Anything Can Happen Day

Time to catch up on a few subjects and run some quick hits from across the Conference, hence "Anything Can Happen Day"...if that old pop culture reference eludes you, help awaits at the end of today's post...

NFL DRAFT
Kudos to Liberty RB Rashad Jennings (pictured), selected in the 7th round by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jennings was the Big South's Offensive Player of the Year both coming into and out of the 2008 season on his way to All-American status. He joins fellow Big South alums Tyler Thigpen (CCU QB, Minnesota 2007) and Brian Johnston (GWU DE, Kansas City 2008) as 7th round selections in three consecutive seasons. The highest Big South pick remains Jerome Simpson's 2nd round selection by the Bengals last year. But wait, there's more...because after the conclusion of the Draft, Gardner-Webb WR Dobson Collins signed a free agent deal with the San Francisco 49ers. A big "congrats" SHOUT-out to Rashad & Dobson--good luck with your pro careers!

NCAA TOURNAMENTS
The recent Big South Championships mean representatives at the next level, and we know some of those match-ups now...
Women's Tennis--Winthrop will travel to Clemson again, where the Lady Eagles were ousted (4-0) by the Lady Tigers a year ago. They'll try to return the favor Friday, May 8th.
Men's Tennis--Radford (and FOUR-time Conference Player of the Year Martin Sayer, pictured at right) will play as the third seed in the Knoxville Regional, facing second seed Duke (host Tennessee has the top seed of the regional and will play fourth seed ETSU). The Highlanders will hit also hit the court Friday, May 8th.
Women's Golf--Coastal Carolina is bound for the NCAA East Regional, to be played in Gainesville, FL. There are 21 teams at the Regional, with only eight squads advancing to the next round of competition. They'll play it out May 7th-9th.

FLAME BURNING THE TRACK
Liberty's Sam Chelanga is fast--you may know that part already, considering how many races he's won and records he's set while running for the Flames (see him pictured in lead at right). But do you know what he did a few days ago in New York at the NY Road Runners Distance Carnival? Oh...he won the 10k... with a time that broke the old NCAA best time...by FIVE SECONDS (an eternity for these things)...to set the best mark in the WORLD this year at 27:28:48.
That's all...thought you should know.
Almost forgot, one more thing--he beat FIVE Olympians in that race.
Sam Chelanga, we'd salute you--if we could only catch up with you...good grief, man, that was fast!!!!

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO...
...Championships, that is...Softball will play out its final showdowns with the Big South Conference Championship in Radford, May 7-9 (all games streaming on The EDGE). Radford and Winthrop have a big leg up on the competition going in, but will they be the last two teams standing come the final day? Could be interesting... Baseball has three weeks before we know who clinches a berth in the Regionals, but Liberty and Winthrop will be among the teams giving Coastal Carolina a firm challenge this time around. They'll play out the double-elimination bracket May 19-23 at Asheville's McCormick Field (UNCA will be the host school for the event at the minor league park, but the Bulldogs are not expected to make the eight-team field).

GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN
The Big South Conference family lost a member this week, always a sad thing to note...but this passing seems especially poignant given the Big South's 25th Anniversary celebration: Conference co-founder George Christenberry, President Emeritus of Augusta State University, died last week at age 93. Dr. Christenberry, an inaugural member of the Big South Hall of Fame, was the first Conference President, and the Big South's highest academic honor for student-athletes bears his name. He leaves a remarkable legacy in education and holds a permanent place of honor for all of us in the Big South Conference.

I'll wrap the news and notes for now--and turn things over to this week's "On The EDGE" for the scoop on what's coming next for our week in video streaming...

Okay, okay, you've been patient...
"Anything Can Happen Day" was the Wednesday theme of...

The Mickey Mouse Club:
M-I-C (see you real soon), K-E-Y (why? because we like you), M-O-U-S-EEEEE.
And that's SHOUT...out!

