WELCOME
Welcome Inside Otter Athletics. Each week, I'll visit with you through this venue as a way of helping keep the citizens of Otter Territory abreast of the things we're doing to build champions in the classroom, in the community and in the arenas of athletic competition. I'll try to give you glimpses inside the inner–workings of an NCAA Athletics program and let you know ways you can support the cause.
But now it's time. It's time for us to get after it again. It's time for Otter Athletics to come back together. It's time to get ready for another year of competition and “victories.” We have a number of new faces and new approaches this year and these will all make us better – in the classroom, in the community and at home and in our respective venues of competition. We recently held our Otter Student–Athlete orientations and we stressed two words that can help us attain victories: Teamwork and communication. We try to get better every day and in different ways. I am, personally, very excited for the year to start and excited for the challenges, the commitments to “victories,” and to see how we will get better this year.
Go Otters!
THE OTTER WAY
More than just talk about building champions in Otter Athletics, we lay down specific principles and guidelines our student–athletes must follow to represent their teams, their University and the greater Monterey Bay community at the highest levels. But more than just encouraging our student–athletes to follow the Otter Way, we also have set forth what we call “Foundation Principles” which we expect our administrators and coaches to adhere to as key mentors in the lives of our student–athletes and public representatives of CSUMB.
These Foundation Principles speak to conduct, teaching and student advocacy, student interaction, public presence and compliance. They are more than just guidelines, however, they are a commitment and an acknowledgement to all that we are educators, we are mentors and we take those roles seriously. They are a statement and an example of how we strive to do things the right way…the Otter Way.
I'm proud not only of what we're doing in Otter Athletics but how we're doing it. I encourage you to read the Foundation Principles and Student–Athlete Code Of Conduct to see exactly what I'm talking about. I think you'll be proud of the Otter Way too.
OTTERS ON DECK
Hard as it is to believe, the fall sport seasons are just around the corner. Women's volleyball serves up the first events this season, hosting regional rival Notre Dame de Namur on Sept. 1 at 10 a.m. They follow that up by hosting the Otter Invitational Sept. 2–3.
Men's and women's cross country kicks off at USF (Sept. 3). Men's and women's soccer play their first home matches the following week, hosting San Francisco State (Sept. 9) and Cal State East Bay (Sept. 11).
Visit the schedule page at OtterAthletics.com for all the latest schedule information.
ON CAMPUS
President Dianne Harrison and Vice President Ronnie Higgs hosted the Annual Welcome BBQ Sunday August 22. President Harrison and VP Higgs continue to admirably support athletics, our student–athletes and our coaches. It was a great event filled with anticipation and excitement for the upcoming school year. Our student–athletes, staff and coaches were all in attendance and from what I saw; Otter Athletics did pretty well in the bounce house relay races, among other things. One of the highlights of the day was when the National Champion Otter Golf Team was introduced and the DJ played Birdie In The Hole ,a song written, played, and produced by CSUMB staff members, led by Greg Pool. To listen to the song, CLICK HERE.
OTTERS IN THE COMMUNITY
Otter soccer kicked off its 2011 season with an incredibly successful Otter Pups Soccer Clinic Aug. 13 at the Otter Soccer Complex. In partnership with the Marina Youth Soccer Association, the Otter men's and women's teams hosted more than 150 young soccer players. The MYSA returned its hospitality the following Saturday, welcoming the men's soccer team to be a part of its opening ceremonies.
Watching our coaches—and especially our student–athletes—was truly inspirational. Giving back to the community that supports CSUMB…yet another example of what Otter Athletics is all about.
OTTERS IN THE NEWS (AND ON THE WEB)
Be sure to check out Monday's Salinas Californian for Embele Awipi's nice story about women's soccer Head Coach Erin Reinke. Also, John Devine of the Monterey Herald did a superb piece on Oliver Caballero, a former NCAA Division I player resurrecting his career at CSUMB after recovering from injury. Here's the version picked up by Fox Sports. Earlier this month, the Effingham (Illinois) Daily News did a great feature on Director of Golf Jason Owen that I hope you'll take the time to check out.
FACILITIES UPDATE
The Otter Sports Center received a little cosmetic surgery this summer with a resurfacing of the playing floor. Be sure to check out the Otter Athletics page on Flickr to get a peek at the makeover.
FOLLOW THE OTTERS
As the new season approaches we want to encourage everyone to jump on the Otter bandwagon. There are more ways than ever to follow the Otters. Check out this recent story for more details then visit the Multimedia link at OtterAthletics.com and jump on board. I promise it's going to be a great ride.
PRESIDENT'S CUP
The 15th annual President's Cup Golf Tournament is just around the corner. The popular event takes place Monday, Sept. 26 at the beautiful Corral de Tierra Country Club. The event will feature members of the 2011 National Champion CSUMB Men's Golf Team, with select sponsorship levels including opportunities to play with a current or past member of the men's golf team.
The shotgun start begins at 1 p.m. with dinner scheduled for 6 p.m. The event is sure to sell out once again, so sign up today. CLICK HERE for more information.
SUPPORT THE OTTERS
Continue to do what you can to help Cal State Monterey Bay Athletics and:
1. Check us out on the web, Facebook and Twitter
2. Join Otter Territory
3. Come to Otter Events
4. Wear the Colors
5. Get Others to Do the Same
