4800">FREE live video stream on the Big South Network</a>...plus I expect plenty </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">of mingling and interviewing in the halls, too.<br /><br />Catch the live stream if you can--and look for updates coming out on our <a href="http://www.twitter.com/bigsouthsports">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/bigsouthsports">Facebook</a> pages as well, where you can also submit YOUR questions for the coaches and players <span style="font-style: italic;">(and please do so -- we'd love to get the answers you're looking for)</span>.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGs2c17ZIvnJ7Nq2lh4ptFDaQI4IQj4sOpnBKAHSs0tLL60z5lwHg1giLnQqEi8ez4XqMK54TKzmAEjP_o3av7_T6MelOF4-pzy33E3hpEcMHOzFp8xrORG22lfRsOQP51-pYvsicS0A/s1600/Big+South+FOOTBALL.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGs2c17ZIvnJ7Nq2lh4ptFDaQI4IQj4sOpnBKAHSs0tLL60z5lwHg1giLnQqEi8ez4XqMK54TKzmAEjP_o3av7_T6MelOF4-pzy33E3hpEcMHOzFp8xrORG22lfRsOQP51-pYvsicS0A/s200/Big+South+FOOTBALL.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499009824067819618" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />And then sometime late in the afternoon, visitors will depart, the buzz will hush, and life will return to a semblance of normal.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But it will be different than the day before...<br /><br />...because it will already be football season for those of us who have been waiting for it...(the less eager can try to hold out a few more weeks, but it won't be long now).<br /><br />Let the games begin.<br />SHOUT -- out...<br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-14858449340437044332010-07-13T10:39:00.008-04:002010-07-13T12:18:05.043-04:00All Stars to Me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWb5v_4svLCiwa-EIVKR3zw9TWrmGcQxe8nbXngCzPtxgXCwR4yzqM10OL3VDF6Rg2US2JlpMaE4kqBh7KTmN4geGHOpbNA603NfP7379cTyARVTRDB4sALpDsXhVuYAy3mr53IS1RvE/s1600/BASEBALL.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWb5v_4svLCiwa-EIVKR3zw9TWrmGcQxe8nbXngCzPtxgXCwR4yzqM10OL3VDF6Rg2US2JlpMaE4kqBh7KTmN4geGHOpbNA603NfP7379cTyARVTRDB4sALpDsXhVuYAy3mr53IS1RvE/s200/BASEBALL.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493419513158252018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Today is the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, saluting many of the best active players in the sport. The roster even includes a former Big South player, which makes it all the more special. That said, it should be noted that while fame and talent are relative, everybody capable of playing pro ball is a "star" in his own right. And while that may sound broadly optimistic or simplistic, I feel there's more to it than that.<br /><br />So before I dig deeper into the subject of the Big South in pro baseball, a few digressions:<br />--remember when this was really the "All-Star Break"? It was a chance for a collective breath from an unending wheel of games, and the only ones who lamented the gap were sportscasters seeking content. Now it seems like the wheel never stops.<br />--while not as diluted as the NFL Pro Bowl pool seems to get, the overall collection of players that winds up involved in the game often feels like less than the game's true elite, thanks to a combination of injuries (both real and perceived), the compulsion for including every team, and the desire to get as many players in the game as possible (which, at its worst, produced an extra-inning TIE once the benches were laid bare). Taken separately, these things may appear logical; combined, they can be less than ideal.<br />--determining the World Series home field advantage via an isolated game played months before and likely resolved by players not involved in the championship makes about as much sense as setting Fall Classic start times based on the number of runs scored on Opening Day...one has nothing to do with the other. Would you do it based on the Home Run Derby results? They're both exhibition contests, so what's the difference?<br /><br />And as for the "star" question, I fall back on some things from my days working in minor league baseball. Try to remember that everybody you watch on these rosters was all-city/all-state/all-star/all-conference somewhere, that each of them was chosen over countless other players, and that all of them have survived multiple cuts to get to the level they are playing at--from the lowest of the minors to the pinnacle of being MLB All-Stars. Getting paid to play ball shows talent greater than most...and of course, getting recognized as one of the best of the best demonstrates exceptional abilities and true GAME. Anybody who can do this for a living has certainly earned a modicum of respect for his game...not necessarily adulation and mind-boggling riches, although those seem to come with the package anymore.<br /><br />Therefore, I offer an open SHOUT-out to all the players who made their way up through the Big South to the professional ranks--guys like Liberty's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Shawn Teufel</span>, who went from this year's Conference Championship tournament to the Tigers organization--playing first with the Connecticut Tigers and now the West Michigan Whitecaps...guys like VMI's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Michael Bowman</span>, who got drafted from the Keydets two years ago and pitched in the AA All-Star Game last night...guys like UNC Asheville RHP <span style="font-weight: bold;">Justin Schumer</span>, who will get his shot now that he's signed a free agent deal with the Giants organization....and guys like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ty Wigginton</span>, American League All-Star.