PROSPECTIVE .. CURRENT .. FACULTY & STAFF .. ALUMNI .. FAQ .. CONTACT .. JOBS .. TESTIMONIALS .. APPLICATION .. SPEAKERS .. RICHMOND .. FACILITIES
Being A Part of Something Great
3-11-07

From the start of the CAA tournament to its finish I had a great feeling about the games we were getting ready to play. As I stepped on to the court of the Richmond Coliseum I began to feel chills running down my spine because it was the first time I had been back on the floor ready to play for a CAA Championship game since my back injury last year. It was tough last year sitting out with a back injury and watching my team be defeated by Hofstra in the quarterfinals, but it was something I had to deal with at that time. Then a few days ago when I checked into our first game against Georgia State, it was time for me to shake off the dust of not playing last year. It felt good to be back on that floor again getting the chance to experience what I missed out on just one year earlier.

The day of the championship game after defeating Georgia State and Drexel, I knew that my team had their eyes on the prize. That morning I walked into the room where we were having breakfast and shouted, “IT’S A GREAT DAY TO BE A RAM,” a phrase that is commonly used amongst the coaches, trainers, and managers throughout the season. Coach Grant also showed a motivational video that illustrated all the hard work that our team endured over the season. This brought a higher level of focus to our team. The video was a reminder that when one develops a passion for something they love to do there is no stopping them. That sums up the way I felt going into the weekend. I had developed a passion to win. I had a mindset that I was going to do whatever it was going to take to help my team win the championship game. As a result of that feeling the VCU Rams are the CAA’s 2007 Champions once again after three long years. However, it doesn’t stop there… NCAA’s here we come!!! GO RAMS!!!

By: Calvin Roland

CORRIGAN & COPELAND PASS ALONG LESSONS LEARNED IN THE BUSINESS
11-20-06


Gene Corrigan and Jim Copeland spoke the VCU SportsCenter on Thursday, November 16.  The discussion ranged from the growth of NCAA athletics to the similarities between now and when they started their careers in athletics.  They also talked about problems they have encountered and how to deal with them.  They have followed different paths to reach where they are.

Jim Copeland started his career as a fundraiser for the University of Virginia, his alma mater after he finished his professional football career.  He has been the athletic director at many schools, including William and Mary, Utah, Virginia, and Southern Methodist.  While at Virginia, the graduation rates for student-athletes were similar to the graduation rates of the student population.  He also increased the endowment for the athletic department from $3 million to $7 million.  He helped increase annual contributions to the athletic department from $3 million to $4.5 million.

Gene Corrigan worked at the University of Virginia for nine years before he became athletic director.  During that time, he served as a coach for three sports, taught four physical education classes, and was director of campus recreation.  After a brief stint at Washington & Lee, Corrigan returned to Virginia to serve as their athletic director, a job he held for nine years.  He then went to Notre Dame and was the athletic director there when they hired Lou Holtz.  He finished his career as the commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Both administrators believe they started their careers following the correct path.  Corrigan said he better understood coaching from his nine years of experience.  Copeland believes he would not have been as successful if he had not started in the fundraising aspect of athletics.

Corrigan has been involved with nationally recognized institutions such as Notre Dame and the ACC.  His best piece of advice was to make sure you had a purpose.  As an advisor, he says the biggest problem he faces is coaches reporting directly to the president of the university.  The president has hired an athletic director to be the contact for the coaches, and all coaches need to be aware of that.  The president of a university usually does not have an athletics background and also has other areas to focus on.

Copeland took over at Southern Methodist as they were rebuilding after a two year sentence without football.  Copeland helped rebuild the program.  He talked about how the school went from playing in the huge Southwestern Conference to the smaller Western Athletic Conference and currently in a geographically central Conference USA.  They also built an on-campus football stadium and started to promote a great college football atmosphere, complete with tailgating along the Boulevard.  Copeland says the school was accustomed to large, nationally ranked football but has adapted well to a smaller atmosphere.

They both agree that they stayed in athletics for as long as they did because they loved to be around the athletes.  They can see the impact college athletics has on people, especially people who could not afford college otherwise.
EXPERIENCING THE SPORTS WORLD, FIRST HAND
11-20-06


Since the start of our program here at VCU, we have had the privilege of meeting some prominent individuals in the sports industry and having the opportunity to experience aspects of the sports world that would not have been possible had we not enrolled in the VCU SportsCenter.  The highlight of the semester thus far has been our trip to Charlotte, North Carolina.  The SportsCenter arranged for us to visit the city to tour several facilities and meet important individuals from various backgrounds in the business of athletics.  It was a learning experience to witness the behind-the-scenes work that is involved in professional sports.

Upon arrival in the Queen City, our first stop was to visit the Charlotte Bobcats’ new arena.  The facility, which is located in the heart of downtown Charlotte, is a magnificent building that many believe is the best in the NBA.  Our tour guide, a former VCU SportsCenter student, took us through practically every part of the arena.  Some of the areas she showed us included the Bobcats’ weight room, their player lounge, and the team offices.  A highlight of the tour was walking trough the team’s locker room, which is the largest locker room in the NBA.  Even the visiting teams mention that it is one of the best facilities in the league, with several amenities that are lacking in other new buildings.

It was also fascinating for us to see how the scoreboard is operated at the arena.  They showed us the control room where they direct what is shown on the mammoth plasma screens over the court.  We also met John Leach, the director of game operations for the Bobcats.  His job is to basically direct every second of the game from an entertainment standpoint.  Many of us are interested in pursuing a career in game operations, so it was a great experience to see how everything is run in a top-notch, state-of-the-art facility like they have in Charlotte.

The second part of our visit to Charlotte was the Bank of America Stadium, home of the Carolina Panthers.  Amazing! It was delightful to see their facilities as the operations manager led our tour of the facility.  It was very fascinating to learn about the costs involved with building and keeping up the majority of the facilities in the stadium. One important aspect of the visit to the Carolina Panther’s stadium was hearing the operations manager’s personal experiences and point of views.  The operations manager revealed a host of research information with the group and thus enabled us to see how our required “research class” in the SportsCenter is beneficial to our future in the sports industry.  It was a wonderful feeling as everyone welcomed us and readily shared their experiences with the group.  They shared information about their career paths, how they got their current job, the challenges they have faced, as well as the continuing opportunities in sports leadership.

Our next visit was to the Lowe’s Motor speedway.  This visit was more of a seminar. We had the opportunity to meet two distinguished personalities in the NASCAR business. They shared their experiences and gave information as to how we could get into the industry.  They outlined their duties and how the operations function within NASCAR.

While we all had a wonderful experience seeing these great facilities in Charlotte, the trip was an excellent opportunity to get to know each other better.  We have been in the same classes since August, but for the most part we have not had the opportunity to really relax and have fun together.  The long bus drive to Charlotte gave us a chance to socialize about things not involving a class project.  We were able to learn more about one another and about our goals for when we graduate from VCU.  This is important because this business is all about making connections.  By having close relationships with your fellow classmates, they may know somebody who might be able to help get you a job.  But for many of us, we have realized that after being around the same people for a semester, they aren’t the same as the other hundreds of classmates we have had since we first started school.  In a way each of them has become a friend and a valuable source of knowledge.  We also have one common goal, to gain a job in the world of sports.

The trip was a great experience and just another way that the SportsCenter program stands out above the rest.  We don’t just sit in the classroom; we get in the real world and experience it!
SPORTSCENTER OFFERS VARIETY IN LEARNING EXPERIENCES
11-1-06

Only two months into our VCU SportsCenter graduate experience and we students have already had numerous great experiences.  From bonding with each other to learning how to run and create events, we’ve done a lot.  Since we’ve had these great times, each of us has decided to share with you just some aspects of what the VCU SportsCenter is all about.


Challenge Discovery

The first thing our class did as a group was to participate at the Challenge Discovery ropes course.   Now I know what you are thinking: how much fun could a team-building activity be for a bunch of graduate school students?  (Trust me, that’s what we were thinking.)  However, after we all got there and the initial awkwardness had subsided, it turned out to be a lot of fun for everyone.  We started the day by doing small team-building activities such as name games.  This turned out to be harder than you might think because many of us were meeting each other for the first time.  For one of our activities later in the day, we were given three planks of wood and were told we had to get across a 40-foot clearing with the help of only six supports already in the ground.  In the beginning, this was difficult because everyone was talking at once and no one was in charge.  As the activity went on, a few of us took more of the leadership roles and organized the rest of our team in a way to make a pretty quick and efficient path across this obstacle.  After a quick lunch, we had the opportunity to climb the freestanding structure called the Alpine Tower.  Everyone had the opportunity to climb if they wanted to, but no one was forced.  As a team, we helped encourage each other to make it up as high as possible and everyone gave each other a lot of encouragement.  Overall, the day turned out to be a very positive day.  It helped us all get to know each other better and it jump-started the beginning of a great year.


