Welcome to 2017! I hope that your holidays were happy, healthy and peaceful. Since moving to Long Island, I have never taken for granted the ability to drive or take the train into Manhattan at the drop of a hat. It is such a special place to be during the holidays, and this year was no exception. Now that the calendar has flipped and the holidays are in the rearview mirror, I am excited for the year ahead and all of the promise that it brings.

Although it has been quiet on campus without the majority of our student-athletes around, there has been a lot of activity around our building. Our new fueling station, which will provide snacks and quick "grab-and-go" nutritional supplements, arrived last week and will be available to our student-athletes shortly after their return to campus. A new softball scoreboard was installed, the track and field locker rooms were refurbished, and the pool is in the final stages of completion. 
 

At LaValle Stadium, our general contractor has begun work on our endzone expansion that will add 2,000 seats and the new restroom and concessions facility. We are also close to bringing an architect on board and launching the Stony Brook Indoor Training Center project. By the fall, the progress of these and other projects will be on display for all to see!

In the weeks and months ahead, we will take on new projects and challenges. I can't wait to see what 2017 has in store for all of us.
 
Football Focus
As soon as the football season ends, the recruiting season becomes the focus of our coaching staff. December and January are critical months for football recruiting as National Letter of Intent Day is on February 1. Our coaches have been busy traveling across the country to recruit the strongest group of Seawolves to the 2017 class.  

At this point in the process, our coaches are doing a number of home visits with prospective student-athletes and their families. We have a tremendous group of verbal commitments and are looking to put the final touches on what is shaping up to be a very strong class.



Hopefully this group includes the next Victor Ochi, a member of the 2011 signing class at Stony Brook. On Tuesday, he was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs and will be uniform for their playoff game on January 15. Victor spent the 2016 season with the New York Jets and was a member of their practice squad before being signed by the Chiefs. Victor has never doubted his ability and neither have I.



Will Tye is another Seawolf who will make his NFL Playoff debut when the Giants take on the Green Bay Packers this Sunday. After becoming the first Stony Brook player to appear in an NFL game, Will has emerged as one of the most dependable tight ends in the league. He and Victor have shown that NFL dreams do come true at Stony Brook, and I know that they are the first of many.
   
Men's Basketball Welcomes Albany on Sunday


 
Sunday is a big day as our men's basketball team takes on Albany at Island Federal Credit Union Arena at 2 p.m. Even though this is his first Empire Clash game, Jeff Boals is very aware of the importance of this series. It is a bit unusual to have this game on a Sunday before the students are back on campus, but that only means that we need you to be louder than ever. Tickets for Sunday's game are available by clicking HERE.

Did you know that your Seawolves are fifth in the nation in fewest turnovers per game? Thanks in large part to senior point guard Lucas Woodhouse, our team averages 10 turnovers – just behind Michigan, Notre Dame, Virginia and Iowa State.

Here's my plea: We know that the Giants are on at 4:40. Our game starts at 2. You can make it the ultimate sports day by coming to cheer on the Seawolves and then making it home in plenty of time to watch the Giants. Even Will Tye would approve of that plan! After all, it's Stony Brook-Albany. I'll see you there.

Together We Transform!


Warm regards,
 

Shawn