AD Blog - January 7, 2009

The New Year started on Saturday. You might think I have my calendar askew since January 1 arrived a few days earlier, but I was referring to the New Year for the Towson men’s basketball program. Saturday, the Tigers began the CAA schedule with a 58-57 come-from-behind win over rival James Madison! While we did play a CAA game in December, Saturday’s game started a run of exclusively CAA opponents, with the exception of the ESPN Bracket Buster weekend (Feb. 20-21) when we will play a final non-conference game. Saturday’s game was just what we can expect for the next two months – hard fought CAA contests with exciting conclusions!

And then, March Madness. All you have to do is say the words and you see visions of passion, upsets, great plays and new Cinderellas emerging in the national spotlight. Towson’s conference tournament, the CAA Championship, has developed into one of the best in the country. The past two years, I’ve come away from the conference tournament very impressed with the hospitality and atmosphere. Personally, I’ve been involved with four different conference tournaments and this one is the best!

My resolution for this New Year -- to make the experience at the CAA Championship in Richmond the best in Towson history. Will the Tigers run through the bracket and have the chance to play for the NCAA bid? Who knows? This is a crazy year in the league and Towson is one of the teams that has a chance to do it. The Tigers are knocking on the door to a great run in March.  We want you to be there when Towson breaks through!

Richmond is a great host. In 1990, the tournament moved to the Richmond Coliseum, not far from the conference office, and the CAA staff has augmented the event, year after year, and now has a success story. Only the Big East Conference has held its conference tournament at the same site longer. The CAA has added TV coverage, hospitality events, local corporate partners and fans – lots of fans. The attendance has set records over the past two years and the semifinal doubleheader has been sold out both times!

Of course, the CAA basketball programs have contributed by bringing in strong teams, good enough to send both the CAA Champion and an at-large team to the NCAA Tournament in two of the past three years. It’s great basketball to watch!

The CAA Tournament has provided great motivation for our Tigers to be playing their best basketball in March. In 2007, Towson knocked off the defending CAA champions, UNC-Wilmington, in the first round. Last year, Towson ended Hofstra’s season before bowing in the quarterfinals to number-one seed VCU.

To build the excitement for the tournament, we have developed TEAM RICHMOND. It’s our fan-building strategy for the CAA Tournament. We have created a special e-newsletter for alumni and friends in the Greater Richmond area, former men’s basketball players and loyal fans from Baltimore that might be looking for a little madness. Every Tuesday during the CAA season, we will be providing updates on the team, the tournament plans and special Towson events in Richmond. With the additional information, we expect you to go mad – March Mad!

The Tiger Pep Band will be there, providing great atmosphere. Last year, a bus of Towson students joined the fun, setting the stage for a great showing of students and fans in 2009. The CAA Tournament is the team’s culminating event of the year. We want to make it your culminating event as well.

The tournament begins Friday, March 6 and wraps up with the championship game on Monday, March 9. Clear your calendar now! It’s a great time. Go to our web site and click on the front page icon – E-News. Put in your e-mail address and sign up for TEAM RICHMOND! Is there someone you want to cheer with in Richmond? Sign them up, too! Or just send the e-mail address of anyone you want added to the list to my attention at mhermann@towson.edu. We’ll add them to the growing list! Join the fun and go Tigers! After all, it’s a New Year!