VCU/Mattaponi Springs Shootout

During our first two months at VCU, we, as a class, volunteered to assist at several different events, including a golf tournament.  The tournament was held at Mattaponi Springs, a golf course north of Richmond.  This tournament was hosted by the VCU men’s golf team and included 13 other schools from around the country.  The class spent the day taking turns acting as spotters and finding golf balls whenever the players hit them in the rough.  Later this semester, we will be working in the concession stands at basketball games and during other Siegel Center special events.  These activities help provide us with experience in different areas so we learn about different aspects of the sporting world and get to know what to expect as we gain more responsibility.


Lobs and Lessons

During our first day of classes, we were told that we would be participating in Lobs and Lessons.  The instructor did not go into any detail whatsoever, so we were all wondering exactly what Lobs and Lessons was.  After a couple of weeks, Kathleen Bowles, the director of Lobs and Lessons, came in and shed some light on the program.  She told us we would be working with inner-city children from around the Greater Richmond area.  So far, our group has done two sessions with the children and it has been a great experience.  We travel to their after-school program and instruct them by running informative and fun lessons.  The kids are a lot of fun to be around and they seem to have a great time, as do we.  Some of the other students in our program teach the children tennis as well, hence the name Lobs and Lessons.  We will continue with the program for the rest of this semester and next semester.  We look forward to making a positive impact on these children’s lives.


“Big Event” Process

Each group was given the task of developing a “big event.” This idea will end up as some type of sports-related event being held at VCU sometime this year.

Our first task, as a group, was to come up with possible event ideas that would create exposure and revenue for the VCU SportsCenter and VCU as a whole. After coming up with a number of ideas, we narrowed our list down to two main ideas. We investigated these two ideas further so we could later present them to the rest of the class as well as a panel of sports-related professionals.  We were in charge of the initial research and planning for the event. This process took a number of weeks, as there are many parts to planning an event.

After the initial research was completed, each group gave a formal presentation to a panel made up of businessmen within the Richmond area.  Some of the businesses represented included the Richmond Kickers, the Richmond Braves, and the VCU Athletic Department.  At the conclusion of the presentations, the panel narrowed down the possibilities for the “big event” to four ideas.  At this juncture in the process, each of the four groups with event ideas selected are now continuing to research their ideas for the next panel presentation.

The exact event selected will be announced in the future.  Stay tuned for more information on this exciting event that will take place at VCU in the coming year!


Classes and Trips

As we approach midterms during our first semester as SportsCenter scholars, we’ve gained enough insight into our innovative program to reflect and to look forward to next semester with great anticipation and eagerness.

Each day we begin class in the Sports Medicine building at 9am where we gain glimpses into our professional futures with Research, Sports Business, Action Learning, and Coaching & Administration. Depending on their elective choice, some students discuss current events and controversial issues in Contemporary Issues while others are learning about event and facilities management in a course of the same name.

Teamwork, “real world” experience, and practical application are three major underlying themes in the program. Our Research class has been charged with the challenge to do an actual research project on behalf of Nike marketing and research development. In Sports Business we have coordinated and organized a board, and “departments” of VCU SportsCenter students to oversee a project to publish a children’s book. As described earlier, Action Learning teams developed and then presented ideas for a large event to SportsCenter staff and community leaders to be decided on at a later date. Facilities management students are scheduled to attend a Washington Wizards NBA game in December to gain behind-the-scenes insight and meet with professional staff. The first day brought an awesome surprise as the Wizards’ Director of Basketball Administration, Tommy Sheppard, spoke candidly to our class.

VCU SportsCenter grad students will be in Charlotte, North Carolina on November 7th and 8th. During our trip, we will tour Bank of America Stadium, home of the Panthers, the U.S. National Whitewater Center, and the Bobcats Arena.  Our guest speakers will include Jan Ivey of the Wachovia Cup; Greg Economou, NBA Senior VP of Marketing & Communications as well as the Bobcats Entertainment Executive CMO; Henry Thomas, Carolina Panthers’ Director of Broadcast Administration and Sponsor Events; and Jeff Wise, Executive Director of the U.S. Whitewater Center.

Our first semester has proven to be both enlightening and challenging. We welcome the challenges and growth that are sure to accompany next semester.


Internships

For the majority of the students in the VCU SportsCenter, classes and projects are not all that takes up their time.  Thirty-five out of the forty-two students have internships that they are involved in daily.  There are many different internships that the students are a part of that will give them great experiences for their future endeavors. All the members of the group writing this article are involved in a variety of internships.  To give you an idea of what they entail, they will each be briefly explained, along with the mentor of this group’s actual job in the VCU Athletic Department.

Jen, who is the group’s mentor, works in the Athletic Department as the Assistant Compliance Director.  This job entails quite a bit of paperwork, which includes signing off on travel authorizations, recruiting paperwork, official visits, financial aid, and more.  She also responds to compliance-related questions from coaches, administrators and student-athletes.  She oversees an intern and keeps everyone in the Athletic Department updated with new legislation.  It’s hard to sum up her job in a short paragraph, because her job truly requires a lot of work.

Stuart works in the Athletic Communications Office.  He prepares photos for the website, updates player bios, assists in researching old statistics, and helps make game programs.  He is also in the process of making bios for everyone who works in the Athletic Department at VCU.

Jacob works with a company called ClibHoops, which is a professional basketball scouting service.  Everything he does is centered on preparing teams for the NBA Draft.  This requires him to assist in making databases of college player rankings by class, and in doing statistical manipulations to help teams make the best pick for their team.

Kim is an intern with the Richmond Ballerz, an ABA Team, which is a minor league basketball team in the area.  She is charged with the responsibility to help develop a merchandising program, corporate sales initiatives, and season ticket packages.  She is also responsible for special events and group sales orders as well as organizing and helping to facilitate special event nights, in-school presentations, and marketing plans.  Game-day responsibilities include event management and inventory records.

Jon is a graduate assistant athletic trainer currently working with the men’s soccer team.  In the spring, he will work with the baseball team. He says, “There are no two days that are alike while working as an ATC in college athletics.”  His mornings include working with his athletes on rehabilitation programs for their different injuries, scheduling doctor appointments, and catching up on paperwork.  He is there to help his athletes before, during, and after practice with their injuries and any taping they may need.  When traveling with the team he is basically in charge of his team’s health and wellbeing while they are playing and practicing.

Quinn is an intern for the Ticket Office at the VCU Siegel Center.  She works in the office during the week assisting with window and phone sales for athletic and special events.  She also supervises soccer, volleyball, basketball, and baseball games along with handling any paperwork associated with those particular games.  “My job is very customer service based and I have definitely been able to practice being personable with all kinds of customers,” she explains.  Her internship requires a lot of time and effort, which in turn gives her a great experience.

Chris and Lauren are both interns in the Athletics Marketing and Promotions Office.  Their responsibilities consist of promoting all the VCU sports games to the students around campus, working promotions during the games, brainstorming new ideas, making phone calls, and making VCU Athletics known around the area.  They are both getting a lot of experience within this internship and enjoy seeing the behind-the-scenes aspects of college athletics.

We hope these vignettes have given you a glimpse into the world of the VCU SportsCenter and have helped you understand what it is that we do everyday.  There is always something new happening and something new to learn.  The VCU SportsCenter definitely offers a variety of opportunities and has been a wonderful experience for all of us so far.
SPECIAL OLYMPIANS ENLIGHTEN STUDENTS
10-16-06


Most SportsCenter students have at one point competed at a high level of play in a given sport.  We often take for granted the excitement we get out of participation in sport.  On Saturday, September 30th, and Sunday, Oct. 1st, VCU students had the opportunity to create and share in this excitement, through working with Special Olympic athletics.

On Saturday, SportsCenter students hosted a clinic for both the Section 6 Special Olympics volleyball and soccer athletes at Providence Middle School in Chesterfield County.  The clinics prepared the Special Olympians for their competitions held that day.  SportsCenter students conducted warm-ups with the athletes in preparation for the volleyball competition, which began at 9:00 a.m.  They instructed the athletes in warm-ups on different volleyball skills and techniques.  The students then served as officials, scorekeepers and timekeepers during the actual competition.

The soccer clinic then followed at noon, after which the Special Olympics soccer competitions commenced at 2 p.m.  Participants included over 60 athletes of varying ages from Henrico, Goochland and Chesterfield counties. The clinic began with three stations which enhanced the players’ dribbling, passing, and shooting skills. The clinic culminated with an intra-squad scrimmage featuring the VCU women’s soccer team. All Special Olympics athletes received a certificate of participation, VCU t-shirt, VCU mini soccer ball, and tickets to upcoming men’s and women’s soccer games. The VCU women’s soccer team was in attendance to provide guidance and encouragement as well. Maggie Disney, of the Special Olympics of Virginia, was elated, “The clinic went great. The athletes got so much out of it. It was just great.”

