Together We Transform Thursday – June 17, 2021
 
The 2020-21 year was a ride unlike any other… it felt like being on an extreme emotional roller coaster where we felt the twist of exasperation one moment and the turn of exultation the next.
 
Now that the roller coaster has come to (almost) a complete stop, it is time to step back into the sunlight. I am so unbelievably proud of our student-athletes, coaches and staff for staying the course and holding on tight. 
 
I have heard so many people (myself included) say that "we made it through the year" and, while very true, it is important to celebrate what was achieved and use it as a springboard to both a bigger and brighter future. This year was so much more than simply "making it."
 
We held tight to the belief that we could successfully compete despite enormous headwinds presented by guidelines and restrictions. Our student-athletes deserved the opportunity to do what they love, and they knew that we did everything possible to provide a positive experience.
 
Ultimately, we held tight to the America East Commissioner's Cup. After winning our first Commissioner's Cup in school history in 2018-19, we said that we weren't going to let it go. And we didn't.
 
Making History and Moving Forward
 
Winning the Commissioner's Cup was once a goal. Now it is the expectation. In this wildest of years, we led the America East with three team championships (Women's Basketball, Women's Soccer and Women's Lacrosse). Baseball won the regular season championship and, as you might have heard, was denied an opportunity to compete for the tournament title. (Don't even get me started. I'm still sick for our team because the situation was completely avoidable. The manner in which it was handled was completely unacceptable. For Chris Hamilton to have his Stony Brook career end in the on deck circle with a 1-0 lead and the bases loaded in the championship round of the conference tournament is something that will be with me for a long time.) Moving on…
 
When I think back to when all of this started, my mind immediately goes to March 11, 2020. The day that I walked down to the floor of Island Federal Arena to inform our women's basketball team that their historic season was effectively over one day before they were to compete in the America East title game feels like a million years ago.
 
Through the darkness, we kept moving toward the light at the end of the tunnel. Our goal was to control what we could, never knowing what hurdles we would be asked to leap over each day. As frustrating as it could be at times, our student-athletes, coaches and staff remained positive. I never want to go through anything like what we experienced over the past 15 months, but we will be stronger as a result of having gone through it. 
 
Our future is in our hands. We will never be satisfied with the status quo, and neither should you. The bar is raised every year and there is no excuse for falling short. If we learned anything from the past year, it's to not take anything for granted. This is our time to step on the gas and separate ourselves from the pack.
 
There has never been a more uncertain – or exciting – time in college athletics. Legislation that will permit student-athletes to monetize their name, image and likeness is coming. Student-athletes in all sports can now transfer one time without having to sit out a year. Budgets that were ravaged over the past year will either allow schools to dig themselves out of the hole or fall deeper into it. Strategic plans will unfold and new alliances will develop.
 
At Stony Brook, we are not only digging ourselves out but coming back stronger. There is no other option. Changes are being made and enhancements are coming. We've made such incredible strides but there is still so much farther to go.
 
Thanks for your continued support. As we get back to full capacity in the fall, please buy tickets and come support our teams. More than anything, we have missed your energy. It's time to get this party going again.
 
Hold on tight.
 
Keep believing!


 
Shawn