Behind the Scenes: Moe & The Highlander

No, the post title today is not a reference to some arcane indie production crossing the Three Stooges with sword-wielding immortals, but somebody's probably going to green-light that any day now.

But seriously (or at least semi-seriously) folks--it's time for our last installment of the original and uncut school-supplied mascot dance videos! So far you've seen the offerings from PC, UNCA, LU, CCU, and WU...leaving us with RU and VMI (making seven in all, no video this time around for HPU, CSU, and GWU).

VMI Keydets & Moe...

RU & The Highlander...

Speaking of the Highlander--here's some "you may have missed it" coverage devoted to the hirsute Scotsman from RU's NCAA Tournament appearance:
#1 on list of "Best Dressed March Madness Mascots" at SI.com.
"...might have the best mascot in the tourney," according to the blog from Mouthpiece Sports.
And there's plenty more where that came from--do a search for "Radford Highlanders mascot" and you'll get a bunch of articles and blogs from tourney time ranging from the curious to the awestruck over the unusual character from the Big South (including one that had RU's symbolic hero in its "elite eight" bracket of mascots--where it got burned by the Arizona State Sun Devil before it could make the Final Four).

Before I hit the dusty Easter Monday trail away from the blog posting world for the day, here come a couple Big South SHOUT-outs!!!!

--to Megan Frazee, LU senior (pictured), selected by the San Antonio Silver Spurs in the WNBA Draft with the 14th overall selection--the first pick of the draft's second round and the first pick San Antonio had in the draft. Way to go, Megan, and best of luck to you in the WNBA!

--to Dustin Johnson, CCU alumnus, second golfer in history to log CONSECUTIVE EAGLES in Masters play at Augusta--that's back-to-back holes, a par five and a par four. He carded a couple of eagles in Friday's round as well, so those holes alone should give him a pretty good set of glasses as a memorable souvenir from his first Masters (Augusta National presents a pair of crystal goblets for an eagle). He finished one under par in his opening try at the "tradition unlike any other," which is a tremendous feat (tied for 30th with the likes of former champions Larry Mize and Vijay Singh, among others)--nice work, Dustin!

Speaking of golf, the Big South Women's Golf Championship has begun in Ninety-Six, SC. Best of luck to all the competitors (and watch out for the track and tennis championships hitting before the week is out)!

We hope you make frequent stops at www.BigSouthSports.com, but don't forget--we also need more followers on Twitter/BigSouthSports and more fans at our Big South Facebook page...plus you're always welcome to see what we've got at YouTube/BigSouthSports!!! SHOUT...out.

Shooting Stars

They must love the Big South at the "Worldwide Leader" these days...

--there's a great column spotlighting the VMI Offense on ESPN's website from Wednesday
--AND ESPN2's "First Take" (the show "Cold Pizza" turned into) did a live segment with Liberty freshman Seth Curry that same day.

What do they have in common? Shooting the rock, baby.

VMI's story has two great quotes of note...one you've likely heard before if you've followed the hard-running, high-scoring program Duggar Baucom has assembled in Lexington: "Shoot the ball before you turn it over" (the essence of the Keydets' offensive philosophy, as told to columnist Kyle Whelliston by senior Travis Holmes).

The other quote from the article is one that could be easily overlooked, but is one the other programs in the Big South should pay attention to--this one from the other Holmes twin, Chavis: "There's still a lot of pressure on us to perform every night. The Kentucky game showed how good we can be. But if we don't win our conference, it's going to be a major disappointment" (emphasis mine).

That's a strong statement from a program that has never won the Conference title before, but you have to acknowledge that VMI is backing it up on the court relentlessly, jumping out to a 2-0 start in the Big South and 7-2 overall...not too shabby.

As for Curry, we've already covered his success in SHOUT, but suffice to say for now that he's claimed Freshman of the Week and Player of the Week honors once each in the season's first four weeks.