On Sunday, students were in attendance at the Section 6 Special Olympics Bowling tournament.  Over 160 Special Olympics athletes participated, so all 15 SportsCenter students in attendance were needed!  Along with helping the day run smoothly, the students organized an autograph session of VCU student-athletes.  They autographed mini bowling pins for the Special Olympians and gave them each a ticket a VCU Men’s Basketball game this upcoming season.

In addition, SportsCenter students are preparing clinics for the Special Olympics golf tournament on Oct. 29th and another bowling tournament on Oct. 15th.  The knowledge the student volunteers gained will be invaluable in their approach to human relations in their sports oriented careers.  Witnessing first hand the adversity the Special Olympics athletes have to overcome will encourage the VCU students to take a more open approach to their respective careers. This experience enlightened the students, by making them more aware and appreciative of the strengths every individual possesses. 

For more information about Special Olympics of Virginia, please contact Maggie Disney at (804) 564-6032.
SPORTSCENTER STUDENTS "LEARN BY DOING" AT THE HEART OF VCU
10-2-06

As Mike Burch, manager of business development for Speedway Motorsports, and currently helping the program as a distance learning professor, said: “If you want to read about it, go somewhere else. If you want to “do” it, come to the VCU SportsCenter.”  Besides required academic instructions, students are assigned real world projects and are given the opportunity to immerse themselves in VCU activities. The practical experience they have at the SportsCenter encourages students to cultivate the “VCU spirit” and to stay involved in the organization.

Students don't wait for graduation to join the working world; when they come to the SportsCenter, they become part of an organization that will help them gain opportunities. This is like becoming a member of a “big family”; a family that will help them achieve success.  James Kane, former GA at the University of Florida, and currently GA for the VCU men's basketball team stated: “This program gives you an opportunity to network with professionals in your career of choice. At VCU, they care about you as an individual and not just a number.”

This fall, the SportsCenter has around 40 graduate students registered, more than 25 of them directly involved with VCU Athletics. This dedication demonstrates important values, such as commitment and loyalty, as well as a real desire get in the field and learn. Indeed, students are always being encouraged to “learn by doing”. Riad Ouled, who earned a degree in sociology at VCU and also runs for the track and field team stated:  “As an undergraduate student, I thought that working while studying would be too difficult. After one semester at the SportsCenter, I understand what it takes to become prepared and competent for the working world.”

Out of the 25 students working at VCU:
-6 are graduate assistants for a VCU Team
-3 are assistant coaches (tennis, volleyball, strength and conditioning)
-4 are eligible athletes
-6 are completing an internship with VCU (sports marketing department, compliance and life skills, school of business, etc.)
-6 students work or volunteer with the Sport Information Department, Ticket Office, Housing, Recreational Sports & the Siegel Center.

Peter Stephan, who wants to become a head coach on the college level, is now volunteering to help the women's basketball team.  Peter is seeking a valuable coaching experience and states: “By joining the SportsCenter, I knew I was joining the whole VCU program as well. I want to help and try to accomplish whatever I can for them. On the other hand, being involved with the women's basketball program might open doors for me in the future.”

Indeed, the VCU SportsCenter graduate program is the best way to get in touch with important people. Students build their network, as so many activities, programs, and events are made available to them. The SportsCenter creates a “state of mind” which encourages students to work harder to reach their goals. This year, 2006, will be one of the best years because everybody is willing to contribute and be part of the big “VCU family!”

By: Amaka Agugua, Nana Fabio Akuamoah-Boateng, Courtney Hughes, James Kane, Arnaud Le Cloerec, Paul Mashack, Calvin Roland, & Peter Stephan
SPORTSCENTER ALUMNI TROY AUSTIN ('03) NAMED INTERIM DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS AT LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY
8-17-06

 LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY NAMES TROY AUSTIN INTERIM DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS FOR 2006-07
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University President Dr. Patricia P. Cormier has announced the appointment of Troy Austin as Interim Director of Athletics, effective August 28. He has served Longwood as Director of Development for Intercollegiate Athletics since last October 10. Austin had been the director of program development and marketing relations for the National Football League Coaches Association (NFLCA) from 2003-05. Longwood will be competing in the final year of its four-year NCAA Division I Reclassification during 2006-07.

"Troy Austin will serve in a critical role as Longwood moves its candidacy forward to Division I," explained Dr. Cormier. "He is the ideal person to serve in this important capacity given his background, experience and familiarity with Longwood athletics. I have every confidence in his ability to lead and manage intercollegiate athletics on this campus."

During the past year, Austin oversaw all aspects of Longwood's athletics fundraising. This included directing the Longwood University Lancer Club and its Executive Council, and assisting with the department's external relations efforts. At the NFLCA, he directed the development and marketing of NFLCA programs, properties, and special events. In this capacity, Austin sought marketing partners for the NFLCA, and negotiated marketing opportunities for NFL assistant and head coaches. In addition, he oversaw the membership benefits program for the 750 active and retired NFL coaches, facilitated sponsorships with corporate partners, and served as a liaison between NFLCA and marketing partners among many other duties and responsibilities.

"Dr. Cormier has provided me an extraordinary opportunity to represent Longwood during this exciting time as we transition to Division I," said Austin. "I look forward to working on behalf of the student-athletes and coaches."

While pursuing his post-graduate degree at VCU (2002-03), Austin served an internship within VCU Athletics Marketing and Promotions where he contributed to the development of promotional efforts for creating and maintaining fan interest while assisting with marketing efforts to attain new sponsors. Prior to his time at VCU, he served an internship within Duke University Athletics as Life Skills Coordinator and Director of Special Events where he directed the nationally renowned educational program, 'Verizon Read with the Blue Devils', for elementary school children.

A native of Orange, New Jersey, Austin earned his bachelor of arts degree in sociology, along with a certificate in markets & management from Duke where he was a four-year football lettermen. A team captain as a senior, he earned the William J. Griffith Service Award and was named the team's Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman. Austin earned his master of science degree in sports leadership from the VCU SportsCenter.

Austin succeeds former AD Rick Mazzuto who was recently announced as the new athletics director at California State, Northridge. President Cormier indicated that Longwood would conduct a national search for a permanent AD to oversee the 14-sport intercollegiate athletics program.

This article and more information can be found on the Longwood Athletics website at www.longwoodlancers.com.
EUROPEAN MODEL OF SPORT OFFERS A CHANGE IN PERSPECTIVES
An Unexpected Experience
By: Tom Myrick, SportsCenter Class of 2007

2-1-06


I never really wanted to go to Amsterdam.

Crazy, I know, since the city is like a Mecca, a dreamland, for pretty much every college student that has heard of the place and all it has to offer. But, for some reason, it just never cracked my “100 places I must see” mental checklist. Rome, Tokyo, Dublin… sure, but never Amsterdam.

So it was all a bit surreal when I stepped off the bus into Dam Square. On one side of me, a group of Americans: familiar faces that, only hours before, I had seen in Richmond. On the other, the aged, stately Royal Palace of Queen Beatrix, and normal people going about their lives, floating by on their jumbled, mysterious language. Two worlds quietly colliding. And that was the beauty of it.

I think most of us picture foreign countries as being strange and unusual, almost mythical, places. After all, all most of us knew about the Netherlands before this trip consists of exaggerated stereotypes of windmills, tulip fields, and clogs. So I think everyone is a bit struck by just how normal the place is when we actually got there. When our plane finally dipped its nose out from above the clouds, I think everyone expected to peer through the windows onto a colorful and bizarre world below. But, from the air, Amsterdam is just dirt and concrete, motorways and sidewalks: just like any city in Virginia.

But it isn’t just any city. There are subtle differences, simple quirks of everyday life. You’ve just got to stand in the middle of a bridge in Rotterdam or in the magnetic town center of Eindhoven , open your eyes, and let their world overcome you. There is just a unique vibe that runs through the city, a certain pulse and energy that only Europe possesses. And soon you’ll be looking around, taking everything in, and saying, “I can’t believe I am here.” That why I’ve never liked it when someone uses the verb “do” to describe traveling, as in, “We are going to do Amsterdam, then do Paris, Rome, etc.” As a visitor, you are never the catalyst for action in a city. Instead, the city acts on you. You are (or, at least in my mind, should be) a passive observer, seeing the life and the culture of these cities as they are, soaking them in through your skin. In fact, the more you try to exert your will on a new place, and the more you try to fit your same old ideas of how things should be, the further you get from actually experiencing the city as it is.

If I’m being honest, it is tough to say exactly what the most important thing I learned on the trip was. No offense to the insightful speakers we had, but I’m not sure that it’s as easy as handing us all a sheet of paper and writing down what we learned. Sure, hearing about ways in which European sports structures differ from ours was educational, and meeting with representatives of PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands Baseball, and Johann Cruyff University was a great networking opportunity, but I think the most important thing we will ultimately take away from the trip isn’t something so easily tangible. Instead, it is seeing the differences in lifestyles, and processing what the Dutch culture is like that will have the most lasting impact on us.

