Welcome to Road Trip 2017.
 
When your school is a member of two conferences, it means that you have two sets of summer AD meetings to attend. With CAA and America East summer meetings taking place this week, it means a chance to connect with fellow ADs and administrators while discussing short and long term issues related to both conferences.
 
First up were the CAA meetings, which concluded this morning in Charleston, South Carolina. The meetings were very productive as the ADs and head football coaches spent most of the time together in a collaborative setting. As usual, several issues were voted upon but one decision point that was specific to us was related to future scheduling.


 
Currently the CAA uses a pod system for scheduling conference games where schools in the same pod play one another every year. Stony Brook has been in the North with Albany, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. The two other pods are the Mid-Atlantic, which consists of Delaware, Towson and Villanova; and the South comprised of Elon, James Madison, Richmond and William & Mary. The odd thing about the current configuration is that the North has five schools, the Mid-Atlantic three, and the South four. It made sense for us to move to the Mid-Atlantic to have four schools in each pod, and that's exactly what will happen beginning in 2018. The good news for us is that our Albany rivalry game is protected while we will play Villanova,  Delaware and Towson each year. All three schools are located in areas that we recruit heavily.
 
Ordinarily I would be traveling today to America East meetings, which begin in Savannah, Georgia, but instead of making the short trip west I am traveling north to attend the Tewaaraton Award ceremony tonight in Washington, D.C. Kylie Ohlmiller is one of five finalists for the women's award and there is no one who deserves it more. She's a special person whose impact on Stony Brook transcends her athletic ability. Hopefully she wins tonight, but she certainly doesn't need a trophy for me to know that she is the nation's best college women's lacrosse player.


 
My traveling partner for the quick trip to D.C. is Albany AD Mark Benson, who is supporting men's Tewaaraton finalist Connor Fields. Mark started at Albany shortly after I arrived at Stony Brook and we've developed a strong working relationship - in spite of the fact that there is nothing I love more than beating the Great Danes. I'm sure that the feeling is mutual! After attending tonight's ceremony, the two of us will travel down to Savannah tomorrow morning to join our America East colleagues. Speaking of Albany, their head football coach Greg Gattuso told me some disturbing news last night at the CAA social dinner gathering. Apparently the stem on the Golden Apple trophy, which for the time being is in Albany's possession, broke off. For a two-year-old trophy, it has already been through the ringer. Even the Stanley Cup has a few dings in it so I suppose we're in good company.
 
I'll have more to report on the America East meetings next week. I expect significant conversation around new NCAA legislation aimed to address student-athlete time demands. Stay tuned!
 
Touchdown Club Golf Classic Takes Place Tuesday


 
I am very excited for our annual Touchdown Club Golf Classic that will be held on Tuesday at Willow Creek Golf and Country Club in Mt. Sinai. The event is a fundraiser for our football program that also serves to celebrate the memory of 9/11 first responder Deputy Chief Raymond Downey, father of former football player and Stony Brook Athletics Hall of Famer Chuck Downey.
 
It is always a great day with our coaches and student-athletes so if you have not registered, please do so today by calling 631-632-7705 or emailing SeawolvesUnited@stonybrook.edu. Even if you are unable to play, please consider making a gift in support of our football program by clicking here.
 
Now that the 2016-17 competitive season is officially in the books, our attention is completely focused on achieving success in 2017-18. There was a lot to celebrate this past year, but still so much that we want to accomplish. I'll reflect back on the past year and provide some thoughts on the upcoming year next week. For now, think positive thoughts for Kylie that she wins the trophy that she has worked so hard to earn.
 
#DK23
 
Together We Transform!
 
Warm regards,
 
Shawn