Southern Connecticut State University • Owl Club Newsle�er • May 2008 CHAMPIONS CONTINUE TO BE CROWNED THREE NEW MEMBERS INDUCTED INTO Success has been abundant for Southern Connecticut HALL OF FAME State University’s athletic programs to date throughout the course of the 2007-08 academic year. Student-athletes Paula Brune�o ’87 and Travis Tucker Since the previous newsle�er in late 2007, seven teams ’85, as well as longtime baseball coach Joseph Bandiera, have captured Northeast-10 Conference championships - MS ’75, 6th Year ’81, were inducted into the Alumni Sports men’s soccer, men’s and women’s swimming and diving and Hall of Fame on May 1. men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track. The gymnas- Brune�o won the first NCAA individual national cham- tics team also won the 2008 ECAC Championship. With the spring season winding down, the Owls will look pion in Southern Connecticut State University women’s to conclude another strong campaign across the board. track and field history a�er capturing the 1,500 meters at the 1987 Indoor Track and Field Championships. A four-time All-American (two times apiece in both indoor and outdoor track and field), Brune�o still holds school records in the 1,500 and 3,000 meters. She also posted the best time among any Owl runner at the 1985 NCAA Cross Country Championships. Tucker suited up for the football squad from 1981-84 and emerged as one of the top receivers in program his- tory. Upon the conclusion of his playing career with the Owls, he ranked first all-time in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown receptions. A�er earning All-New England and All-ECAC honors as a senior, the tight end was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 11th round of the 1985 NFL Dra�. He went on to play three seasons for the Browns and was named their Special Teams Player of the Year in 1986. Bandiera spent 26 seasons as head baseball coach for the Owls and enjoyed an affiliation with Southern Con- necticut State University that spanned from 1968-2001. During his tenure as head baseball coach, Bandiera won 469 games and led the Owls to a winning record 16 times. In his final season, 2001, SCSU set a single-season record for victories (38) and qualified for the NCAA Di- WHAT’S INSIDE vision II Tournament. The Owls also reached the ECAC Playoffs four times from 1996-2000. Pages 4-5 Super Bowl Champs at Southern: Spotlight on Alums Kevin Gilbride and Chris Palmer Ancil Farrier (at le�) was among the Owls to earn All- America honors during the fall season. Check out page 2 Page 7 for the complete story. Student-Athlete Spotlight: Kristen Frost Southern Connecticut State University • Owl Club Newsle�er • May 2008
Athletic Department Announces Launch of New Website - www.southernctowls.com The Southern Connecticut State University Athletic Department announced the launch of its new website, www.southernctowls.com in early January, 2008. The new site included an enhanced redesign and the addition of numerous features that will benefit all of the Owls’ many constituencies. “Our new website is a tangible demonstration of the exciting and changing direction of Southern Connecticut State University athletics,” said Director of Athletics Patricia D. Nicol. “It allows our department to disseminate the messages created by our 19 intercol- legiate programs in a first-class manner. We look forward to utilizing www.southernctowls.com as a valuable resource in promoting our continued quest for academic and athletic excellence.” The SCSU athletic department worked with Internet Consulting Services to complete the project. Founded in 1996 by Jeff Rubin, Syracuse, NY based ICS has spent the past 11 years providing clients with innovative technological solutions for their web needs. Since its founding, ICS has pioneered technologies in web design, content management systems, e-commerce solutions and many other areas. ICS has a client list that includes over 145 athletic clients from around the country including Cornell University, Syracuse University, Drexel University, Colgate University and many other NCAA DI, DII, DIII, NAIA and collegiate conferences. ICS has a staff of approximately a dozen developers who possess a variety of expertise in graphic design, database management, information security management, web-based user interface design, and e-commerce business transaction management. SCSU Athletics Hosts Girls and Women in Sport Day and ‘Think Pink’ Party The Southern Connecticut State University Athletic De- partment hosted a pair of tremendously successful commu- nity service initiatives during January and February. On January 26, approximately 200 females a�ended an event at Moore Fieldhouse in conjunction with ‘Girls and Women in Sport Day.’ The function featured a morning clinic followed by a guest speaker and lunch. The event cul- minated with all a�endees treated to the women’s basket- ball game against Southern New Hampshire. On February 13, the Owls hosted an event in support of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s ‘Think Pink’ initiative. The Owls wore pink uniforms for their contest against Pace, and were one of a selected few across the na- tion that sported such a�ire. Following the contest, SCSU made a donation to the Make-a-Wish Foundation in support of the Division II ini- tiative for that organization.