Why is that so important? The reason is simple: seeing other ways of life educates you in so many ways. I don’t think we can be actively aware of what is going on in our own country without also experiencing how others work. Before I ever went abroad, I was extremely jealous other countries, who seemed to be overflowing with culture: soccer, cathedrals, art, music, fashion. European countries just seemed to be so much more defined and comfortable with their identities. To me, our own world seemed to be a cultureless society.

Of course, we aren’t. It’s just that our own culture becomes so much a part of our everyday lives that we accept it as absolute fact. And I think we saw that on this trip: a lot of people had trouble understanding why soccer teams don’t have a playoff to crown a champion, or that they played three or four different competitions per season, each of which involved a different set of opposing teams. We have become so used to the fact that sports involve a regular season, to decide who makes the playoffs, and then a postseason tournament to crown one (and only one) champion. We see that as simply the way it is: that’s how a champion is determined, rather than just seeing it as how we crown a sports champion. Only when we see other cultures operating in different ways can we start to challenge what we think of as being the way things are done, and start to acknowledge these differences as conscious decisions that we have made in shaping our own culture.

By all means, I am not saying that this trip is going to do all this, that enrolling in this one SportsCenter class is going to change your entire view of the world. After all, it’s only seven days, two of which are spent stuffed in the confines of a Continental Airlines seat. But it’s a start at least, a chance to see something new. It’s a chance to start trying to wrap your head around the fact that while we weigh ourselves down here worrying about grades, promotions, office politics, or anything else of “life-or-death” importance, there are completely different people living completely different lives thousands of miles away. It’s a chance to start seeing ourselves as a product of our environment: that we are who we are simply because of where we were born, complete luck of the draw, and start reflecting on what that means for us as a person. By going abroad, you challenge yourself to think outside of one little world, and see where you really are in the grand scheme of things in this world. Which, in my opinion, is one of the most important things you can do.

SPORTSCENTER PLANS TWO DAYS OF FUN IN APRIL AND MAY
4-10-06

This spring, the VCU SportsCenter will host two events for the Richmond community.  On April 28th, Friday Night Under the Lights will take place and on May 13th, the CapCity Challenge will follow.  Both events promise to be fun-filled experiences for those taking part.

Friday Night Under the Lights is a field day, which follows up the three First Step events that occurred in November, December, and February this past year.  First Step is a program that provides Richmond youth with the opportunity to visit a college campus and allows them to see that there is more to college than athletics.  Approximately 150 kids from Richmond and the surrounding area after-school programs visited VCU in the previous three First Step events.  Now, a field day is planned in order to get all of those kids back on campus for a day of fun-filled activities.  Friday Night Under the Lights will take place on Friday, April 28th at Cary Street Field.

The CapCity Challenge is an event designed for businesses in the Richmond area to enjoy a day of fun, challenging, and friendly competition among other area businesses.  This event is an opportunity for area businesses and corporations to interact in a way not typical of today’s business world.  Each business competing will have a team consisting of 10 employees with a minimum of 3 females.  The CapCity Challenge will encompass a variety of sport-related and challenging events in which each team will compete to earn points.

The CapCity Challenge will be held on Saturday, May 13th at VCU’s Sports Backers Stadium, rain or shine.  The winner of the CapCity Challenge will receive a championship trophy and a Richmond Braves Superbox package, as well as earn the reputation of being Richmond’s most athletic business.  The proceeds from the CapCity Challenge will benefit the VCU Massey Cancer Center and the VCU SportsCenter Scholarship Fund.

If there are any questions about Friday Night Under the Lights or the CapCity Challenge, contact Lindsay Thomas, Director of Student Promotions and Women’s Athletic Marketing, at 827-0808 or thomaslr@vcu.edu.
SPORTSCENTER STUDENTS GAIN EXPERIENCE IN MANY WAYS
2-10-06

Aside from engaging in challenging academic courses, students at Virginia Commonwealth University’s SportsCenter are taking advantage of opportunities to gain real-world experience. More than twenty of the SportsCenter’s graduate students currently hold internship positions within VCU’s Athletic Department in a variety of areas ranging from marketing to compliance.

Molly Miller, a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Omaha, is serving as an intern in the VCU Ticket Office. Miller supervises student workers and is responsible for the ticket sales for women’s basketball, baseball, and women’s soccer. “I have enjoyed my experience as a ticket office/foundations intern,” says Miller. “I feel fortunate that through the ticket office I get to experience all aspects of the athletics department.”

Jamie Funk, who earned a degree in Sport & Exercise Studies from Greensboro College, spends her days working in the Compliance Department. Funk’s duties include inputting student-athlete data into compliance assistance software, assisting with training sessions for coaches regarding NCAA rules, and helping athletes maintain eligibility requirements. “Having an internship in the VCU Compliance Office has helped me gain valuable knowledge of the daily operation of a compliance coordinator,” commented Funk.  “I hope to use my experiences in a future career in compliance.”

You may not see Mike Voyack at a Rams’ basketball game, but you will certainly see the effects of his hard work. Voyack, who serves as a video production assistant with the VCU Sports Network, controls the lights and video boards at many of the events in the Alltel Pavilion.  Voyack also helps edit the Jeff Capel Show, which can be seen Wednesday nights on RICH-TV. “My position has allowed me to gain valuable experience in the communications field,” said Voyack. “The hands-on work environment gives me the opportunity to explore many different aspects of sports television production.”

Walk through the halls of VCU’s Athletic Department and you will pass many respected administrators and exceptional athletes.  You might also bump into a SportsCenter student who is hard at work helping to make VCU the best it can be.

VCU SPORTSCENTER STUDENTS TEAM UP WITH RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
3-31-06

With the spring semester rapidly coming to an end, VCU SportsCenter students are hard at work on their action learning projects making sure they are a great success.  For some of the students though, the end of the semester doesn’t mean the work stops, because their event is will be held in the summer season.  Students are teaming up with Richmond International Raceway to put on Fan Fest 2006 during the SunTrust Indy Challenge on June 24, 2006.  Fan Fest is an annual event held at RIR, but this year SportsCenter students decided it was the perfect opportunity to enhance the family atmosphere at RIR and to give back to the Richmond community.

This year Fan Fest will have a sports related theme with many of the local sports team’s mascots coming out for photos and events throughout the day.  The children will also have the opportunity to participate in many activities including a moonbounce, football toss, speed pitch event, volleyball, miniature golf and free throw shooting contest.  The day is sure to bring out not only fans of the Indy races but families from across the Richmond area. This is chance for fans to enjoy the weather and the exciting atmosphere that Richmond International Raceway has to offer.

“We are really excited about having the opportunity to put on such a fun event for the families of the Richmond area.  This is not just a good learning experience for us, but should also provide us and the community with a day full of entertainment with all the different activities and surprises that we have in store,” says SportsCenter student Ryan Johnson.

Check back within the next few weeks to get more information about Fan Fest 2006, along with a growing list of events and guest appearances.

    
FIRST STEP TAKES ITS THIRD STEP
3-2-06

On Thursday, February 23, 2006, the Virginia Commonwealth University graduate program in sports leadership, the VCU SportsCenter, hosted 100 elementary and middle school students from various after school programs for its newly established First Step Program.  Graduate students welcomed the youth to VCU’s dynamic campus with an introduction at Franklin Street Gym by the VCU dance team, cheerleaders and Rodney the Ram.  Following the welcome at Franklin Street Gym, the students, comprised of different Richmond area after school programs, split up and toured the departments of Physics, Recreational Sports and Commonwealth Times.

The academic activities were followed by dinner, which was accompanied by a highlight video of the VCU men’s basketball team.  All of this got them ready to attend the VCU men’s basketball game against conference rival UNC Wilmington in the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.  The youth donned VCU t-shirts and rally towels in support of the VCU team.

Students from the VCU SportsCenter Program formed First Step to reach at risk youth in the Richmond area and give them an opportunity to engage in academic & athletic activities on VCU’s campus.  Highland Park Boys and Girls Club, Colonial Heights Kids After School Program, Chesterfield Parks and Recreation, Faith Family Church, Richmond Re-Development Housing Authority and Mt. Vernon Baptist Church youth all participated in the event.  Davon Smith, a fourth grader who participated in the event, said, “running in the recreation sports department was the best because he cut in front of everyone.”

The event on February 23rd was the third and largest First Step Program to take place at VCU.  The two previous First Step Programs included the VCU Art Department and VCU Strength and Conditioning, as well as attending a VCU volleyball and basketball game.

By: LaTanja Jones & Kenny Washington
SPEAKERS ENLIGHTEN STUDENTS ON WHAT IT TAKES TO SUCCEED IN SPORTS
2-22-06

As a member of the VCU SportsCenter, students are acclimated with prestigious speakers from all facets of the sporting industry.  Speakers who have visited the SportsCenter this year have included Fran Fraschilla, Jim Miller, Kanika Capel, Dan Cunningham, Eugene Kissourine, Greg Burton, and Mike Burch (pictured left).

