Bucknell University Athletics
From the ADs Desk
5/25/2007 8:00:00 AM | General
May 25, 2007
Greetings Bison Fans!
I am writing to you on a beautiful spring day in Lewisburg, one of those days when the picture postcard photographers are scrambling to get shots for next year's stock. As harsh as the last half of winter proved to be, it seems that we deserve a nice spring!
The wonderful weather is not the only source of good feelings emanating from the Langone Athletics & Recreation Center. I am ecstatic to report that 2006-07 was, literally, another "banner" year for Bison Athletics. Thanks to six Patriot League championships and consistently strong performances in just about every sport, we will have three more Presidents' Cup banners to raise in Sojka Pavilion this summer, as Bucknell swept the overall, men's and women's cup titles. It is our 13th Presidents' Cup in 17 years in the Patriot League (and our 7th in the past 8 years), and we were less than one point away from breaking the all-time Cup points record that has stood for 13 years.
In particular, I would like to congratulate our six Patriot League championship programs: women's cross country, men's soccer, women's indoor track and field, women's outdoor track and field, men's golf and women's rowing. Five of those six programs are repeat champions. Amazingly, our women's track and field seniors never lost a Patriot League indoor or outdoor championship in four years. Eight crowns in eight years is an incredible feat, and this will certainly go down as one of the top senior classes in school history.
In addition to those six championship teams, men's basketball, women's basketball and women's soccer earned regular-season titles, while men's basketball, volleyball and women's tennis all advanced to the championship game of their respective Patriot League Tournament.
Kudos also go out to our five Patriot League Coach of the Year selections: Kathy Fedorjaka (women's basketball), Jim Cotner (men's golf), Steve Kish (women's rowing) and Kevin Donner (both women's indoor and outdoor track and field).
Those on-the-field accomplishments become even more special when you consider that Bison student-athletes still refuse to compromise their ideals when it comes to academics. In the fall it was widely reported that Bucknell LEADS THE NATION in four-year graduation rates, and recently it was announced that Bucknell ranks fifth nationally with 17 programs cited by the NCAA for ranking in the top 10 percent in their respective sports in Academic Progress Rate (APR).
Fifteen Bison student-athletes earned ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District accolades in 2006-07, and two - women's soccer's Shannon Curd and football's David Frisbey - went on to make the national Academic All-America team. That gives Bucknell 113 all-time Academic All-Americans, fourth-most among Division I programs.
This week we wrapped up our annual spring coaches' caravan with receptions in Sandy Hook, New Jersey and New York City. We also visited with alumni in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. All of these events were well attended, and it was great to catch up with so many of our loyal supporters and former athletes. They really are enjoyable evenings, so stay tuned for next year's dates.
Once again this year, we're proud to report record Bison Club participation. Bison Club support is expected to surpass this year's goal of $1.5 million, giving us an unprecedented total for the sixth year in a row. Bucknell Athletics would not be able to achieve our level of success without your generous support. To those who were able to donate this year, a heartfelt THANK YOU!
Speaking of donors, we are ecstatic about this week's news that Bill Graham '62 was named the University Division Donor of the Year by the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD). Mr. Graham has donated more than $7.7 million to Bison Athletics, primarily toward the reestablishment of the varsity wrestling program and the enhancement of women's athletics programs. He has certainly been a "difference-maker" when it comes to impacting the welfare of our student-athletes and coaches, and for that we are forever grateful.
No matter the amount, your contributions to the Bison Club can also make a huge difference, particularly with a number of exciting projects on the horizon. Chief among them is the continuation on the West Fields Project. Phase III - the construction of the grandstand/support facility for Graham Field and Varsity Soccer Field - is now complete. It drew rave reviews this spring during women's lacrosse season, and we can't wait to put it to full use this fall when the field hockey and soccer programs are in action. Now, we are beginning to focus on Phase IV of the West Fields Project, which will consist of stadium and facility enhancements at Depew Field (baseball) and the varsity softball field. We have already developed preliminary architectural designs for the project, and I can say with certainty that with your help, we can provide those two programs with some of the finest on-campus athletic venues in the Northeast.
For those of you visiting campus this summer, you may notice some other improvement projects, including new state-of-the-art scoreboards in Davis Gym, the installation of a new indoor track surface and playing floor in Gerhard Fieldhouse, and the addition of the Lee Idleman Wall of Honor - A tribute to all of Bucknell's Academic All-Americans, in the corridor outside of Kinney Natatorium.
If you have not been back to Bucknell in the last several years, please do try to stop by and see us during your summer travels. I think you will be impressed with the progress we've made. Throughout the year I have numerous opportunities to meet with alumni who had not been back in Lewisburg in quite some time, and every one of them is amazed not just with the new facilities, but that the beauty of the entire campus has been maintained and enhanced through the years. We are so very fortunate to work in this special place.
I sincerely wish you and yours a safe and enjoyable summer, and ... GO BISON!
John P. Hardt
Director of Athletics & Recreation
Previous installments of "From the AD's Desk"
-- August 15, 2005
-- September 26, 2005
-- December 1, 2005
-- April 6, 2006
-- August 3, 2006
-- August 28, 2006
-- October 22, 2006
-- March 26, 2007
