Hi out there! Time is moving along over here for CNU basketball. Labor Day has come and gone, and September is about halfway through already. We are only about one month away from the official start of practice.
Any coach right now would tell you that he just wants that start date to get here (and fast!) so the real fun work can begin. A lot of preparation is going on right now, which is necessary of course, but after months being away from the actual coaching part of this job, you just want to get back on the court!
The CNU basketball family has been keeping busy of late, players and coaches alike. The guys are continuing their progress in the weight room, on the track, and in the gym. By the time practice officially begins, every person on the team will have gotten stronger, better conditioned, and will have made literally thousands of shots over the course of the preseason. Every single one of our opponents is out there working. Right now. Everyday. In order to be the best, we have to work the hardest, the most efficiently, and the most effectively when it comes to improving our strength and skill levels during the preseason.
This is also a key time of the year academically for any student, as the first wave of tests and papers are taking place. We constantly preach preparedness and being proactive to the team, and this certainly extends to academics. We are very fortunate here at CNU athletics to have a great academic support staff that guides our student-athletes through the academic rigors of the university. Our support center provides study halls, tutors, and mentoring in order to give our student-athletes the best chance for academic success.
Coach K has assigned me to work with our players and our support staff to monitor the academic progress of our players. I take this role very seriously – in the pantheon of great educational leaders, I consider myself right up there with Mr. Belding from Saved by the Bell and Principal Rooney from Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The squad is in good hands…
This time of the year also serves as a tremendous opportunity for us to grow closer as a team. We believe very strongly that in order to be a true team, a true “family”, we have to spend a lot of time with each other away from the court. This is especially true when a team has a large freshmen class like we do this season. Team gatherings and functions are a staple of CNU men's basketball.
Every Thursday afternoon you can find us having a team lunch at Regatta's in the David Student Union (which is simply phenomenal cuisine; If I were ever given a meal plan as part of my salary I would gain fifteen pounds within a week). A lot of weeks we will have a guest speaker come in to address the team on various topics. We also love supporting other CNU teams at their games. The team tailgate before home football games has been a fun tradition over the past two years (one that we are of course continuing this Saturday, come on down to say hi!). All of this adds up to increased camaraderie, and hopefully, a group of guys who put their own individual goals and desires secondary to the team.
Community service is also a significant aspect of this team building. For instance, last week the men's basketball team, along with a number of other CNU athletic squads, participated in the “Kids First” safe driving initiative. Yes, that large group of young men who you saw holding signs along Jefferson Avenue was indeed us. The people driving along really seemed to be into it, but I suspect that was just because we had our mascot “Captain Chris” with us. A man dressed as a ship captain with a three-foot head tends to attract attention.
Every week is important, but this is an especially special time for Christopher Newport University, as the school will celebrate its 50th Anniversary this weekend. For colleges in America, that is still pretty young. One of the most exciting aspects of being at this university is the fact that CNU has just begun to scratch the surface of its potential and accomplishments. Here at CNU men's basketball, we take great pride in representing this institution, and look forward to contributing to the many accolades and honors that CNU will receive in the years to come. Every day is another step towards that. So come on over this weekend and join us for CNU's big birthday extravaganza. See you out there!