All-America and Regional Honors Prevalent During Fall Season Several Southern Connecticut State University student-athletes were honored at the conclusion of the fall season a�er outstanding individual campaigns. Five Owls - Ancil Farrier of the men’s soccer team, Kate Gedney of the field hockey team and Steve Armstrong, Jarom Freeman and Patrick Gildea of the football squad - were selected as All-Americans. Farrier was a First-Team pick by both Daktronics and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Gedney was named a First-Team pick by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, while Gildea earned Associated Press Li�le All-America laurels. Armstrong and Freeman earned All-America honors from Don Hansen’s Football Gaze�e. In addition, Armstrong was also named as both the New England Football Writers Division II-III Gold Helmet Award winner and the ECAC Player of the Year. He was a Kate Gedney finalist for the 2007 Harlon Hill Award, given annually to the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year. Southern Connecticut State University • Owl Club Newsle�er • May 2008
Two Owls Etch Their Names In The NCAA Record Book The NCAA record book now features the names of two Southern Connecticut State University student-athletes who soared to the top of the pack during the 2007-08 aca- demic year. The first standout performance occurred on Nov. 2, when sophomore tailback Jarom Freeman rushed for a new NCAA Division II single-game record 418 yards in a 56-28 win over Bryant. Freeman surpassed the Kristen Frost and Benjamin Prue Named old Division II mark of 410, Southern Connecticut State University set by Andrew Terry of Fer- March Athletes Of The Month ris State on October 2, 2004. In all, it was the fourth Kristen Frost (Madison, Conn.) of the women’s highest single-game rushing swimming and diving team and Ben Prue (Alphare�a, total in NCAA history. Ga.) of the men’s swimming and diving team have been In the process, Freeman named as Southern Connecticut State University Athletes also set new SCSU single- of the Month for March. game records for rushing Frost continued to build her résumé as she won yards and all-purpose yards, four national championships in as many days in the month breaking the old figures of of March and set three NCAA Division II records at the 303 and 408, respectively. Freeman finished with 428 all- championships. For her efforts, Frost was named the Most purpose yards. He also joined four other Owls with a pro- Outstanding Swimmer at the NCAA Championships, and gram-record five touchdowns in one contest. also went on to earn Northeast-10 Swimming Athlete of Then, on January 19, sophomore swimmer Kristen Frost the Week honors. set a new NCAA Division II record in the 1,000 yard free- Prue closed his first season with the Owls in style in a dual meet against Marist College. fine fashion, as he took home All-America honors in two Frost finished with a time events at the 2008 NCAA Championships. He finished of 9:53.75, which be�ered the fourth in the 200-yard bu�erfly with a time of 1:49.45 and old mark of 9:55.47, set by also placed 10th in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of Diana Betsworth of Truman 1:50.55. State University on March Earlier in the month, he won the 200-yard back- 16, 2002. stroke on February 24 with a time of 1:49.3 at the Metro- Frost followed that up by politan Championships at Rutgers Aquatic Center. Thanks se�ing three new NCAA Di- in part to Prue’s efforts, the Owls finished second overall vision II marks at the NCAA at that competition, finishing only behind The College of Championships in the 500, New Jersey. 1000- and 1650-yard free- In addition to winning the 200-yard backstroke, style. (see related story on Prue was also part of the 400 medley relay team that fin- page 7). ished second in the event with a time of 3:28.58.
