Bucknell University Athletics
From the AD's Desk -- Summer Edition Part II
6/12/2008 8:00:00 AM | General
June 12, 2008
Earlier this week, I shared some thoughts on the trip to Florida State for the NCAA Baseball Regionals, and what a wonderful experience it was for our Bison student-athletes, particularly after their stirring upset of powerful FSU on opening night. Once again, congratulations to Gene Depew and his staff for a remarkable postseason run. The college baseball tournament has become even more exciting for me on a personal level, since I will be joining the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee starting in September 2008.
Moving along to other topics, the competition was once again stiff this year, but I am very pleased that the Patriot League Presidents' Cup will remain in our trophy case! It is Bucknell's 14th Cup title in the 18-year history of the league, and our 10th in the last 11 years. In 2007-08, Bucknell claimed Patriot League championships in women's cross country, women's indoor track & field, women's basketball, women's rowing and baseball, and I want to thank and congratulate every one of our student-athletes and coaches on another terrific year.
In women's rowing, Bucknell's outstanding varsity eight came up with a clutch victory at the Patriot League Championship to help the team edge Navy for its third straight conference title. The Bison went on to win the ECAC Metro title and compete in the prestigious Eastern Sprints for the first time in program history. Just last week, the lightweight eight finished fourth at the IRA National Championship a year after they won that event.
This spring, the Bison softball team enjoyed its best season in recent years, tying for second place in the regular-season standings. Congratulations to Heather Rakosik on being named Patriot League Coach of the Year!
The women's lacrosse team, under first-year head coach Caline McHenry, improved as the season progressed, and the team's remarkable come-from-behind 18-17 victory over nationally ranked Ohio State was perhaps the best win in program history.
It was another outstanding season for the men's lacrosse program. The Bison were nationally ranked all year, peaking at No. 9 after starting the year 9-2. Frank Fedorjaka's team knocked off top-seeded Army 8-7 at West Point in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals, advancing to the championship game for the first time. A red-hot Colgate team prevailed on national television in the final, but it was a banner year for Patriot League lacrosse, which had to be considered one of the nation's top conferences in 2008. Colgate and Navy both played in the NCAA Tournament, with the Mids advancing to the second round and Colgate dropping an overtime heartbreaker at Notre Dame, and Bucknell and Army were squarely on the NCAA Tournament "bubble." Most of Bucknell's starting lineup returns next season, including All-American Austin Winter.
While the Bison women's outdoor track & field team saw its run of four straight Patriot League titles come to an end, Kevin Donner's team performed courageously in the closest meet in league history. Army prevailed by just two points over Bucknell and by just 11 points over Lafayette. And the men's squad also continued its resurgence, finishing in third place behind only the service academies. The Bison men were more than 85 points ahead of the fourth-place team.
I would like to offer an enthusiastic welcome to new head men's basketball coach Dave Paulsen, while at the same time offering best wishes to Pat Flannery as he transitions into his new role in Bucknell's Office of Development and Alumni Relations. Coach Flannery's teams achieved unprecedented success at Bucknell, and plans are in the works to appropriately recognize Pat at a home basketball game early next season.
Meanwhile, Coach Paulsen has named his new staff, and he and his family are in the process of making the move from Williamstown to Lewisburg. No sooner will he arrive at Bucknell than he and his staff will be back on the road, as the key summer recruiting period is just around the corner in July.
It's not so much a "welcome", but a "welcome back," to John Abdou, who was recently named head men's and women's water polo coach. He did a tremendous job as the chief assistant coach to John Zeigler for two-and-a-half years, and this spring after J.Z. left the coaching profession to return to practicing law, Coach Abdou as interim head coach led the women's water polo team to one of its best seasons ever. We look forward to continued success in both the men's and women's programs with Caoch Abdou at the helm.
Summertime often means improvement projects around the Langone Athletics & Recreation Center and other facilities. This year's most significant project will be the installation of a new floor in the Krebs Fitness Center. The carpeting will be replaced by a Mondo sports surface that will not only be more aesthetically pleasing, but it will be much easier to clean and maintain. Our fitness center regulars will still be able to get in their workouts, however the equipment will be temporarily relocated to Gerhard Fieldhouse during the flooring replacement.
I am also very excited to pass along that the next installment of "From the AD's Desk" will come to you from a brand new athletics Web site. As I mentioned in my last entry, we have been working very closely with our colleagues in the Office of Communications on a comprehensive overhaul of the Bison athletics Web site in conjunction with a redesign of the University's site. Both sites will roll out later this summer. We are now putting the finishing touches on the designs, and I can tell you that the athletics site looks terrific!
Before wrapping up I wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who so generously donated to the Bison Club in 2007-08. Your contributions directly impact the Bison student-athletes who make us so proud, and our supporters deserve credit for helping the baseball team defeat Florida State, for helping both lacrosse teams defeat Ohio State, for helping the rowing team compete for a national championship, and for bringing home our 14th Presidents' Cup!
If you have not yet donated to the Bison Club, there is still time before the end of the fiscal year. Please contact Todd Newcomb at 570-577-1771, or donate online HERE.
To all of our fans, supporters and colleagues, have a safe and enjoyable summer, and as always ... GO BISON!!!
Best regards,
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
-- May 25, 2007
-- August 8, 2007
-- November 20, 2007
-- March 30, 2008
-- June 10, 2008