For the Conference in general, it's Bizarro-ball in the standings on the men's side--all the teams have played one or two Big South games, and you can add Winthrop, High Point, and Coastal Carolina together without finding a Conference win (0-5...and 6-18 overall for that group). Meanwhile, there's VMI and PC, each 2-0 in the Big South already--what do you know?!?

On the women's side, no Conference games yet (as I write this on the afternoon of Friday 12/12), but I'm pretty sure not too many folks thought you'd only get 4-19 by combining Liberty (1-6), Radford (1-6) and High Point (2-7) off the top of the season. Credit Coastal Carolina (6-2) and Gardner-Webb (5-2) for getting off to sharp starts this year.

So with so many storylines popping around the League, it's a perfect time to check out The EDGE...here's the video with the line-up for the week ahead...

That looks like a commercial for how badly I need to get a haircut, quite frankly...

SHOUT-outs on the soccer side of life for a quartet of invitees to the MLS Combine in Fort Lauderdale coming up in January: Daniel Revivo (Winthrop), Otto Loewy (Winthrop), Joshua Boateng (Liberty), and Kyle Russell (Coastal Carolina)--good luck, guys!!!

Have a great weekend, one and all...

Outstanding in Their Fields

Well, it's time to put a wrap on Big South baseball for this year.

Although it would be really nice to say that more games were ahead, our last Conference contender has finished now that Coastal Carolina lost the Cary, NC, Super Regional series to the UNC Tar Heels in two games.

North Carolina was the nation's number two overall seed and the Heels had several opportunities to demonstrate their worthiness for Omaha, but don't sell the Chants short--after winning the Big South, they hosted a Regional and won their way through it (as seen in the asterisk-shaped celebration pictured at right), then fought a tough battle in the Super Regional in falling to UNC.

I was at the USA Baseball Training Center in Cary for Sunday's game (UNC has used the USA facility as a home site this year during renovations to the field on campus in Chapel Hill), and let me tell you--everybody on the field (umpires included, of course) and in the stands should get credit for withstanding the brutal heat to play that game or support their teams. Wow, what a scorcher! Even trying to take extra steps to handle the conditions could not properly prepare you for frying like bacon out there--late July, maybe I could understand, but it's not supposed to soar past 100 like that here in early June! Oh well, no more whining, it was worth it for all the CCU and Big South fans to make the trek into ACC territory to root for the Coastal squad even with the weather. You can't hang your head when you've earned one of the last 16 team slots in the country (still, the College World Series was tantalizingly close)...

In any case, the month of June also means baseball honors and the Major League Baseball Draft.

First I'll touch on the Collegiate Baseball Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Team.

Five Big South stars made that squad--all of them from Palmetto State teams: Charleston Southern had the trio of shortstop Taylor Black, outfielder Steve Antolik, and designated hitter Derek Smith; Coastal Carolina's Scott Woodward at third base; and Winthrop DH Eddie Rohan (pictured at right). Add to that recognition CCU catcher Dock Doyle making 2nd Team All-American (and the Johnny Bench Award watch list--the top collegiate catcher honor will be given out June 27th). While on the subject of trophies, the Wallace Award will be given in July to the top collegiate baseball player...finalists will be announced soon, but the list of candidates includes the aforementioned Mr. Doyle (pictured below) and UNC Asheville RHP Alan DeRatt.

Now to the topic of the MLB Draft...in all, 14 players got selected out of Big South schools in rounds 5-38 of the First-Year Player Draft last Thursday and Friday. That figure matches the total from the previous year and comes only two players shy of the Conference record (16 were drafted in 2005). The Chanticleers had two first-day draftees, each taken in the 5th round: pitcher Pete Andrelczyk (148th overall by the Marlins) and Dock Doyle (164th overall by the Mets). Coastal wound up with the most picks (5) of Big South teams, but six schools had at least one: CCU-5, VMI-3, UNCA-2, Liberty-2, Radford-1, High Point-1. Check out the full list of Conference draftees at Big South Sports.com.