Men’s Soccer and Football Teams Punch Tickets To NCAA Tournament It was another successful season at Jess Dow Field for the Southern Connecticut State University men’s soccer and football teams. Both squads qualified for the NCAA Tourna- ment and enjoyed tremendously successful campaigns. The men’s soccer team reached the NCAA Tournament for the 30th time in program history and finished with a final mark of 14-2-5. The Owls also captured their first-ever Northeast-10 Conference Tournament title with a thrilling 2-1 win over Merrimack. The football team reached the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season and matched a program-record with nine victories. The Owls also registered their first-ever NCAA Tournament win, a 45-28 victory over conference foe Bryant at Jess Dow Field on Nov. 17.
Ancil Farrier Southern Connecticut State University • Owl Club Newsle�er • May 2008
OWLS CENTERPIECE • SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS KEVIN GILBRIDE AND CHRIS PALMER
Two Southern Connecticut State University alums were right in the mid- dle of one of the greatest team victories in sports history when the New York Gi- ants defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Kevin Gilbride ’74, the Giants’ offensive coordinator, and Chris Palm- er ’72, the team’s quarterbacks coach, joined an exclusive group thanks to their team’s stirring come-from-behind victory. A veteran of 18 seasons as a coach in the National Football League, Gil- bride recently completed his fourth season on the Giants’ coaching staff, and sec- ond as its offensive coordinator. Previously, Gilbride also served as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach with the Houston Oilers (1989-94), offensive coordinator for the Jack- sonville Jaguars (1995-96), head coach of the San Diego Chargers (1997-98), offen- sive coordinator of the Pi�sburgh Steelers (1999-2000) and offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills (2002-03). A quarterback and tight end for Southern, he also served as head coach for the Owls from 1980-84 and posted a 35-14-2 mark. His 1982 team registered a 9-1 record and was ranked No. 9 in Division II. Palmer earned a Super Bowl title in his first year as quarterbacks coach for the Giants. A 19-year NFL coaching veteran, he spent the 2006 season as quar- terbacks coach under Bill Parcells for the Dallas Cowboys. A quarterback during his playing days with the Owls, Palmer started his NFL coaching career as the wide receivers’ coach with the Houston Oilers (1990- 92). He then spent four seasons (1993-96) with the New England Patriots before moving on to become offensive coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars (1997- 98). In 1999, Palmer was named head coach of the Cleveland Browns and spent two years in that capacity. Palmer was also the offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans from 2001-05. The Owl Club Newsle�er recently had a chance to speak with both gentle- men about the joys and challenges that come with coaching in the National Foot- ball League. SCSU alums and current New York
Giants coaches Chris Palmer (above) and Kevin Gilbride (below) captured Super Bowl XLII.