Fran Fraschilla is an analyst at ESPN who comes from a very successful coaching background in Division 1 basketball.  Fraschilla’s most successful tenure came at the reigns of the St. John’s program in New York.  He related his experiences to the students providing valuable insight into the world of collegiate athletics and more specifically, the coaching arena.  Fraschilla provided depth into his experience as an analyst giving students a well rounded learning experience.

Jim Miller, the Athletic Director at the University of Richmond, spoke of the differences between running a public and private institution’s athletic department.  He stressed the importance of knowing your constituents and gaining an understanding for the climate of your program.  Partnering and establishing relationships with your supporting alumni and businesses was a key element in the subject matter.

Kanika Capel, the wife of VCU men’s head basketball coach Jeff Capel, and Dan Cunningham, the husband of VCU women’s basketball coach Beth Cunningham, described what it’s like to be the spouse of a devoted head coach.  Understanding the highs and lows of being a committed coach and how to cope with them was a highlight of their discussions.

Greg Burton, local news television sports anchor and sports radio show host, discussed the world of sports media.  He talked about what it takes to fill a multiple hour radio show as well as dealing with passionate fans.  He described the importance of creating an unbiased atmosphere for his viewers and listeners.  Burton explained to the students how the media could be used to gain so much more than just exposure. The students learned about the process of reaching the level of success that Burton has obtained in his career.

Mike Burch, director of business development for Speedway Motorsports Incorporated (SMI), came in to the SportsCenter class to discuss the world of sports marketing.  Burch showed the importance of creating financial success for the long term.  He explained how important sponsorship is to huge venues such as Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Burch stressed the need for understanding the sales process and how vital it is to succeeding.

Eugene Kissourine, a former VCU basketball player, former Russia professional basketball player, and current coach for a professional basketball team in Russia, talked to the class about the cultural differences in athletics between Russia and the United States.  Player development and coaching styles were two of the biggest differences that Eugene shared with the class.  He explained that in Russia kids are picked at a young age based on physical characteristics and are bred to become athletic stars.  He talked about his European sporting experience and how it differed from that of his playing career in the United States.

Guest Speakers are another unique element that helps the students in the VCU SportsCenter program gain insights into the dynamic world of sports and athletics.  The program will continue to bring in speakers so the students can learn first hand accounts of what it takes to thrive in the sporting industry.
SPORTSCENTER PROJECTS HELP FORMER VCU GREATS
2-20-06

Eugene Kissourine played basketball for VCU in the early 90’s under head coach Sonny Smith. “Eugene is a great player and even better person” said VCU’s assistant athletic director Mike Ellis, who was an assistant coach under Smith at the time Eugene played. After his time at VCU Eugene moved on to play professionally in Italy. During his career he played for various professional teams throughout Europe and also played on the Russian national team during the 1990’s and the year 2000. During that time he played in world championships as well as the Olympics, even playing against the United States’ Dream Team 2.

Eugene, a current coach in Russia, will attend the VCU SportCenter/Nike Villa 7 Consortium which will be held in May. Villa 7 gives assistant basketball coaches the opportunity to network and possibly find their next jobs as several Athletic Directors attend this event as well. Past speakers at Villa 7 events have included Bob Beaudine, the president and CEO of Eastman & Beaudine which is one of the top recruiting firms in college sports, Fran Fraschilla, former college basketball coach and current ESPN analyst, and Morgan Wootten, former DeMatha High School head coach who holds the record for most all-time wins at the high school level. Eugene hopes to network with other coaches while attending Villa 7 and also hopes to learn more about American basketball philosophies.

Currently Eugene coaches the Russian Junior Team CSKA in Moscow, the top basketball program in Russia. Because of his connections in the United States, Eugene is a huge resource for the Russian players.  He is able to give some Russian players an opportunity to come to the United States to study and play basketball, which is a unique and exciting experience that few enjoy.

Recently Eugene has been in the Richmond area watching practices and games of some of the top high school and college programs in the area. He has even visited the top ranked men’s ACC programs at Duke University and the University of North Carolina.  While in the area, Eugene was also nice enough to sit down and share some time with SportsCenter students. He opened our eyes to the differences between the European sports culture and the American sports culture, and told us many stories of his sports career. Eugene is one of the many resources available to the students here at the VCU SportsCenter who can provide valuable information on careers in the sports industry.

By:  Romain Ambert, Kevin Dwan, Mike Genovese, Tom Myrick, Amanda Olivas, Riad Ouled, Derick Sabbatini, Tripp Wilkinson
SPORTSCENTER TO HOST ATHLETIC CAREER SUMMIT
2-9-06

Click here to download your registration form!

The VCU SportsCenter is proud to announce the arrival of its first Athletic Career Summit: “A realistic view of working in the sports industry.”

The day will feature industry experts from various sporting organizations focused on sharing their first-hand accounts of building a career in sports.  Important for all current and future sport professionals, the concept is that by sharing the paths and setbacks of already successful sports leaders, future candidates will be better equipped and prepared to deal with real-life scenarios as they pertain to their careers in athletics.

The Summit will be held on Thursday April 6, 2006 from 9am – 3pm with a catered lunch included in the ticket price. Free parking will also be available.

Speakers include:

Greg Burton – Host of The Drive on ESPN Radio and 2006 Virginia Sportscaster of the Year
Greg was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. He's a proud "Fightin' Blue Hen" from the University of Delaware where he graduated in 1992.

His first job was as a news/sports reporter for WILM News radio in Wilmington. Greg also worked two seasons as a color commentator for the Wilmington Blue Rocks, the Class A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.

In 1995, Greg headed west to become the weekend sports anchor at KIDK, the CBS affiliate in Idaho Falls, Idaho. After a year and a half, he was promoted to Sports Director, a position he held until August 1998 when he accepted his current position as weekend sports anchor at WTVR in Richmond, Virginia.

In July of 2004, Burton began hosting “The Drive” on ESPN Radio 950.  The Drive, a sports talk and call-in show, can be heard Monday through Thursday from 4-7pm.  For his efforts in the field of sports broadcasting, Burton was named the 2006 Virginia Sportscaster of the Year.

He and his fiancée Stephanie will be married in May 2006.


Mike Burch – Director of Business Development - Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Michael Burch currently serves as Director of Business Development.  In has current position, his focus is on developing and coordinating SMI national sponsorship efforts as well as new business opportunities.  He joined SMI in 2003 as Manager of Business Development.

Prior to coming to SMI, Mike was the vice president of marketing for both the Charlotte Hornets (NBA) and Charlotte Sting (WNBA).  He was responsible for developing the Hornets and Sting brands, including the marketing of seating plans and corporate partnerships.  Prior to joining the Hornets, Burch spent six seasons with the Houston Rockets (NBA) and Houston Comets (WNBA).  His tenure included the 1995 NBA Championship season and the 1997, 1998, and 1999 WNBA Championship seasons.  He was involved in every area of the franchise including marketing, promotions, events, public relations, community relations, broadcasting, ticket sales, human resources, website development, and retail sales efforts.

In addition to his role at SMI, Burch also stays current on the sports business industry as an adjunct professor in the Virginia Commonwealth University graduate sports leadership program, teaching classes in sports business and sports marketing, in addition to speaking on the topics around the country.


Darryl Morrison – Former NFL Football Player – Washington Redskins
Darryl Morrison serves as the Associate Pastor of Metro Morningstar church in Washington D.C. under the leadership of Sr. Pastor, Donnell Jones.  He continually serves and ministers on college campuses throughout the United States, both HBCU's (historically black colleges and Universities) and non-HBCU's while focusing on “Equipping the next generation.”

Before being called into full-time ministry, Darryl was a starting free safety for the Washington Redskins.  Morrison was drafted in the sixth round of the 1993 draft.  Darryl earned all-rookie accolades and started for 2 years at the safety position for the Redskins, before his career was ended abruptly by a neck injury in 1996.

Darryl also serves on the Chaplaincy team for the Washington Redskins alongside Chaplains Lee Corder and Brett Fuller. Darryl and his wife Jo Ann have been happily married for 12 years and have 5 beautiful children: Faith, Samuel, Grace, Naomi, and Benjamin.  The Morrison's reside in Leesburg, VA.


Dr. Richard L. Sander – Director of Athletics – Virginia Commonwealth University
Dr. Richard L. Sander enters his 20th year as the Director of Athletics at Virginia Commonwealth University. He was named the fourth athletic director in Virginia Commonwealth history on July 6, 1986. Under his administration, the Virginia Commonwealth athletic program has undergone significant changes and gained national recognition for its success on and off the playing fields.

Dr. Sander’s guidance brought Virginia Commonwealth into the Colonial Athletic Association in the spring of 1995, and during his regime, the school’s athletic teams have been nationally-ranked in five different sports.

