WEAR YOUR STONY BROOK RED TOMORROW!!!
 
A Question for All Stony Brook Supporters
 
As 2017 winds to a close, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and ask you a question:
 
How great do you truly want Stony Brook Athletics to be?
 
There is not a doubt in my mind that we can build an athletic program on par with prestigious state flagship research institutions such as Cal and Virginia. All we need is time… and people who believe in what we are building and why it is important for the future of Stony Brook. Our youth is something to celebrate – Stony Brook just turned 60 – but it also means that we have a lot of ground to make up. Cal is preparing for its 150^th anniversary next year while UVA will turn 200 in 2019.
 
I spoke to a group of faculty at a meeting of the University Senate on Monday, and I talked about the unique role that Athletics plays to increase awareness of our University. A December 1 article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram ("Value of TCU in the Top 10? 'It's priceless. It's immeasurable.') highlighted the impact that athletic success and, more specifically football success, has on the overall campus:
 
"It is absolutely a driver for general university awareness, general university brand equity and enrollment of undergraduate students," said Whitney Wagoner, director of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon.

She said something similar happened at her school when the Ducks program rose to prominence in 2008, the first of a seven-year string of Top 10 appearances in the AP Top 25, including a national championship game appearance following the 2010 season.

"The overall size of enrollment at this institution and the diversity and geographic reach of where students are coming from can be tied to Oregon football," she said. "No doubt, overall, a university attracts a broader and more diverse student body as a whole when the athletic programs are performing at a high level."

Oregon is also a state flagship research institution which, like Cal and Virginia, is a member of the AAU (Association of America Universities) along with Stony Brook. Take a look at the list of member schools and identify the ones that you want us to aspire toward.
 
What we lack in age we can compensate for through investment and innovation. It is very simple. We need investors who believe that a great public research institution like Stony Brook deserves a first class athletic program. Please consider making a year-end gift today to Seawolves United or any area of Athletics that you wish to support.
  
How great do you truly want Stony Brook Athletics to be? We can be great, but how great is up to all of us.

Building on the Success of Football 


 
Now that the most successful season in Stony Brook Football history has come to an end, it is time to look toward 2018. The team's 10-3 record, including a 7-1 finish in the CAA, served to put the nation on notice that Division I football on Long Island is alive and well.
 
We will build upon the success of this season. In many ways the 2018 season started as soon as we got on the plane to return from James Madison on Saturday night. The coaches mapped out their plans to scatter across the recruiting trail while strategic decisions were considered about how to best position ourselves for a CAA championship in 2018. 
 
There is no question that we lose tremendous talent and leadership from a senior class that helped to set the tone. Guys like Ray Bolden, Stacey Bedell and Tyrice Beverette will be sorely missed not only because of their talent, but also their leadership. The truth is that our talent pool has never been deeper thanks to recent strong recruiting classes. I have complete confidence that the leadership that was such a vital part of 2017 will continue. Our 2018 captains will be announced tomorrow, and I am excited for the young men who will wear the "C" on their jerseys next season.
 
The season opener at Air Force is only 269 days away! We will be ready.
 
Hoops for the Holidays!


 
The season of binge-watching holiday favorites like "Elf" and "Christmas Vacation" is in full swing, but so is basketball season. Our teams are in the midst of their non-conference schedules so I strongly encourage you to join us at Island Federal Credit Union Arena throughout the month of December. 
 
Our men's team is home on Tuesday night at 7 to battle Long Island rival Hofstra. Be sure to get your tickets now for what promises to be a great game. There is no question that we challenged ourselves with a very difficult non-conference schedule, but I believe that it will prepare us well for the start of America East play in January.
 
The women jumped out to the best start in Division I program history at 5-0 and, despite tough overtime losses to Syracuse and Yale in the last two games, are going to challenge for their first America East title in program history. If you have not been to a women's game before, I guarantee that you won't be disappointed. The women will be home next Thursday night to take on Iona so buy your tickets now.
 
Hold on tight. The best is yet to come!
 
This Weekend for the Seawolves
 
Sunday
Women's Basketball is at Northwestern – 12 p.m.  
 
#DK23
 
Warm regards,
 
 
 
Shawn