Q; Can you describe the emotion and thought process af- “So many people coach in this profession for so long and ter the final knee is taken and you realize that the New never have a chance to win a ring. We were talking about it York Giants are Super Bowl Champions? as a staff. This was the 42nd Super Bowl – and how many coaches have a Super Bowl ring? Is it 600, is it 700 – there’s Chris Palmer: “When New England took the ball with 35 not a lot of people in the world who have coached at the seconds le�, that was the longest 35 seconds of my life. It professional level and have a Super Bowl ring.” took close to a month by the time ticked off. When it was accomplished and we came down and came onto the field, Kevin Gilbride: “Winning the Super Bowl was the culmi- I got my wife, daughter, son and daughter-in-law on the nation of 34 years of coaching and teaching it’s a great ful- field with me, it was just so rewarding. As a coach, you fillment of a dream...When I saw my wife and family on the move around a great deal and leave your wife and kids be- field – it was a journey that I chose to take and they were hind…Sometimes it’s hard on the family. It was nice for my along for the ride. To see them partake in a very special family to come down and see the confe�i all over the field event – that was probably the most emotional that I was.” and see the trophy and to say ‘hey we did it’. Southern Connecticut State University • Owl Club Newsle�er • May 2008
OWLS CENTERPIECE • SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS KEVIN GILBRIDE AND CHRIS PALMER
Q: Looking back from your time as a student-athlete at Q: Describe life in the NFL during the season. Southern Connecticut State University, can you see any direct lessons learned or people that prepared for you for Chris Palmer: “We start off the morning with an offensive your professional career? staff meeting. Then there’s a quarterbacks meeting followed by an offensive team meeting. We go out for practice and Chris Palmer: “The coaches that we had at Southern were then come back in, view films, have lunch and meet with outstanding. If you took a class with Doc Moore, he was the players. Normally, the players are out by 4:30 p.m. We an outstanding teacher. Those things had to rub off on you (the coaches) continue to study film and work on the next with how he taught and how he presented his material. day’s practice until 10 or 11 at night. Most of the coaches Coach Shay, who I played for, every spring he brought a are in by 6 o’clock in the morning. We’re pu�ing in a 15, 16 new type of offense in to experiment with…There was a hour day from the middle of July right up through January theory class that Coach Shay taught with Woody Hayes’ right into February. book and it was outstanding. Kevin Gilbride: “Before I got to the professional level, the “Mike Adanti – you couldn’t ask for a be�er guy a guy NFL looks glamorous. It took about 15 minutes to have that that could teach you about life and teach you about play- wear off. You’re pu�ing in 80 to 100 hour weeks for seven ing football. I was fortunate to have Larry Fitzgerald, who months straight with no days off. You don’t see your family taught speech. He taught me as a freshman and did an ex- as much as you should. But it’s a choice. And if you’re going cellent job. We were in a situation where I took two more to coach at that level, it’s not just a sacrifice that you make, classes – one as an undergraduate and one as a graduate. but one that you’re family makes as well.”
“There were good people that had your best interests at Q: Has there been a favorite place that you’ve coached in heart and you could emulate a lot of their teaching styles through the years? and the way that they conducted themselves as coaches. Chris Palmer: “I grew up as a Giant fan, so this is special. Q: When did you know that you wanted to get into coach- My dad’s been a season ticket holder since 1956 so I think ing? it’s a lot easier for him rooting for the Giants right now.”
Kevin Gilbride: “My father was a high school teacher and Q: What is it like working under the microscope in the a coach, and that’s really all that I wanted to do. I thought world’s largest media market? that he had the greatest job in the world. He loved what he was doing. I thought he had a tremendous and profound Chris Palmer: “When I came to New York, I knew it was a impact on a lot of lives and that’s what I wanted to do. tenuous situation to say the least, but I wanted to help Tom Coughlin salvage the situation. Lo and behold we get to the “Harry Shay was the coach, and at the beginning of my Super Bowl. In my wildest imagination, I didn’t know that senior year, he said ‘why don’t you take a look at college’. we were quite good enough to get that done and accom- I said, ‘Coach that’s not what I want to do.’ He said ‘you plish that. can always come back. It’s hard to move from high school to college, but if you go to college you have a li�le bit more “When you’re so close to being fired the year before and flexibility.’ you come in and you start off 0-2. As late as Philadelphia in early December you didn’t know whether you were going “I knew I wanted to coach. I knew I wanted to teach. I’ve to be alright. Were we going to be able to get into the play- always enjoyed teaching and I really just wanted to find offs? Were we going to win a game in the playoffs and re- the medium where I could be addressing people who were tain our jobs? It was touch and go, and to have things work as excited about the subject as I was. The truth was that I out the way that they did…Probably until I get my ring, I was either going to coach or was going to be a special ed won’t believe that we won the Super Bowl.” teacher. Kevin Gilbride: “To flourish and to survive in New York, “From my special ed involvement at camps, I saw that you have to develop that ability to tune out the critics – those kids were so enthusiastic about whatever they were whether it’s WFAN or ESPN or all of the other ‘intelligent‘ going to do. I said that would be a lot of fun if I worked people. You know that these are people that have nothing with them. If I didn’t get into coaching, that’s what I was to do with whether we win or lose.” going to do.” Southern Connecticut State University • Owl Club Newsle�er • May 2008
NEWS AND NOTESN OWLS EXCELLING IN THE CLASSROOM Eight student-athletes were recognized by the North- east-10 Conference as All-Academic Team picks for their respective sports thus far in 2007-08. The group consists of Angela Cafarelli and Kate Gedney (field hockey), Jacob Edwards (men’s cross country), Michelle Martinik (wom- en’s basketball), Craig Toulouse (football), Caitlin Crowley, Rachel Heyer and Maria Zenoni (women’s swimming and diving). In order to qualify for this award, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve and at least a 3.20 cumula- tive grade point average.
