First Semester in the Books

It's hard to believe, but our first semester has come and gone.  Our team wrapped up their last exams, papers and projects yesterday.  Now it's time to focus on just basketball for the next couple days before everyone heads home for a short break.  We practice today and do a little more preparation  tomorrow before we head to Juniata tomorrow night (12/18) for our final game of 2012.  Thank you to all who have supported us in the past year.  We look forward to seeing you in the stands in Mayser in 2013! 

Lancasteropoly

Looking for a unique holiday gift?  Our team is selling Lancasteropoly - a monopoly type game based on Lancaster.  You play it just like Monopoly with deed cards, fate cards, and the money.  One game is $25 and if you purchase 3 or more, they are $20 each.  Contact Asst. Coach Kristen Kudrick - 717.358.4731 or kristen.kudrick@fandm.edu.

Maximizing Practice

Alan Stein writes a great blog- blog.strongerteam.com.  Check it out.  Below is one of his recent blog posts about making the most of practice.

8 Ways to Maximize Every Practice

by Alan Stein 19. November 2012 03:24 They say, 'you play the way you practice.'

Assuming that's true, and I have full confidence it is, then coaches and players alike should do everything in their power to maximize every practice.

8 Things PLAYERS should do to maximize every practice:

1) Be well fueled, well hydrated, well rested, and take care of your body. 

2) Get to practice early. Don't wait for practice to start, prepare for it. Making 100 extra shots before every practice will have an enormous compound effect over the course of the season.

3) Approach practice with a 'game like' mentality. After all, how you do anything is how you do everything. Want to play well in games? Then practice well every day.

4) Listen with your eyes. Your coach won't say it if it's not important. Absorb everything your coaching staff and teammates say by having great eye contact.

5) Leave your comfort zone every practice. Leave it mentally. Leave it physically. Leave it emotionally. You should be drained at the end of every practice. Leave it on the floor!

6) Make your enthusiasm contagious. Raise the level of those around you with constant energy. Be vocal.

7) Be a 'Glue Guy' (or 'Glue Girl'). By definition, glue binds and holds things together. Be the glue on your team.

8) Value the ball for the entire practice. Every drill. Every scrimmage. Every play. Don't take bad shots or make sloppy passes.

Terry Greene Tip-Off

The Terry Greene Tip-Off tournament is just 3 days away.  We are hosting a great field, with Moravian, Lycoming, and Elizabethtown coming to the Mayser center.  Professor Terry Greene was a beloved member of the Franklin & Marshall community.  She was a long time faculty member and the faculty liaison for the women's basketball team.  Professor Greene was a fixture at women's basketball games.  She was a constant support to the young women on the team - always seeing the best in them.  Outside her office in the Psychology department, there was a huge collage of women's basketball programs, pictures, and other mementos.  We miss Professor Greene and it is our privilege to honor her memory in this small way with the Terry Greene Tip-Off tournament.  We hope you will join us in Mayser!

Saturday: Moravian vs Elizabethtown 1pm  & F&M vs Lycoming 3pm

Sunday: Moravian vs Lycoming 1pm & F&M vs Elizabethtown 3pm

F&M Field Hockey = Centennial Champions!

A big congratulations goes out to our F&M Field Hockey team.  They won the first Centennial Conference championship in program history yesterday and are riding an 18 game winning streak into the NCAA tournament.  The Dips host Eastern in a first round NCAA game this Wednesday at 4pm.  Let's get out to Tylus Field in droves to support the Dips!

Track or Treat!

Yesterday, our Athletic Leadership Council and SAAC representatives joined with the Diplomatic Congress to run the annual Track or Treat.  It is a trick or treat event on the upper track in the ASFC for local children that included games, pumpkin decorating, and a balloon artist.   Teams dressed up in their Halloween best and greeted the many trick or treaters!  Check out more pictures on our Facebook page.

Wiffle Ball

It was such a beautiful afternoon yesterday that we could not let it go by without doing something together as a team outside.  So at the start of practice, we had a little bit of an extended warmup with a short wiffle ball game on Hartman Green.  It was a lot of fun, but quite clear that we should all stick to basketball!  More pictures are on our Facebook page.  Check them out!