The improvements made under his tenure have highlighted Dr. Sander’s versatility in his leadership role. The facilities used by the Rams’ athletic teams are perhaps the most visible symbol of the strides the department has taken. The opening of the ALLTEL Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Convocation and Recreation Center, an on-campus facility that is the home arena for the men’s and women’s basketball teams and the volleyball team, is the centerpiece of the truly remarkable changes that have taken place. Another recent addition is Sports Backers Stadium, which serves as the home field for the Virginia Commonwealth men’s and women’s soccer teams as well as providing the track team with its first-ever venue to host an event. In all, over $30 million in capital improvements have been made available to the athletes of Virginia Commonwealth and its supporters.

Another area where Dr. Sander has helped to improve the university experience for the Virginia Commonwealth student-athlete is through his commitment to academic support. He established the Office of Student-Athlete Advising, which provides student-athletes with three academic advisors and a pool of 30 tutors. The advisors assist student-athletes in organizing and coordinating their academic and athletic schedules. To make certain that the university does not forget the athletes once they have completed their competitive years at Virginia Commonwealth, the athletic department has established the NEST (Non-curricular Educational Support Training) program, which allows student-athletes that need additional financial support beyond four years to complete their degrees.

A commitment to community service has been a hallmark of Virginia Commonwealth under Dr. Sander’s leadership. He started the VCU CARES (Community Athletic Recreation Efforts) program, which is designed to improve the quality of life for Virginia Commonwealth and its neighboring communities. Thousands of local youths have been able to enjoy a variety of athletic and public service events under the guidance of Virginia Commonwealth coaches and athletes.

Dr. Sander is also responsible for the creation of the VCU SportsCenter, an innovative graduate program that offers a master’s degree is Sports Leadership. Now in its fourth year, the SportsCenter offers its students the unique opportunity to specialize in either coaching or sports management. SportsCenter students benefit from not only valuable hands-on practical experience working in a real-world sports environment, but also from the program’s distinct Advisory Board which boasts some of the most notable names in the sports industry. Since its inception, the SportsCenter has experienced tremendous growth that is evident in the diversity of the students that make up the SportsCenter, as well as the undergraduate institutions represented from around the country and abroad. Due to the rapid expansion of the program, the SportsCenter now takes up its own wing of the Sports Medicine Building, and provides a state-of-the-art computer lab and workroom for its students.

Since Dr. Sander's arrival, Virginia Commonwealth has played host to a number of NCAA championship events, including the 1994 NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four, the 2000 Women's Basketball East Regional championship and the 2000 NCAA Women's Volleyball championship. Virginia Commonwealth has also hosted the 1990 NCAA Men's Basketball First and Second Rounds, the 1992 ITA Clay Court Tennis Championships, the 1992 NCAA Field Hockey Championships, the 1993 NCAA Women's Basketball East Regional, the 1996 NCAA Men's Basketball First and Second Rounds, the 1998 NCAA Men's Tennis Region II Championships and the 2001 NCAA Men's Golf East Regional.

Dr. Sander is a graduate of Tennessee-Chattanooga. He earned his master’s degree from Xavier, and he received his doctoral degree from Cincinnati. Dr. Sander and his wife, Mary, have a daughter, Leslie, and a son, Jim.


Teresa Dickerson – Manager, Community Relations, Memphis Grizzlies
Teresa Dickerson currently serves as Community Investment Manager for the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies. Now in her fifth season with the Grizzlies, Dickerson began her career as an intern in the Grizzlies’ Media Relations Department when the team made its move from Vancouver, British Columbia to Memphis, Tennessee in 2001.

A native Memphian, Dickerson holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Memphis and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Sport Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Among other duties, Dickerson is responsible for managing all educational programs associated under the NBA-League wide Read to Achieve Initiative. These programs include the Grizzlies Reading Challenge, The Stay in School Challenge, Reading and Learning Centers, book donations, player appearances and the Grizzlies Assembly program. She also holds the responsibility of managing the Grizzlies Speaker’s Bureau and the Community Investment Annual Report.

Since she began her career with the team, Dickerson has achieved three promotions in five seasons. She names the coordination of the first Memphis Grizzlies Read to Achieve Celebration in 2005 as one of her major accomplishments. By working on this project, she had the opportunity to coordinate it from an idea to a finished project that received national recognition and helped the Grizzlies win the prestigious 2005 PRISM (Professionalism, Results and Innovation in Sport Management) Award.

Dickerson currently serves on the board of directors for the Memphis Literacy Council.


Fran Fraschilla – ESPN Basketball Analyst
Fran Fraschilla joined ESPN as a college basketball game analyst in 2003 and primarily calls Big 12 Conference games.  Fraschilla had coached at the collegiate level for 23 years, posting an overall record of 175-100. When he joined ESPN, he ranked as the 34th winningest active coach in men’s college basketball.  His teams made eight post-season appearances in nine years, including three NCAA appearances (1993, 1995 and 1998).

Fraschilla served as the head coach at the University of New Mexico from 1999 to 2002, reaching the Mountain West Conference Championship game and the third round of the NIT in 2001.  He received the NABC Literacy Pioneer Award for his work on the “Dream to Read” program in 2000.

Fraschilla served as the head coach for St. John’s University from 1996-1998.  In 1998, he led the Red Storm to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years.  Prior to St. John’s, Fraschilla was the head coach at Manhattan College from 1992-1996 where his teams reached the post-season all four years with two NCAA and two NIT appearances.  In 1995, the team won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship and he was named Metro Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year, National Association Basketball Coaches District II Coach of the Year, Eastern Basketball Coach of the Year, and Metropolitan Basketball Writers Coach of the Year.

Before becoming a head coach, Fraschilla worked as an assistant basketball coach for five teams including, Providence College, Ohio State University, Ohio University, University of Rhode Island, and New York Tech.

Fraschilla has been active in several charity organizations.  He has participated in the NABC/American Cancer Society “Coaches vs. Cancer 3 – Point Attack,” NY State Special Olympics, The O’Hara Foundation, St. John’s Bread and Life, and White Plains Parks and Recreation.  He was the Chairman for the NABC Committee on Academics 1994 to 2002. Fraschilla served as an Honorary Chairman for the 2000 New Mexico Special Olympics Summer Games, as well as the Honorary Chairman for the UNM Library Development program.


And more!!!

The day promises to be entertaining and informative, so please come join us as we help promote careers in athletics!
SPORTSCENTER SUPPORTS ATHLETICS THROUGH CONCESSIONS
2-2-06

As many of the SportsCenter students have learned since coming to VCU, a sports organization is multi-faceted.  As some aspects of organizations are well-known, others are not readily thought of, such as concessions.  Although many people may not initially think of concessions as being a part of the sports industry, it is actually a very integral piece of the very complex puzzle.  If operated correctly and efficiently, a significant amount of revenue can be generated from concession sales.  According to Al Deschamps, Director of Food Operations at the Siegel Center, VCU concessions produces approximately $500,000 of revenue each year.  And, of that, around 20% is given back to the community through the organizations that work at each window.

The VCU SportsCenter attempts to give students a broad experience of what may be to come in their future careers.  As future leaders, it is important that students not only understand the sports industry, but embrace it as well.  In order to accomplish this, one element of the SportsCenter program is for students to work concessions for several basketball games or other events held at the Siegel Center.  Working concessions not only allows the students to obtain a diverse experience in the sports industry, but is also a customer service as it satisfies the desires of fans attending games.

Working concessions aids SportsCenter students in developing their own personal leadership skills.  As many students have quickly discovered, working concessions requires those present to work as a team.  Each individual working knows that in order for the night to go smoothly, they must be willing to help the other students with whom they are working.  Furthermore, communication is imperative while working concessions.  There are a few times during the night when business can become quite chaotic.  It is during these times that those working must be willing to open all doors of communication.  Finally, people skills are improved through interaction with hundreds of fans who come to buy an order of nachos, a pretzel, or a hot dog. Students must not only take their order, but must also treat them with appreciation, because if it was not for the fans, the concessions would not exist. And, if concessions did not exist, neither would the revenue that it generates. It's a winning situation for all involved!

SPORTSCENTER BACK IN ACTION
1-27-06

After a long winter break, VCU SportsCenter students arrived in Richmond from places such as Nebraska, Massachusetts, Florida, Iowa and even Ghana and Costa Rica to begin the spring semester.  It didn’t take them long to get back into the swing of things with new classes and big ideas for their action learning projects.  Action learning consists of groups meeting twice a week to plan an event from start to finish.

One such event is a party zone featuring a beach volleyball tournament, live music and spirits.  This event is tentatively scheduled to be held in late June. It is unique because it will potentially be held in an unlikely location.  Other events lined up for the semester include a leadership conference and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

The leadership conference, set to take place on April 6, is designed to target upper-class undergraduate students who are interested in a sports career.  The event will include keynote speakers and leadership sessions covering topics such as networking, women in sports, diversity, interviewing and self-promotion.  The conference will be held in the parlors of the Sports Medicine Building located on the Monroe Park Campus at VCU.