MEN’S/WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY The men’s and women’s cross country teams were both well-represented on the All-Northeast Region teams this fall. Christopher Croff, Jacob Edwards and Joseph Poulsen all earned All-Region and All-Conference honors during the season. Thanks in part to their efforts, the Owls were ranked in the top 25 nationally throughout the year and placed third at both the Northeast-10 and NCAA Regional com- petitions. Graduate student Whitney Dunbar also helped the women’s cross country team to a regional ranking through- Michelle Martinik out the entire campaign. She earned both All-Region and Jankovic earned NSCAA All-New England honors for their All-Conference honors for the Owls. efforts during the fall season. In addition, sophomore Ashley Knight of the women’s MEN’S/WOMEN’S SOCCER squad earned All-New England honors for her play. Four members of the men’s soccer team - junior de- Seniors Ali Barker and Cassie Nichols were also selected fender Ancil Farrier, senior forward Colin Jackson, sopho- to play in the New England Women’s Intercollegiate Soccer more defender Sean O’Brien and junior midfielder Djordje Association Senior Bowl.
ABOUT THE SCSU OWL CLUB Editorial Staff/Contacts Gregg Crerar In the fall of 2000, SCSU Athletics and the SCSU Foun- Southern Connecticut Director of dation partnered to establish the SCSU Owl Club, a recog- State University Athletic Development nition society dedicated to supporting our athletics pro- Department of Athletics Phone: (203) 392-6505 grams. The aspirations, dedication and discipline of our 125 Wintergreen Avenue Fax: (203) 392-6508 student-athletes have propelled many of them to unprec- New Haven, CT 06515 [email protected] edented heights. Southern is commi�ed to continuing the tradition of excellence by providing our student-athletes Patricia Nicol Lee Ryan with the tools for academic and athletic success. Director of Athletics Assistant, We invite alumni, parents and friends to join the Owl Phone: (203) 392-6045 Development Office Club to support our deserving student-athletes and the Fax: (203) 392-6006 Phone: (203) 392-6505 programs that help them succeed. All gi�s will benefit the [email protected] Fax: (203) 392-6508 SCSU Athletics programs. For more information, please [email protected] contact us at (203) 392-6505. Michael Kobylanski On behalf of the Owl Club and all the student-athletes Associate Director of Photo Credits who have benefited from your support through scholar- Athletics/Communications Isabel Chenoweth, ships and our athletics programs, we would like to extend Phone: (203) 392-6005 Jerry Pinkus, our appreciation and invite you to visit our campus and Fax: (203) 392-6967 Michael Kobylanski, help cheer on the Owls! kobylanskim1@ Richard Orr, John Steady southernct.edu Southern Connecticut State University • Owl Club Newsle�er • May 2008
STUDENT-ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT • KRISTEN FROST Claiming that Southern Connecticut State University bined for four national titles (Christie Clark Deary, gym- sophomore swimmer Kristen Frost made a splash at the nastics, vaulting, 1983 - Paula Brune�o, indoor track and 2008 NCAA Division II Women’s Swimming and Diving field, 1,500 meters, 1987 – Kateema Rie�ie, outdoor track Championships could be considered a bit of an understate- and field, javelin, 2001 and 2002). ment. Frost matched the four national titles in just four days, Frost essentially turned the four-day event, held at the and is certainly a favorite for additional crowns in the years University of Missouri, into her own personal showcase. to come. She produced one of the top individual showings by any However, whether or not Frost will repeat in the same swimmer, regardless of level, at a NCAA Championship four events as this year remains to be seen. event. “As long as she was swimming well, we knew that she For those within the SCSU community, it was a perfor- stood a very good chance of winning all four national titles,” mance that conjured up memories of another Owl swim- said Owls’ coach Tim Quill. “But next year, maybe we head mer – Ben Michaelson, a 10-time National Champion on in a different direction. You can always go the easy route the men’s side during a collegiate career that spanned from and swim the four events (that she won national titles in). 