Dear Tiger Fans:
It’s game week at Towson!
Our staff has been busy preparing for Thursday’s home opener. I hope
you are planning to visit Johnny Unitas® Stadium to join us! I look
forward to your feedback on the enhanced college football experience.
The
phrase “new and improved” is a worn advertising phrase. However, it is
amazing the number of “new” things around the 2007 Tigers.
Of course, you will notice the new FieldTurf surface
on Minnegan Field. Used by 21 NFL teams, FieldTurf provides an
outstanding surface for our student-athletes, and the colors look great!
We have a new conference,
or at least a new name and new operation. Originally, the conference
was formed in 1947 as the Yankee Conference. The membership has not
changed since Towson
joined the league in 2004, but after a 10-year run under the operation
of the Atlantic 10 Conference, the league operations shifted to the
Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) this summer. The CAA remains the
top NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) conference in the
country.
The CAA took little time to put its mark on the college football scene, announcing a new 31-game TV schedule in its inaugural year, including five Towson games on Comcast SportsNet and CN8.
This season is the first in the new three-year radio broadcast partnership
with WNST (1570 AM). The familiar voices of Spiro Morekas and Tom Judd
will call the action, and fans will be able to follow the team all week
on the station that never stops talking Baltimore sports.
The crowned jewel of the radio partnership is the new one-hour pre-game show
before every home game, broadcast live from the Minnegan Room,
overlooking the field. Host Tom Judd will preview the game with a
scouting report from a member of the Tiger coaching staff, catch up
with a former Tiger football player, get a perspective from another
Towson head coach, talk with a faculty guest and visit with a
“Baltimore Sports Legend.” It’s the best place to “get your game face on” and enjoy a great pre-game buffet. Seats for this new event are just $30, which includes a game ticket.
The
opening broadcast features Colts legend Tom Matte, the Unitas family,
former Tiger Tony Vinson, men’s soccer coach Frank Olszewski, associate
head football coach Rich Bader and associate provost Kate Denniston.
If you prefer to paint your face with a traditional tailgate, this year we have unveiled the new Tiger Tent Village. Located in Lot
21, the village will include music, kid’s games, face painting and all
the traditional pre-game activities. Fans can rent tents; we have
preferred caterers or you can set up your tailgate in your own style.
It will be a fun place to start gameday.
One thing that is not new is our coaching staff; in fact, it may be the most veteran in the country. Head coach Gordy Combs, who has been a part of 38 Towson football seasons, returns for his 35th year on the Tiger staff and his 16th
as head coach. His staff has a combined 132 years of coaching
experience AT TOWSON, headlined by 38 years from Associate Head Coach
Rich Bader and 25 years from offensive coordinator Phil Albert. This staff knows how to win at Towson!
Enjoy
the game on Thursday and the environment. After the game, send me your
comments and suggestions at mhermann@towson.edu. Thanks for cheering
for the Tigers, and I look forward to seeing you at Unitas Stadium
often!
Mike Hermann
Director of Athletics