Family & Homecoming Weekend

This past weekend, F&M welcomed back alums of all ages as well as the families of our current students for Family & Homecoming Weekend.  It was great to see so many folks return to campus.  The weekend started with various events on Friday night.  The F&M Athletics Hall of Fame inducted 6 individuals and 1 team - all very deserving of the honor. 

On Saturday morning, our team was out at Baker early to host our 2nd annual Fummer 5K.  It was a great success with over 60 racers running and walking on a beautiful morning.

After our Fummer 5K, we headed over to the Tailgate Extravaganza and cheered on the many Diplomat Teams competing.  It was a great weekend.  Thank you to all those who came back to campus!  More pictures are on our Facebook page. 

Fummer 5k Registration

Our Fummer 5k is rapidly approaching.  Join us on Saturday, October 20 at 9am for our 2nd annual race.  We have great prizes for all age groups and walkers are welcome.  Registration info is online.  Hope to see you there!  

 

13 Leadership Goals for All Team Members

This is one of my favorite pieces that I think concisely captures what it means to be a good teammate.  It comes from Keith Kenyon of the American Athletic Institute.  We put it in our team notebooks each season and talk about many of the points throughout the year.

1.     Always follow team rules. 

(We call them our team standards, but same idea.)

2.    Try to be the hardest worker on the team.

3.    Try to be the most enthusiastic player on the team.

4.    Try to be the best conditioned player on the team.

5.    Observe and reflect on the leadership traits of the team captain(s) and  coaches.

6.   Master the plays and team strategy.

7.    Care about your teammates; this includes being supportive and never backstabbing.

8.   Maintain your sense of composure and balance when adversity strikes.

9.   Always put team goals ahead of personal goals.

10. Inspire confidence by demonstrating self-control.

11.  Try to be the most coachable player on the team.

12.  Reach out to those team members with whom you have little  in common.

13. Try to energize your teammates by your positive attitude.

Check out President Porterfield's Blog Post: This is Not

Click the link to check out President Porterfield's blog post:  This Is Not

Developing Leaders

Now that the school year is in full swing, some of the leadership development programming is starting up again for our students.  This week, Kevin Touhey, a leadership development expert, will be back on campus working with our student-athletes.  All of our new players will meet with Coach Touhey for an introduction to the philosophy of lateral leadership.  On our team, we believe that everyone contributes to our team leadership, in different, but all meaningful ways.  Coach Touhey will be back throughout the year to meet with each team individually as well.

I also have the honor to participate in the Harwood Leadership Program.  The nominated students gathered yesterday for a round of interviews and activities.  It was a great afternoon, and I had a lot of fun participating in the interviews.  The launch of this program will be an innovative way to foster peer learning and provide the framework for students to learn from each others leadership experiences.  I'm really looking forward to the first session.

As we get closer to the start of our season, we are preparing a number of team building and leadership development activities for our team.  It's so important to prepare and develop the mental side of the game as well!  I'll be sure to keep you posted as to what we are up to!

First Day of Classes

Happy First Day of Classes to everyone at F&M!  A good quote to start the semester:

I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning.  - J.B. Priestly

Closing Out the Summer

Time has just flown by this summer.  I feel like I was just standing at graduation, watching our Class of 2012 walk across the stage to receive their diplomas.  Throughout the summer, our players have been busy with various jobs and internships, while continuing to improve their game for the 2012-2013 season.  Our coaches attended a number of tournaments and worked several camps - always on the lookout for the special players who will be future Dips!  

I am so excited for our team to return to campus next week.  I always enjoy seeing all of our players together - there is a special energy and chemistry - and I've missed that this summer.  We will be welcoming our new teammates to campus in just over a week, then classes will begin several days later.  Pretty soon we will be saying that the fall semester has flown by!  

HOOP THOUGHTS: CHOICE NOT CHANCE

This comes from Joanne P. McCallie's new book, "Choice Not Chance," by way of the Hoop Thoughts blog.  I really like number 2 - how our little choices do matter just as much as the big choices we make.  Take a look:

HOOP THOUGHTS: CHOICE NOT CHANCE: When I coached at Maine, we created a program called "Choice Not Chance," which stemmed from a philosophy that I thoroughly believe in and...

Have you seen?