1999-2003. Maybe we’ll try the 200 (yard) bu�erfly or the 400 (yard) in- However, from another perspective, Frost’s showing was dividual medley. She knows that those records will be even one that has been unrivaled by any female student-athlete more challenging to break. She’s prepared to swim those at Southern Connecticut State University since the National events because we put her in that situation a lot this year. Collegiate Athletic Association began sponsoring women’s “Where is her ultimate place going to be? That’s what championships back in 1981. we’re thinking about with Kristen. I do think that it’s possi- By the conclusion of competition on March 17, Frost was ble for her to win 12 (individual) National Championships. ready to head back to Connecticut with an impressive col- But what if out of a possible 12 National Championships, lection of hardware. you do it in eight or nine different races. Wouldn’t that She won four NCAA Division II Championships – in make it even more impressive?” the 200-yard, 500-yard, 1,000-yard and 1,650 yard freestyle Regardless of what the future holds, there is no denying events – and set three new NCAA Division II records in the that Frost’s memorable 2007-08 season was in fact one for process. the record books. Frost also now sits atop the record books with the fastest Division II times ever in the 500-yard, 1,000-yard and 1,650- yard freestyle. Add in her work as a member of the 800- yard freestyle squad and Frost earned All-America honors in five different events. Naturally, she was selected as the meet’s Most Outstand- ing Swimmer and was named a finalist for the Division II Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year, as part of the Colle- giate Women Sports Awards presented by Honda. Thanks in part to Frost’s efforts, along with All-Ameri- can performances from teammates Ali Bronson, Cody Hall, Rachel Heyer and Emily Sundel, the Owls posted a 12th place finish at NCAA’s. It was the highest team finish in program history. “I accomplished all of the goals that I had set, so I’m re- ally happy with that,” Frost said. “(Winning the individual titles) means a lot, but the team definitely helped me with everything they’ve done. All of us swam well (at NCAA’s). Frost’s performance at the NCAA Championships be- comes even more impressive when you consider the fact that only three other female student-athletes at SCSU have captured NCAA individual championships. That trio com-
Kristen Frost Southern Connecticut State University Department of Athlteics Non Profit 125 Wintergreen Avenue U.S. Postage New Haven, CT 06515 PAID New Haven, CT
The 2008 SCSU Golf Tournament took place on May 20 at the Lake of Isles. Lake of Isles was named as the “Top Newcomer” by Zagat in their recently released 2007/08 Guide to America’s Top Golf Courses. Additionally, in the “Top-Rated Courses” cat- egory, Lake of Isles received a rating of 29 out of 30. Only two courses in the nation received a higher score than Lake of Isles: Brandon Dunes, Coos Bay, Oregon and Whis- tling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin. Bethpage Black in Long Island, New York was the only other Northeast course to receive a rating of 29 out of 30. In addition to one of the top-rated golf courses in the coun- try, Lake of Isles ranked 22nd in the country for top-rated service. For reservations and sponsorship opportunities please con- tact Gregg Crerar at 203-392-5518 or CrerarG1@SouthernCT. edu