<br /><br />Wigginton, who played his college ball for the UNC Asheville Bulldogs, got the lone Baltimore roster spot on the AL squad. He's been traded and cut multiple times in his career, but keeps plugging away, now with his 5th big-league team. It's not surprising that at 32, he gets labels like "journeyman infielder," but just don't forget to include "All-Star" as well. <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-all-star-ty-wigginton-020100712,0,7434286.story">Here's a great profile--including his college years--from the Baltimore Sun.</a><br /><br />So catch the game, watch Wigginton when he gets in at some point, and enjoy a smile for a player who's had a wild ride in a successful career.<br /><br />And yes, there are a great many more players from all our member teams throughout professional baseball, I was just picking a few examples of individuals at different points in their careers (so please don't hit me with "what about <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kevin Slowey</span>, or x, or y, or z...").<br /><br />Before I go, here's a nod to some extra special All-Stars: <a href="http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=204967761">our Big South Conference Scholar Athletes of the Year!</a> Just announced today, these selections embody the full nature of what it means to be a "student-athlete"...and both are from Coastal Carolina University--male winner <span style="font-weight: bold;">Austin Fleet</span> (baseball) and female winner <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jill Nyhof</span> (volleyball). It's worth pointing out that the last time both winners came from the same school was just two years ago--and it was also CCU. Congratulations to both deserving recipients on a tremendous year in competition and in the classroom!<br /><br />No better way to end it than that, so that's SHOUT--out.<br /></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-12278262421067297582010-07-02T16:03:00.004-04:002010-07-02T16:10:19.759-04:00Quick Hits for a Holiday Weekend<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Gotta share this with you, if you haven't spotted it yet--</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="UIStory_Message">VMI alum Tim Maypray puts his speed, vision, and reaction time in full effect to return a missed field goal for a touchdown over 120 yards (this is the CFL, after all)!!! Just one great moment from a 54-51 overtime thriller won by Maypray's Saskatchewan Roughriders on CFL opening night (July 1st).<br /><br /><a href="http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5348179&categoryid=2378529">His play is #4, about 1:18 into the video...</a></span> <br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br />In other news for the Big South in the pro ranks, Art Parakhouski from Radford will play on the Boston Celtics' Summer League team, trying to work his way into an NBA job.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Great job, Tim...good luck, Art...and here's hoping everyone out there has a safe and enjoyable Independence Day/weekend holiday celebration ------SHOUT--out.</span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-59270491697346242682010-06-30T13:34:00.004-04:002010-06-30T14:06:49.651-04:00Transitions<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Greetings, Big South friends, fans, family, and followers...Happy New Year!</span><br /><br />Tonight marks an annual turning point--and I'm not talking about NBA free agency here.<br /><br />With the end of June and the start of July, it's the functional transition point from one year's calendar to the next. For the Big South, we move from one fiscal year to the next, but it also represents a definable moment where "this year" becomes "last year" and "next year" becomes "this year"...or is that confusing?<br /><br />By and large, it means we can do a little less looking back and a little more looking forward.<br />After all, July may be the thick of summer, but before the month is out we </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">will hit Big South Football Media Day. And once you're there, it's a full-tilt countdown to the season itself--for all the fall sports, really--and the whole thing is rolling again.<br /><br />So there is plenty on the planning tables here...stepping up things for the Big South Network with an effort toward more original programming to support the huge number of live events that we will again have available...improving the interactive content quality through this blog, plus our main Facebook and Twitter pages, and possible additions to that social networking family...and of course an overall commitment to making our events and championships the best they can be, along with enthusiastic support for our branding and mission: Developing Leaders Through Athletics.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Some of you are bound to ask about our membership...no, no changes for this year (Texas wouldn't return our phone calls--we thought they were ready to move...<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">and if you're new to SHOUT, that qualifies as wild sarcasm, so please don't take that kind of remark seriously</span></span>).<br /><br />In fact, Presbyterian College still has one more transition year for most sports--the final year of the NCAA's lengthy process. PC will be eligible again in its "fast-tracked" sports (softball and men's tennis), but any potential championships in other sports will have to wait another season. As for Campbell University, the Fighting Camels will play one more year in the Atlantic Sun before a welcome return to the Big South next year.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Put another way, no sports will have more than nine teams competing for titles this year (2010-11)...but next year (2011-12) we'll see plenty with <span style="font-weight: bold;">eleven</span> squads fighting for the crown.