Periodically, we will post some snapshots of spots on campus you may not see on a quick trip to a game, or even on a walk through campus.  Click on the photo below and get a 360 degree look at the Hard Living Room on the first floor of the Harris Center for Business, Government and Public Policy. 

 

Pat Summitt ESPYS Tribute

In case you missed it last week, check out the tribute to Pat Summitt from the ESPYS, when she was awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.  While Pat Summitt has retired from coaching, her legacy will continue through all the women's basketball players and coaches she has contributed to directly and indirectly. 

Give Your Best

I had a great conversation recently about striving to do your best in any situation.  It reminded me of this quote from Mother Teresa:

People are often unreasonable and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.  If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.  If you are honest, people may cheat you.  Be honest anyway.  If you find happiness, people may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.  The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.  Do good anyway.  Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough.  Give your best anyway.  - Mother Teresa

Hoop Boost: HOW MJ BECAME THE "BEST TO EVER PLAY"

Hoop Boost is a great blog by Bob Starkey, Assistant Women's Basketball Coach at Texas A&M.  It's definitely worth checking each week to see what new info is posted.  

Hoop Boost: HOW MJ BECAME THE "BEST TO EVER PLAY": The following is conversation between Coach Roy Williams , then an assistant at the University of North Carolina and a young freshman name...

Great Quote for the Off-Season

If you think you are working hard, you can work harder. If you think you are doing enough, there is more that you can do. No one really ever exhausts his full potential. –Pete Carril 

225 Things We Love About F&M

Today I came across the Winter 2012 Issue of the Franklin & Marshall Magazine and revisited an article I read several months ago - 225 Things We Love About F&M.  I enjoyed reading it again, thinking of things that I really enjoyed as a student here, and that I am privileged to continue reaping the benefits of as an alum and as a coach in our athletic department.  It's also fun to think of how many of the items listed span the various generations.  My teammates and I enjoyed them while students, and now our current and future players will do the same.  Below I picked out some of my favorites.  The whole article is online. 

15.  Being the only Diplomats in college sports

37.  The singing excellence of the many groups, from the Glee Club, to the Poor Richards to the Sweet Ophelia

54.  Good eats close by: Lancaster Dispensing Co., House of Pizza, Isaac's Deli

57. Professors who teach us to think (inside and outside the box)

58.  Professors who teach us to care about the world around us

59.  Professors who challenge us

61.  Professors who conduct research and co-write papers with us

71.  Playing Frisbee on the quad

78.  A founding Board of Trustees with four signers of the Declaration of Independence, three future governors of Pennsylvania, and two members of the Constitutional Convention

112.  Alumni who proudly wear F&M hats and sweatshirts to spread the word

131.  Hanging out in the Adirondack chairs

141.  The &. Who doesn't love an ampersand?

165.  A president's office with an ice cream freezer. 

197.  The ability to spout five to 10 Ben Franklin-isms by the time you graduate. 

221.  Running into alumni in the most amazing places

Quiet on Campus

It is pretty quiet on campus this week, which always seems a little strange after a busy school year.  Last week we had three days of Beginnings, when the incoming Class of 2016 comes to campus for a day.  They meet with their advisors, take language placement tests, get their F&M IDs, among other things.  It was great to see our Class of 2016 basketball players, which got me even more excited for next season.  

We also had Dipnic last week, the annual faculty & staff picnic.  It was inside due to the rain for the second year in a row, but still fun nonetheless.   Each year there is a pretty competitive wiffle ball tournament - last year, our team of coaches and other folks who report to the Dean of the College took home the championship, but this year we fell short.  The Facilities & Operations team won in the championship game.  It was a well deserved win, but don't be surprised if some of us coaches play a little extra wiffle ball this summer to prepare for next year! :)

End of the Year

The year is quickly winding down with exams set to begin tomorrow morning.  Our team got together last night for an end of the year dinner and a little rest from all the studying.  It is always special to see our whole team together in the off-season and yesterday was no different!

 

TeamWork 2012

Yesterday hundreds of student-athletes fanned out all over Lancaster to take part in the 9th annual TeamWork event, which also kicked off F&M's Sustainability Week.  Our team walked several blocks down College Ave. to help a neighbor clean up and beautify her yard.  We mowed the back lawn, pulled weeds, picked up trash, and had fun while we did it.  Check out our Facebook page for more pictures.