Another event students are working on is the Alltel 3-on-3 Pre-Exam Basketball Jam.  College students with a valid ID can compete to win prizes. The Jam is to be held on April 23 at the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.

Stay tuned as the semester unfolds to watch SportsCenter students as they work hard to meet high expectations and fulfill their goals.

By: Shaunte’ Barber, Travis Jones, Molly Miller, Taryn Wyckoff 
SPORTSCENTER STUDENTS LEND A HAND AT GENWORTH CHILDREN'S ADVANTAGE CLASSIC
12-8-05

This fall semester, SportsCenter students have been participating in the Lobs and Lessons program established at three community centers consisting of the William Byrd Community House, Sacred Heart, and the Northside YMCA.  The Lobs and Lessons mission is to promote education and build life skills for Richmond youth through mentoring, tutoring, and teaching the game tennis.

The semester culminated this past Friday night with the Genworth Advantage Children’s Classic.  The sold out tennis event was held at the Siegel Center and involved tennis starts Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Andy Roddick, and Anna Kournikova.

Notable attendees included Governor Elect Tim Kaine and current Richmond mayor Doug Wilder.  Numerous SportsCenter students were able to take in the action as well, and even enjoyed tossing T-shirts to fans in attendance between matches.

"I am really impressed with Genworth and their contribution to the community. It's great to see that kind of commitment from a company that already brings so much to the Richmond area," said Molly Miller, a VCU SportsCenter student and volunteer for the event. It was a great night with the proceeds benefitting two great organizations, VCU's Lobs & Lessons and the William Byrd Community House.

By: Edmund Aseweh, Shaunte' Barber, Erik Leibin, Molly Miller, Eric Privott, Jose Rodriguez, Chris Stapler
PEPPERDINE WINS EFFICIENCY CUP: VCU FINISHES 15th
11-22-05

Recently in a study performed at Virginia Commonwealth University, palpable evidence has been discovered that substantiates claims that budgeting is closely related to performance in the NACDA Directors’ Cup scoring structure. Graduate students at the VCU SportsCenter have created several formulas in an attempt to alleviate at least two existing biases: budgeting and sports sponsorship. The ability to analyze institutions in a points/sports-carried ratio, budget/sports-carried ratio and a cost/point ratio has shed light on inadequacies that exist in the NACDA scoring structure.

Pepperdine University, in the reformatted scoring structure, has dethroned 11 time winner Stanford University. In a cost/point ratio Pepperdine has shown the greatest efficiency of funds allocated in support of their athletic department spending $25,755 per NACDA point earned. Princeton University finished second at $32,867 and Harvard University finished third at $33,519. A list of the other Top-25 finishes is included.

Since the inception of the NACDA Directors’ Cup award in 1993, various institutions have considered the validity of the standings. Though the formula has undergone changes over the past 11 years, a new winner has never been established. It has been argued by many that the scoring structure established is flawed in that it ignores sports sponsorship and budgeting. The importance of athletic budget grand total expenses cannot be ignored in analyzing an institution's competitive level in the NACDA scoring system. It was noticed that the three schools with the highest point/sport-carried ratio also had the highest budget/sport-carried ratio in the country. They are University of Texas, the University of Florida and the University of Tennessee.

NACA has created an award to celebrate diversity in athletics, and overall, it is a program that has been successful and innovative. Using an efficiency model in conjunction with the current scoring structure can alleviate biases that exist due to budgeting. This would create an award that all schools could aspire towards winning.

By: Chris Atwater, Artis Gordon, Katie Knarr, Justin McClendon, LaTasha Murphy, Jose Rodriguez

SPORTSCENTER REACHES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY
11-22-05

Two years ago the VCU SportsCenter Graduate Students developed a community outreach service called Lobs and Lessons.  Genworth Financial recognized the need for this type of program in the Richmond community and partnered with VCU SportsCenter.  The program is designed to teach under privileged children life lessons through tennis and mentoring.  SportsCenter graduate students now volunteer at William Byrd Community House, Sacred Heart Community Center, and Northside YMCA and serve as excellent mentors.  Each week the children are provided with a new activity that helps improve their life skills.  Also, a day is devoted to learning tennis skills and the importance of sportsmanship.  Over the past few weeks the children have been learning about Anna Kournikova, Andre Agassi, Stefi Graff, and Andy Roddick, the professional tennis players that they will meet during the December 2, 2005 Genworth Children’s Advantage Classic.  For this event, the children were involved in a T-Shirt Contest and an Essay Contest.  The T-Shirt Contest winner was Juan Braxton who is a student at Maymont Elementary School.  His design will be featured on the December 2 event shirt.  Mizanie Cornwall of St. Andrews and MyAsia Price-Cleare, also of Maymont, were the winners for the Essay Contest.  Their essays will be published in the program for the Genworth Children’s Advantage Classic.  All proceeds benefit VCU’s Lobs and Lessons and the William Byrd Community House.

GASTRO GAMES ON ITS WAY TO YOU
11-11-05

The VCU SportsCenter prides itself on the real world experience that its students receive throughout the year. Students gain this experience by creating projects and developing ideas that are assigned by the SportsCenter staff. Our action learning group has the pleasure of designing and programming an eating competition that we refer to as the Gastro Games.

As a group, we are able to choose the direction of the project. The success or failure of the Gastro Games completely depends on our work ethic. This is a part of the SportsCenter we enjoy. Besides sitting in classrooms and learning from lectures, we are able to learn through real hands-on experience.

The nature of our project has progressed to our main goal, to take the Gastro Games to every CAA school during the basketball season. From Northeastern to Georgia State, we are aiming to conduct a campus tour promoting the VCU SportsCenter while having an eating contest at halftime during CAA basketball games. Upon completion of the campus tour, we intend to have a final championship at the Richmond Coliseum during the CAA tournament on Saturday, March 4, 2006. Winners from each school will be invited to participate in the finale for various prizes and recognition. What we hope to accomplish by visiting these schools is to raise awareness of the SportsCenter and to increase enrollment. This project is a new and progressive marketing venture that is under the control of the students.

The SportsCenter graduate program is great training for the real world and teaches us how to work within a group setting. The Gastro Games is just one example of the creative freedom that is endorsed. We are also currently planning a second project, the corporate games, which is a team building event for Richmond area corporations. We plan on having teams participate in a series of relay races and other competitions while promoting leadership and teamwork. This event is scheduled for the Spring of 2006.

By: Philip Brown, Krista Carson, LaTanja Jones, Ronnie Neal, Chris Parker, Mike Voyack
SPORTSCENTER TAKES ITS FIRST STEP
10-27-05

On Friday November 11, Kids First, a group composed of students within the VCU Sports Center graduate program, will hold its first First Step program on the campus of VCU.  Kids First is composed of six graduate students in the Sports Center’s action learning class developed to complete various projects throughout the year to benefit youth in the Richmond community.  The First Step program is geared to get Richmond inner city youth on to a college campus for something other than sports.  Kids First has partnered up with Carver Promise, an after school program at nearby Carver Elementary, to launch the First Step program on November 11.  The Carver Promise participants will range from grades 1 – 8 and will have the opportunity come to VCU’s Monroe Park Campus to take part in activities with the History and Art departments, after which they will attend the VCU Women’s Volleyball game at 7:00 p.m. versus the Seahawks of UNC Wilmington.  Kids First feels that it is important for young children to experience and see what interest them on an academic level, whether it is art, drama, engineering, medicine, or any other field.  The First Step projects will continue throughout the academic year and will include various Richmond City schools and organizations and other VCU academic departments.  For more information, please contact Peyton Owens at 804-828-4950.

SPORTSCENTER STUDENTS GET CAREER ADVICE IN CHARLOTTE
10-20-05

On October 18, 2005, thirty-five VCU SportsCenter students set out for a two-day trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of the SportsCenter's interactive educational experience. The SportsCenter uses these trips to provide a real world look at various jobs in the sporting industry. Trips such as these are an excellent complement to the knowledge gained in the classroom. Mike Ellis, Director for Recruiting and Special Programs, said, "I feel this trip is a great experience for the students because it exposes them to a variety of careers across the sports spectrum and creates early networking opportunities to capitalize on as the year progresses."

Regardless of each individual's professional goals or interests, on the trip there were many opportunities to gain knowledge in all facets of the industry. Our first stop was at Lowe's Motor Speedway, where Humpy Wheeler, president of the speedway, gave us insight into the world of running a super speedway, which involves such things as operations, marketing, promotions, and diversification. Mr. Wheeler also emphasized the importance of being creative or recognizing creativity. Creativity helped Wheeler introduce the world of NASCAR to night racing under the lights.