<br /><br />Before we go, a nod from Big South SHOUT to the South Carolina Gamecocks for winning the College World Series and the NCAA Baseball Championship...USC has been waiting for that one a long time--and they had to go through the Myrtle Beach Super Regional and Coastal Carolina to get to Omaha. CCU played the Gamecocks tough in two games, but came up just short. In the end, we see how strong USC was, but that also speaks volumes for the kind of team the Chanticleers put on the field this past season. Good work by both teams!</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnfCd4ipHU_OoHzgNymMi5o6vlTCbvKzbCFC5c7xaoBMHiiDLqWifDZKYRGysuo7z_ByiZvt0siKRB_7eDuQ4vQQQvihTk8plJ3jVASGykAg3mpnaLwaGXiOcVOe2tMSc4c5Oam3ON58/s1600/6-33-CC1701D.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnfCd4ipHU_OoHzgNymMi5o6vlTCbvKzbCFC5c7xaoBMHiiDLqWifDZKYRGysuo7z_ByiZvt0siKRB_7eDuQ4vQQQvihTk8plJ3jVASGykAg3mpnaLwaGXiOcVOe2tMSc4c5Oam3ON58/s200/6-33-CC1701D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488629488365453362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">Shameless plug time: <a href="http://www2.advanced-online.com/shopDetails.aspx?productCode=6-33-CC1701D">Coastal Carolina 2010 Big South Baseball Champions shirts</a> are still available through the <a href="http://www2.advanced-online.com/login.aspx?company=big&logout=1&start=1/">Big South Online Store!!!</a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> If you haven't visited the new store yet, go give it a look. Expect big things there in the upcoming year as well...</span></span></span></span><br /><br />That's my time, folks, you've been great--drive home safely. SHOUT--out...<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span><br /></span></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-13652040172568176322010-06-18T15:16:00.002-04:002010-06-18T17:38:50.720-04:00Wrapping Up--or Starting Over?<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Truth is (regarding the title question), it's a little of both...when a season draws to a close, it's easy to think of it in terms of reviews, wraps, and retrospectives--and there's always a need for that kind of thing--but it remains a fact of the modern athletics industry (collegiate or professional) that there is no longer an "off-season"...only PRE-season.<br /><br />When we last left SHOUT at the previous post, we were in the thick of the Conference Baseball Championship Tournament. Since then, top-seeded Coastal Carolina did indeed take that title, albeit with somewhat more drama than an undefeated Big South season would imply. Liberty fought CCU for that crown, and although the Flames had a good overall record, they wound up on the outside of the NCAA bubble looking in...<br /><br />As for the Chanticleers, they hosted the Myrtle Beach Regional, which saw the ouster of NC State, Stony Brook (our football associate member--hello, Seawolves!), and Coastal nemesis College of Charleston. The CCU-CoC duels wound up being wild rides with high scores, multiple ties, lead changes, extra innings, arguments, and more thrills. In the end, the Chants survived and kept their #4 national seed (a first for the Big South) alive into the Super Regionals to face another Palmetto State rival: South Carolina.<br /><br />Many of you are aware, but here's the quick rehash so we're all on the same page: many years ago, Coastal was part of the USC system and was under that umbrella. The familiarity between the two led to a similarity between mascots and a sharing of team colors (since dispatched and replaced by CCU). The relationship shifted when the kids wanted to move out of the house, so to speak, as Coastal broke from the USC network and went on its own. Aside from the exceptionally rare forced/accidental pairing (not set scheduling), the two had not met in competition since. Voila, instant subtext for the Super Regional. Add in a little grousing from the Gamecock faithful on how ticket selling was handled, and you know you've got some bitterness off the field.<br /><br />Meanwhile, on the field, you had two of the nation's top teams squaring off, and the match-up was indeed a quality one. The games had plenty of intrigue, as many of CCU's post-season efforts did. Unfortunately for Coastal, the "dream season" would end with a two-game exit against USC rather than with a trip to Omaha. A shame, really, but after all, it was still a tremendous season--and only eight squads get to make that trek to Rosenblatt Stadium.<br /><br />But it's not ALL baseball, not with the conclusion to the Outdoor Track & Field season happening in grand fashion at the NCAA Championships in Eugene. Seven Big South student-athletes competed at the event, all doing their programs proud, but none more so than Liberty running star Sam Chelanga. The distance specialist dominated the 10K race to claim HIS SECOND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR (going with his individual title in cross country). Before coming back to Liberty, he had a shot at another giant win, but finished the meet with a runner-up finish in the 5K...so close and yet...<br /><br />We naturally salute Chelanga for that feat and for being the Big South Conference Male Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year, along with his female counterpart for the OTFAY honor: UNC Asheville's Natalie Pearson. Great seasons for both competitors and well-deserved honors also--so consider our SHOUT-out just the icing on the cake, okay?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Yeah, so there's the wrap-up...now what?<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Well, since you asked...would you believe we're already more than halfway through June?</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The month began with the annual Big South Spring Meetings, where lots of policy adjustments and decisions affecting the coming year are made. A number of other meetings dot the summer schedule, but the tent pole holding everything up between the end of one academic-athletic calendar and the next is Football Media Day. You may not believe it, but that's mere weeks from now, just over a month--on July 29th, and then it's full speed into fall sports...