On The Road: Western Kentucky
Jason Plotkin, UNOPrivateers.com
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Privateer baseball team is on what amounts to a week-long trip, as we departed for Oxford, Miss. on Monday morning at 10 a.m. and most certainly will not return until 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. on this coming Monday. In my time on the Lakefront, I have gone on several six day trips with the basketball teams, but this one takes the cake for being the longest journey away from home.
One thing is certain about these long trips, it seems they are much more enjoyable when the trip is broken down into two (or three) stops. I am sure the players also enjoy a change in scenery halfway through the trip as well.
The trip to Oxford, Miss. was a great one. We had an expert along with us, as Privateer Athletic Foundation president Mike Sapera knows a thing or two about the school and area. His daughter attends school at Ole Miss while the elder Sapera also was a Rebel for one year before coming back to the New Orleans area to wrap up his degree on the Lakefront.
Our hotel was right off the town square and every place we stopped to eat was a home run in my books. On our first night there, we even ran into a UNO student who was visiting a friend at Ole Miss. He was really excited to see someone wearing familiar colors, though I do not believe he had ever attended a baseball game in his life. When told the game was at 6:30, he asked, "in the morning?".
The baseball facility, which had recently undergone renovations (and from what we are told is 93 percent complete), was a fantastic place to watch baseball. The radio suite was especially comfortable with a working heater when the temperatures outside ended up in the 30s by the end of Tuesday night's contest. When the weather improved on Wednesday, there was a bigger crowd at the ballpark, especially in the student section beyond right field.
On Thursday morning, we made our way to Bowling Green, Ky. This is the second trip in a few months to this "Hilltopper Haven" as both Wags and I were here in January for hoops. Yesterday, the team got practice in and we're now a few hours away from leaving to the ballpark for tonight's series-opening contest. The game was pushed back to a 7 p.m. start due to the inclement weather in the area.
We're scheduled for games on Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Each game of this series will be available on UNO Vision in video format with on WGSO 990 AM and WGSO.com for those back home.
* * *
As it has been awhile since I last blogged, I'm going to try to do my best to update all of you on different things happening around the athletic department.
Our associate athletic director Mike Bujol recently went over to the property on the corner of Franklin Ave. and Leon C. Simon Blvd. that will soon become the home of UNO athletics, also known as "Privateer Hall". While there, he took a few pictures, which have been posted online for those interested in following the progress of the facility. Bujol will continue to make trips there for more pictures. Once he gets those pictures, I'll make sure to post them as soon as I can.
Also on the update page, is a link to an article from last May, which includes a PDF blueprint of the facility.
* * *
Look for information on national letters of intents (NLIs) being signed in the next few weeks on UNOPrivateers.com and in different media outlets.
As far as publicity goes, signings tend to produce a fair share for our university and our athletic department outside of the greater New Orleans area. As has been commented before on this blog, UNO athletes are coming from a larger cross-section of the United States and the rest of the world. When these soon-to-be Privateers sign to play at a Division I school, it carries publicity not only in New Orleans, but in their hometowns.
The success they have in the Crescent City also continues that publicity back home as in recent weeks, we've gotten media requests from Iowa and Pennsylvania, among other states from which our Privateers hail.
* * *
Volleyball's spring season is in full swing right now with the Privateer volleyball team in practice right now. This team is continuing their progress towards a conference championship and an eventual NCAA tournament bid. Last week, I wrote an editorialized piece on the squad, which I know has high expectations for the fall.
Ultimately, the most important time, as is the case with other sports, is the offseason. This time provides the most opportunity to learn new skills and build on those you presently have. With the fall schedule that is being finalized and the increases in both depth and talent, this team should be well positioned to make an NCAA appearance if they take care of business on the floor.
The article also includes information on a pair of newcomers, that should both play a factor for the squad next year.
* * *
Did you know that UNO had a pair of national champions? Our swimming and diving program is home to two athletes, who combined to win five events at their native country's national championships recently. One of which, Birkir Mar Jonsson, will represent Iceland at the Small Nations Games because of his success while the other, Eva Hannesdottir, may soon follow.
Look for several more UNO swimmers and divers to compete at national competitions over the next few months and into the summer. This will be a common occurence for Privateers over the next few years, in addition to some of the current student-athletes, some of those signed in the fall, have routinely competed at national and international competitions. The coaching staff will keep me in the loop, so we can all share in their accomplishments.
There's more from the swimming and diving team, as their end of season recap is also available online, in addition to a rundown of the team's annual banquet, which was held at the end of March.
* * *
If you have not been able to see the Joe Pasternack or Tom Walter TV shows, because you forgot to set your DVR or do not live in the viewing area, make sure to check our archives on UNO Vision for each installment. Additionally, archives of most basketball and volleyball home games, in addition to highlights, interviews and more are available in the UNO Vision archives.
* * *
The most recent UNO Magazine came out a few weeks ago. It includes articles about Jada Frazier and a preview of the UNO baseball team. Frazier has been in the news plenty of times since that article went to press, as she recently became the first Lady Privateer All-American of any sort in nearly 20 years when she was named to the Lowe's Senior CLASS All-American squad. There may still be an honor or two left for the Privateer guard, who will go down as one of the most decorated student-athletes in school history.
* * *
There was a Hall of Fame committee recently. The athletic department is moving forward in restoring the athletic department's Hall of Fame. The last incarnation, which is viewable at the link above, was around from 1988 through 1990 with 12 individuals being inducted. In the time since, many worthy candidates both on and off the playing field have earned placement in this special group.
* * *
That should cover a few bases for now. There's plenty more to come on UNOPrivateers.com!
Inside the Athletic Department Index