We later traveled to the Barnhardt Student Activity Center on the campus of UNC Charlotte where we met with a variety of professionals for interactive discussions. Tom Renedo, who is involved in licensing for EA Sports, talked about what his job as a licensor entails and also other aspects of the company. Next we met with Jim Bailey, creator and CEO of Red Moon Marketing, who is most notably known for bringing Jack Daniels into NASCAR. The next speaker was Mike Hummer, Executive Director for UNC Charlotte's Athletic Foundation, who spoke with us about the ups and downs of fundraising for a Division 1-AAA institution. Speedway Motorsports, Incorporated's Mike Burch talked with us about sponsorships and also the importance of networking. Riley Fields, Community Relations Manager for the Carolina Panthers, excited students with the possibility of working alongside professional athletes and discussed several of the Panthers' community outreach programs.

A highlight of our trip was the behind-the-scenes look we got of the new Charlotte Bobcats Arena, which had yet to officially open. We saw everything from the luxury boxes to the underground VIP night clubs to the players' locker rooms. We ended our time in Charlotte with an extensive look at the Ganassi Racing Team's stockcar headquarters. Students were amazed at everything that went into designing the perfect car, as Ganassi does all of its work in-house.

Overall the trip was not only a great chance for the students to get to know each other better, but also to learn about professional opportunities and develop contacts. SportsCenter student Jake Scott commented, "Whether you want to be a coach or video game licensor, everyone could take home something beneficial they learned from this trip. It was a great experience!" As we embarked on our trip to Charlotte, students had a vision of what they saw in their futures, yet when we returned students were enlightened with the opportunities the sports world has to offer.

By: Patrick Gibbs, Travis Jones, Brent Kintzer, Taryn Wyckoff
INTEREST IN SPORTS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS REMAINS STRONG, ACCORDING TO GRADSCHOOLS.COM
10-05

For the past three years, Sports Administration programs have regularly been ranked among the top twenty in interest, according to GradSchools.com. The comprehensive online source for graduate schools ranks graduate program interest each quarter, indicated by the number of visitors to the various subject menus. Since Sports Administration graduate programs first made a top-20 appearance in 2002, they have remained on the list, climbing to as high as sixth in interest.

Most recently, in the quarter from January through March, 2005, Sports Administration came in ranked tenth in interest among grad programs. History, Physical Therapy, and Clinical Psychology topped the list at one, two, and three, respectively. Social Work, Journalism, MBA, International Relations, Fine Arts, and Counseling & Mental Health Therapy also came in above Sports Administration.

This bodes well for the SportsCenter, who has similarly seen interest in the field rise, as determined by an increasing number of applicants. GradSchools.com makes sure to caution the statistics though, stating that, "Movement in the rankings would indicate shifting student interests. Quarterly trends don't paint a complete picture, but over several quarters they may. Again, this is based on traffic to a subject area, not on the number of inquiries or applications. Publicity, world events, and economic conditions may impact interest in the short term."

SPORTSCENTER STUDENTS PITCH IN TO AID IN HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF
9-12-05

SportsCenter students did their part to donate to Hurricane Katrina relief by working at the NASCAR Chevy Rock & Roll 400 Race on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, September 8-10. Every full-time student in the 2005-06 class volunteered to work with General Mills throughout the weekend doing product sampling. All of the money earned throughout the weekend was donated to the Red Cross to contribute to hurricane relief.

The students arrived on Thursday night ready to work and were responsible for handing out nearly 10,000 samples of Betty Crocker's "Warm Delights" to fans leaving the Cheerios Betty Crocker 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. Students donned Cheerios Race Team shirts, aprons, and chef hats to get into the spirit of the night and were bombarded by fans eager to get a taste of the treat.

Students continued to help on Friday and Saturday, manning the Cheerios Race Team tent where fans signed posters and cards for Busch series driver Erin Crocker and Nextel Cup driver Jeff Greene. Crocker's car was also on display in the tent and SportsCenter students helped supervise Crocker's autograph session which took place on Saturday afternoon.

The "Warm Delights" were a hit and were again distributed to fans on Friday night after the Busch series race, this time handing out nearly 20,000 of the product. It was quite an experience and leftan impact on the students who had never been involved in a NASCAR event. All of the students' hard work paid off at the end of the weekend when a donation was made to the Red Cross in the SportsCenter's name.

INZONE MAKING AN IMPACT

As they say, you’re only as good as your first impression.  If the phrase rings true, Virginia Commonwealth University’s newly-founded InZone is headed in the direction of success after recently completing its initial business project with Speedway Motorsports, Inc. of Concord, North Carolina.

InZone, currently in its first month of operation, is a sports research organization created by VCU SportsCenter graduate students as an action learning project. The company was contacted in September by SMI Business Development Director Mike Burch to perform marketing research at two NASCAR events at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte. The track is one of seven NASCAR facilities owned and operated by SMI.

InZone’s primary objective was to assist SMI in developing a better understanding of fan demographics at the speedway, in addition to providing SMI with data relevant to its contract renewal with Nationwide Insurance, one of the racetrack’s largest sponsors. On October 15, the Sports Impact staff and approximately 40 additional SportsCenter students made the trip to Charlotte to survey nearly 1,650 fans at both the Busch Series “Sponge Bob Squarepants the Movie 300” and the Nextel Series “UAW-GM Quality 500.”

“It was a great experience for everybody,” said project manager Ian Wiese. “It was crucial to establish a foundation on which Sports Impact hopes to build. We knew what we had to do and we were in mission mode – that’s a credit to our preparation. ”A detailed final report including survey data, graphical analysis, observations and suggestions was forwarded to Burch on November 1, marking the completion of InZone’s first-ever business initiative. The achievement is impressive considering that the eight-person team of Craig Aliff, Eric Dutt, Daniel Ndungu, Joel Pannell, Jennifer Sprouse, Peter Stuart, Celeste Thompson and Wiese had not met prior to August 26, the first day of the fall semester. “This group has done a tremendous job in developing this project vision, and they’ve done it at the utmost professional level,” said Michelle Meadows, VCU athletics assistant compliance director and the group’s action learning project mentor.

The concept of a sports research organization has been in the works at the SportsCenter for a few years, originally as a vision of Director Dr. Richard Sander to offer students real-world experience in sports marketing and research while promoting the new graduate program. The class of 2004 developed a detailed business plan before handing the torch to this year’s students, who have been instrumental in turning the concept into a reality. Be it a tremendous accomplishment, the InZone staff has not dwelled on the success of the SMI project and has currently began planning for future projects with clients such as the Richmond Volleyball Club and Colonial Athletic Association. The company will also oversee an economic impact model of the 2005 VHSL State Basketball Championship in Richmond. The staff agrees that establishing key contacts in the sports industry while building a solid business resume is crucial for the continued success of the organization. “VCU’s status within Richmond has really given us great opportunities with the CAA and other local sports organizations,” said Sprouse, Sports Impact business development manager. “It has allowed us to branch out into other areas of marketing research.”Aside from new projects, InZone is currently in the process of establishing itself as a non-profit business entity, operating independent of VCU but donating all revenues to the university. It is a goal of InZone’s founding students to have created a fully-functional sports research organization, with a strong client base, by the time they graduate the SportsCenter program next year. With a great first impression in Charlotte, it sure looks like InZone is headed in the right direction to making a lasting impression on the sports industry.

VCU SPORTSCENTER BRINGS WNBA SUPERSTAR DIANA TAURASI TO RICHMOND

As part of a girlís Amateur Athletic Union event put on by one of the VCU Sportscenterís Action Learning Project groups, Diana Taurasi visited the VCU campus on January 8 and 9th, 2005. The Womenís National Basketball Association (WNBA) 2004 Rookie of the Year, 2004 Olympic Gold Medallist, and former 3-time National Champion at the University of Connecticut visited the ALLTEL Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center on Saturday evening, signing autographs and posing for pictures with all of the AAU teams in the tournament. This appearance preceded an instructional clinic by Ms. Taurasi and VCU Womenís Head Basketball Coach Beth Cunningham on Sunday before the VCU vs. James Madison women's basketball game. Coach Cunningham and Diana Taurasi each spoke for 30 minutes in front of a huge crowd, with Diana spending over 20 minutes answering questions from the girls before conducting another autograph signing session.

25 teams of 10-13 year old girls from Virginia and Maryland participated in the AAU tournament. Each team played two games in a fun and exciting atmosphere in a great college facility, with many having the opportunity to play a game on VCU's main court. Games for this one-day event started at 10 a.m. and continued past 9 p.m. on Saturday night.

With the help of a volunteer staff of 14 classmates and 8 high school students, the whole weekend was a great success for the Sportscenter group led by Keith Rafter and Bob Foley and consisting of Ari Gabor, Adrienne Harris, Leon Milkins, Kevin Williams, Pete Wolf, and Joe Haigh. All of the goals of the project were met: putting on a successful AAU event for girls aged 10-13, providing exposure for womenís basketball, the women's basketball program at VCU, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the VCU Sportscenter, and increasing the attendance for the VCU womenís basketball game.

The group will immediately go back to work on its community outreach program, a middle school hoop shoot contest open to all the middle schools in the Richmond area, with the finalists shooting at half time of the VCU vs. Hofstra men's basketball game on January 15th, 2005.