</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">oh my...anyway, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all the Dads out there...SHOUT--out!<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1024367524456198836.post-68556363007711936372010-05-28T10:54:00.003-04:002010-05-28T11:58:49.440-04:00A Study in Contrast and the Sun Delay<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sorry for not having time to fire off a SHOUT yesterday from the Baseball Championship, but I'm back today with more to share...<br /><br />Gotta share quick stories on the two games I worked Thursday on the Big South Network, doing play-by-play for the video stream. Talk about two fascinating and different ballgames...whew...<br /><br />The 3pm game was Coastal Carolina vs. Radford, and it was all about the bats.<br />I've seen a lot of baseball in my day, but the 2nd inning for the Coastal hitters was an amazing sight. CCU sent 14 batters to the plate, and ten men scored! Felt like we saw one of everything in that frame, and we may well have. The hitting display was impressive, and quite demonstrative of how talented and aggressive the Chanticleers can be. They built a big lead but kept the foot on the throttle, expanding it as wide as they could for as long as they could.<br /><br />So 10-0 after two and RU facing elimination...game over early?<br />Hardly.<br />No quit in the Highlanders: grand slam in the fourth, another four runs in the fifth, and surprise: it's 10-8 and a whole new ballgame for the final few innings.<br />In the end, it was 11-9 Coastal...the Chants stay unbeaten (both in the tourney and in overall Conference play this season), while the Highlanders hit the high road back home. Radford showed a lot of heart after getting blitzed up front in that game, but the hole was just too deep. A three-hour ballgame, it had 20 runs and 26 hits combined (making the result not unlike Radford's first game, a 10-8 loss to High Point: 18 runs and 24 hits).<br /><br />So clear the decks and prep the field, it's time for the nightcap with Liberty and High Point...<br />Total opposite of the last game--no runs at all in the first five innings. The pitching showdown would theoretically been a quick game as well, but with so many deep counts, walks, hit batters, and the like, the game was methodical but not efficient time-wise. That said, the hits were scattered and the pitchers were largely in control of the game...which made the first run that much more ironic: bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, HPU runner comes in to score. Oh my.... So the 1-0 score lasts from the 6th to the 9th, and then the game changes again. The Panthers got the sought-after insurance run in the top of the frame, taking a 2-0 lead in a game with runs at a dear premium (as opposed to the scoring-in-bunches approach seen just before).<br /><br />You wouldn't believe it...but here we are, bottom of the 9th--strikeout, 0-2 count on the second batter--single, HBP, HBP, and the BASES ARE LOADED, one out, bottom of the ninth...and PASSED BALL, run scores--two runners in scoring position with a one-run game!<br />Every minute that passed seemed to ramp up the drama another notch.<br />But the next two batters would go down--game over, 2-1 final, High Point defeats Liberty.<br /><br />So two games with fascinating scripts, but different stories from start to finish.<br />That's baseball, folks.<br /><br />One sidebar before I head back to the ballpark for today's action...<br />I've often said with regards to baseball (after several years working in the minor leagues), "Every time I think I've seen one of everything, I see something else." Well, Thursday night was one of those times. Early in the game, I witnessed my first "sun delay."<br />Yeah, you read it...not a rain delay or anything like that, but a sun delay.<br />You see, The Winthrop Ballpark is a wonderful facility, really it is...but it's not facing the right way, not in any traditional baseball sense, anyway. The setting sun shoots right into the face of the place--right at the hitters, the fans, the press box, etc. To counteract that problem, a huge wall was built in center field years ago as a super-sized batter's eye. Okay, but yesterday the angle was <span style="font-style: italic;">just</span> right, and the sun hit the press box windows <span style="font-style: italic;">just</span> right, causing a reflective glare that was fully in the face of a pitcher standing on the mound. And so we waited...for several minutes...while the sun slowly set...changing the angle in question...and moving the reflective glare away from the mound...eventually disappearing altogether. Strange but true--the story of the sun delay.<br /><br />Back to the ballpark for me--enjoy the games, and have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend everyone--get some family time and start your summer, catch the races, do what you do, but above all, remember what the holiday commemorates, okay? And with that in mind, a quick note for Saturday:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">In honor of Memorial Day Weekend, all Military veterans and active members of the armed forces and national guard will be admitted free to Saturday's 1:00pm Big South Baseball Championship game at The Winthrop Ballpark. Immediate/accompanying family members will be admitted to the game for $5 each. </span><p></p> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sound good, don't you think? Stay safe, everybody...SHOUT--out!!!<br /></span></span>Big South Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10360746877123503021noreply@blogger.com0