WBCA Convention & Final Four

I just returned from Denver where I attended the 2012 WBCA Convention and the Final Four.  The WBCA put together a great list of presenters.  I attended a number of on-court sessions, tons of round tables, and several sessions about off the court topics.  Each year I return from the convention excited about some new ideas to bring to our team.  I also had the chance to attend the Final Four - what great semi-final games on Sunday!  On Tuesday night, it really seemed like Notre Dame was going to keep the game close and they certainly did for the first 30 minutes or so, but Baylor dominated in the end - 40 and 0 is really impressive.  Below are a few snapshots I took during my time in Denver. 

National Anthem before the Championship Game

Championship Game Half-Time Ceremony Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Title IX

Celebrating 40th Anniversary of Title IX

Baylor Celebrates

National Champions and 40-0 - Impressive!

Player Spotlight: Elizabeth Snyder '13

What do you love about F&M?
Everyone is so friendly.

Who is your favorite professor and why?
Professor Kurland because she is so kind and understanding.  Dean DeKay because he supports our games.

If someone was going to portray you in a movie, who would it be and why?
Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf because I love Christmas.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
 Italy or anywhere tropical.

Who is your favorite athlete?
 Derek Jeter

NCAA Basketball

Last night we hosted first round games in the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament. Mayser was packed.  It was a fun night to be a Diplomat.  We are all looking forward to the second round game tonight when F&M will take on Western Connecticut State.  Go Dips!

The Dip Zone and the rest of the gym was full. 

 

 

Guess who were Ben and John last night?

The Benjamin Franklin Financial Services Honors Society

 Our own Colleen Bott was inducted into the Benjamin Franklin Financial Services Honors Society last week.  Check out Colleen's description of the society and of a recent event:

The Benjamin Franklin Financial Services Honors Society was established in November 2011. The purpose of the society is to recognize Franklin & Marshall students with high academic standing who are considering careers in the financial services industry. Additional objectives of the Society are to create a forum for its members to share work experiences, career plans, and internship opportunities in the financial services industry.  The Society has created an environment for open communication between its members, as well as F&M alumni, professors, and administration. The initial class includes approximately 30 students who were selected based on the criteria of coursework, academic performance, work experience, and leadership values. One of the more exciting events included a dinner the Society recently had with members of the Franklin & Marshall Board of Trustees. At this dinner we got to discuss potential career opportunities and current events in the financial services industry. What was especially exciting to me was the fact that many of the Trustees have been following the F&M Women’s Basketball Team this season and discussed some of the team’s accomplishments with me. To date, my experience with the Society has been very exciting and rewarding, and I look forward to my continued participation as an undergraduate and in the future as an alumna. 

Play 4Kay

On Wednesday, February 8, our team will be raising awareness for breast cancer by participating in Play 4Kay.  Play 4Kay, formerly known as the WBCA Pink Zone, is an initiative for coaches across the country to raise breast cancer awareness and funds for research – on the court, across campus, in the community and beyond. The official charity is the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, in partnership with the WBCA and The V Foundation.  For more information about the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, go to KayYow.com.

Please join us in wearing pink tomorrow in Mayser for our 6pm tip-off against Gettysburg.  We will be selling pink ribbons for $1 with proceeds benefiting the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.   

2012 Alumnae Game

We had a great turnout for our alumnae game and celebration this past Saturday.  We had about 20 alums return to campus including players from the first F&M team and our most recent graduates.  It was great to see the former Dips from various decades come together.  Thank you to everyone who made the day a huge success!  Check out our Facebook page for more pictures.

Player Spotlight: Shea Costantino '14

What do you love about F&M?

I love how everyone is outside on the quad on nice spring and fall days.

Who is your favorite professor and why?

Professor Brennan - having taken a foundations course and economics course with him, I feel he has the ability to make anything interesting and really makes you want to go to class!

If you could travel any where in the world, where would you go?

I would go to Australia.  Also, I have already been to Italy and would go back to the Vatican any time.

Who is your favorite athlete?

 My favorite athlete is Alexa Barbush '13 because I love watching her dive on the floor and pop right back up.

Random Fun Fact:

I am really good at Sudoku puzzles.

Happy New Year!

We wish you all the best in 2012!