That might be it for today...I'll part with a couple quick hits of information for you--hate to say this, but High Point University will be dropping its men's and women's tennis programs (never like to report sports leaving the scene, but facts are facts)...and in business news, Big South Conference partner JumpTV is merging with NeuLion to create an even more powerful presence in the ever-growing sports internet-video market (merger announced just this morning).

Until next time, keep an ear open for the Big South SHOUT!

Big South Quick Hits...

***In our last post, we discussed the NFL Draft...of course we all know that's not the only way the pro teams build their rosters. As soon as the draft is over, it's free agent time--and three Big South players signed free agent deals with the hopes of latching on with a team. The players: Coastal Carolina's Mike Tolbert (FB, Chargers) and Liberty teammates Vince Redd (LB, Patriots) and Stephen Sene (OL, Rams). Good luck to one and all!

***This week featured a parade of coaches through the Big South's Charlotte offices--time for the annual meetings of the basketball coaches! The coaches all spent an afternoon (men's coaches on Wednesday, women's on Thursday) to discuss a variety of rules, policies, and ideas on how to keep hoops in the Big South growing and improving in the seasons to come. Meetings come with the territory--it can't all be fun and games...

***Some folks hear that May has arrived and run through thoughts of horse racing, auto racing, and playoffs in basketball or hockey, but for the Big South it's more like the "Big Finish": playing three days of games to crown a softball champion, holding five days of games to decide the baseball champion, and ending the month with the Conference Board of Administrators meetings (more planning, rules, policies, etc.)--culminating in the Hall of Fame Dinner to induct this year's class. Busy times!

***More great Big South baseball and softball this weekend--enjoy the games!!!

Do you feel a DRAFT...

...or is it just me?

Congratulations to two Big South football players who made the big leap to the pro ranks with this weekend's NFL Draft:

Jerome Simpson, Coastal Carolina WR, 2nd round (46th overall), Cincinnati Bengals,

& Brian Johnston, Gardner-Webb DE, 7th round (210th overall), Kansas City Chiefs.

Simpson has been electric his entire CCU career, with the ability to seemingly catch anything in his zip code. His selecton on day one of the draft weekend made him the second Big South Conference player ever taken in the draft--joining his former Chanticleers teammate Tyler Thigpen (CCU QB taken in the 7th round of the 2007 draft by the Vikings, Thigpen spent the 2007 season with the Kansas City Chiefs). Simpson climbed up the draft board thanks to impressive numbers at the NFL combine and went from "sleeper" selection to second-rounder! He should have room with the Bengals, who have become lighter at the receiver position due to releasing Chris Henry and playing a high-dollar staring contest with Pro Bowler Chad Johnson. Cincinnati grabbed one more WR in the 3rd round as insurance (Florida's Andre Caldwell), but Simpson is expected to have a great shot at significant playing time in his rookie season.

Johnston has played like a force of nature for the Runnin' Bulldogs on his way to All-American status two years running in the FCS (2007 consensus 1st team, 2006 2nd team A.P.). He joins a Kansas City squad lean at defensive end (only three on the roster--including Johnston), and therefore stands a good shot at getting plenty of downs to demonstrate his pass-rushing abilities. The Chiefs definitely saw the draft as a way to improve their defensive front, taking LSU's Glenn Dorsey with the fifth overall pick, but don't overlook the contribution GWU's star defender can make on that squad!

Some of you may be thinking--surely there have been more Big South players taken...well, yes and no. Liberty has had three players drafted in the last 20 years, for example, but not as a Big South football team at the time. Strictly speaking, this year's draft makes it three players taken from active/current Big South schools by NFL squads. If you're a real draft-crazed list person, you will LOVE what they did at USA Today: a database of all the picks for the last two decades, which you can break down by college, conference, NFL team, state, position, round, and more. And if you're looking for the stories from the National Football League itself, look no further than this link to the draft coverage.

By the way, that baseball series we talked about last time? Coastal took two out of three at VMI over the weekend to take the lead in the Big South "pennant race."

That's all for now...more SHOUT-outs on the way soon...