Greetings Eagles Fans!
We, as never before, feel a particular honor and excitement this year to be members of “The Nest”. In particular, I want to convey how grateful we are for the tremendous support that the greater campus community continues to provide FGCUAthletics. In return, to all of you, we say “Thank You!” Looking back on our record 2012-13 season, we realize how important our Green & Blue faithful were to our many successes. In addition to our wonderful “Sweet 16” ride last March that led to earning the ESPY that now sits proudly in Alico Arena, we also captured all three A-Sun All Sport Trophies (Men’s, Women’s, Combined). Collectively, we have now earned 30 conference regular season and tourney championships in our first six years as a Division I institution, and we are already a force to be reckoned with. Also, we are soproud of terrific Eagle ambassador Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox being the winning pitcher in the MLB All Star Game last month!
As we move forward, our primary goals include continuing to increase the attendance and enhance the excitement at our home venues. Clearly, generating an energy-charged home advantage requires that FGCU students get behind us in growing and exciting numbers. As we saw last season when we thrashed ACC champ Miami here in men’s hoops, wouldn’t it be cool to someday have Alico Arena and our “Dirty Birds” become as feared as Cameron Indoor Stadium and the “Cameron Crazies” are at Duke to their visiting opponents? Same can be said for the likes of Swanson Stadium and our other home facilities. •nately, we have already proven that we can compete on this level against such competition. Why not collectively achieve the same in terms of our home atmosphere for all of our venues?
As all returnees know, we commence each year with our annual high energy Eagle Revolution pep rally that is held in Alico
Arena. This year’s event takes place this coming Monday the 19th. Doors open at 5:30pm, and the event starts at 7pm. Come meet all the Eagles and earn a chance to win one of many awesome giveaways that will be raffled off. This year, we are also hosting a shooting contest in which a student will have the opportunity to win a Dunk City Mustang or $30,000 in cash or tu•ition! Afterwards, enjoy the free food and camaraderie on the main floor. The event is sure to kick off the 2013-14 school year in grand style, and you won’t want to miss it!
Our number one goal is to continue to build FGCU community pride with our total package of athletics, academic, and community service accomplishments. In turn, our FGCU Athletics program successes are growing and the Eagles are becoming an even greater athletic force. However, we also want to continue to enlarge the “Eagle Nation” and we need our great fans to help us spread the word in our overall objective to make us Southwest Florida’s Home Team. So if you aren’t already on board, consider this a personal invitation to join the ESPY-famous “Dirty Birds” and come out and support the Green & Blue!
Together we can further build traditions and additional memories that will enhance the FGCU Eagle experience.
I hope to you see you at Alico Arena or one of our other venues in the immediate future.
All the best for an enjoyable 2013
God Bless & Go Eagles!
Ken Kavanagh
Director of Athletics
[email protected]
