Volume 100, Issue 16 March 26, 2019 West Haven, Conn. CHARGER THE BULLETIN The student news source of the University of New Haven. SPORTS EDITION Q&A WITH CHRIS PALMER, GAME REVIEWS, AND MORE The Charger Bulletin @ChargerBulletin @ChargerBulletin @ChargerBulletin March 26, 2019 Page 2 SPORTS EDITION Bulletin Briefs Page 4 University’s New eSports Minor Page 7 Athlete Reflection March 26, 2019 Page 3 SPORTS EDITION Q &A with Athletic Director, Chris Palmer BY CHRIS DIGERONIMO Q: Where do you see University of New Haven SPORTS EDITOR Athletics within the next 3-5 years? A: “I think it’ll be pretty much where it is right now. I think we have to improve our facilities over here, if you go around and look at the facilities of people in our conference we would not rank in hris Palmer officially the top of the heap. The main part of campus has done a tremendous Cbecame the director of athletics job, our facilities on the main part are as good as any school and we and recreation on Jan. 16, 2019. have to do that over here in our locker rooms, on our playing fields, He is the sixth person to hold in our gymnasium, we have to improve those areas. When a student this title, coming to the univer- athlete looks at our facility, we want them to say these are top notch sity with 25 years experience in facilities, I can get a great education and I can complete on the DII the National Football League, level and I can be happy and challenged from that standpoint. Three including a 2008 Super Bowl to five years from now when we have the facilities where we think Championship with the New they should be, we’ll continue to evaluate where we should be. The York Giants. He comes back to landscape of college athletics is changing every year, some people the university after previously are going Division I, some are dropping down, people are dropping leading the university’s football Chris Palmer speaks at the 2018 Athletics & Senior sports. I think things will continue to evolve at the Division II level team from 1986-1987. Awards Banquet. Photo Courtesy of Charger Athletics and we will do the same”. Q: You hired two new head coaches in Brian Quinn and Christa Cooper. What made them the best candidates to lead their respective programs? A: “Well our soccer program attracted over 128 applicants which to me was a large number of can- didates that applied. I would like to return soccer to what I remembered it as when Joe Machnik was here running the soccer program. I like to see us be successful and competitive in the soccer program. I think that’s doable. We have some other teams in our conference that have more scholarships than us and one of the things I am trying to do is raise more money to attract the best DII players that we can, and we are trying to do that in women’s soccer as well. The volleyball program is an attractive program, there have only been two coaches in Debbie Chin and Robin Salters and both of them were highly successful coaches. Christa (Cooper) came in and did a great job. In both coaching searches we interviewed young, up and coming coaches along with coaches with head coaching experience. Each program was different and at the end of the search we sat down and said ‘okay, what does this program need?’ In the volleyball situation Christa’s strengths fit what the program needed at that particular time and for the soccer program we thought that Brian’s (Quinn) strength fit what the program needed at that time. Brian’s taking over a program that has been down for a little bit and we’re hoping that he gets it turned around really quick. Christa is inheriting a program that’s strong, each one of them has different pressures but they are both very good coaches. Photo Courtesy of Charger Athletics Q: What are some of the biggest improvements you’ve seen so far in your first full year as Athletic Director? A: “The year and two months have gone by very quickly we’ve been very busy trying to improve things on the north campus. I think the athletes are the ones that we are trying to serve and we are trying to make this a better place for them. We are working on having the concession stand and restrooms finished by the baseball and football field, that’s almost complete and it should be completed within the next two weeks. We have gotten sweat suits for all of our athletes that they proudly wear around campus, I think its good advertisement for the university, I think they’re classy and they get to wear them on trips and things like that. Our football team had a good season, our volleyball team had a good season, both our men’s and women’s basketball teams had good seasons. Our indoor track and field team scored 40 points more than they did a year ago and they are only losing three seniors, so I am excited about that. Women’s lacrosse is off to a strong start, I’m excited for our baseball teams season to unfold. On May 2, we are going to replace the turf on Kathy Zolad Stadium. That turf has outlived its use by far. On April 29 We are also going to replace the gym floor with new bleachers. I think our athletes will say that things are happening fast on our north campus. We are putting in a new batting cage for both baseball and softball to use. We are also putting smaller scoreboards on both the baseball and softball fields so that students and fans can see the scores wherever they are sitting around the ballpark. So, from that standpoint I’m ex- cited and we’re anxious to continue to raise money for different things we are trying to do within the north campus. President Kaplan has been very supportive in our efforts”. March 26, 2019 Page 4 SPORTS EDITION Sport Management Department to Introduce eSports Minor sport, ethical issues in the indus- development of the industry. a critical business case for the storytelling, computer program- BY CHRIS DIGERONIMO try, the future of the industry, “So many people think of industry and help students learn ming, criminal justice, clay SPORTS EDITOR and potential career paths within eSports as games, baseball was some key skills needed for the animation, and numerous other the field. The second course, a game, and so were so many industry.” areas. There are several large eSports technology will discuss other sports that have grown The minor will also help inter- corporations in this space (such what goes into developing the into billion-dollar industries, ested students find and develop as Sony, Nintendo, Activision he wildly popular games that gamers know and eSports is the same way,” said different career paths that they Blizzard, etc…) that are hiring TeSports industry has taken over love. Students will gain a basic Fried. “The popularity of the could utilize in the future. all over the world. There are the world, and it has now made understanding of hardware and eSports industry is rapidly “Those already in sport man- also so many technology areas its way into academia. The software, streaming, and devel- expanding with new titles, new agement, hospitality, or music out there that will keep evolving University of New Haven sports oping matches. leagues, professional teams, industry already understand the (such as virtual reality and aug- management department is In eSports business, students talks about the Olympics, gam- value of event management, and mented reality) and there will proposing a new eSports minor will learn about the traditional bling totals exceed wagering on putting on eSports competitions be application of the gamifica- that would expose students to business practices that have NFL games, etc. Around all this is a major opportunity” said tion mindset to solve numerous the business side of the multibil- helped shape the industry are businesses and business best Fried. “There are also oppor- problems and help teach new lion-dollar industry. over the years. They will learn practices, and that is where the tunities for those with social topics.” The proposed minor would about the various people in the minor will provide students with media savvy, broadcast skills, consist of a required four course industry and the roles they play sequence, along with two elec- to keep the industry moving tives from the traditional sport towards the future. The final management palate of courses. class, sport technology and The required four classes entrepreneurship will discuss would include courses on various issues and trends in the eSports basics, eSports tech- industry, along with the process nology, eSports business, and of developing a business plan, sport technology and entrepre- funding, product development, neurship. The eSports basics and marketing. class explores the history of the Gil Fried, sport management industry, and how it has grown department chair, has been and expanded over the last half monitoring the industry over the century. The class will explore past few years and sees great the authenticity of eSports as a potential in the expansion and Graphic Illustration by Tyler C. Butler/The Charger Bulletin BY TYLER C. BUTLER CHARGER COMICS GRAPHICS EDITOR March 26, 2019 Page 5 SPORTS EDITION Elm City Rivalry Favors Chargers Southern Connecticut soccer owns an impressive 69-6 all- they also got swept in 2017-18 defeated Southern Connecticut BY CHRIS DIGERONIMO programs own a collective 48- time record against the Owls.