Drury University Athletics

I'm sure by now the majority of folks have come to the realization that we live in a high-tech world.

Things we never would have dreamed possible - cell phones, the internet, toilets that flush without us having to push a lever - are now part of our everyday lives.

And as we continue to learn on a daily basis, something new comes along with regularity. We've added some new wrinkles to the official Drury Athletics website in an effort to help keep Panther fans more in tune with what's going on in a more timely fashion, as well as to allow them to get to know the Drury student-athletes a little better.

One is our new "Panther News And Scores To Your Cell Phone" feature. Our athletic director, the self-admitted, technologically challenged Pat Atwell, even admits that it's one of the coolest tools around for keeping on top - instantly - of all things related to Drury Athletics.

Here's how it works ... you sign up through the link on the main web page of our site by clicking on the appropriate box directly under the three rotating "main stories" at the top of the page. There is no cost for the service as long as you have a text-message package through your cell phone (you might want to upgrade to "unlimited" texting, however, since we'll send a bunch of them out each month!).

Once your account is set up, and you've chosen what sports you want to be updated with regularity (we recommend the "all sports ..." box), you do nothing else except for wait for the text messages to arrive on your phone. When our Panthers are on the road playing in a sport, we will attempt to update you after each volleyball game, after each goal is scored in soccer, etc., thanks to either the "live stats" availability through our opponents' website, or my communication with our athletic trainers via their text messages to me through our cell phones (by the way, a big assist goes to head trainer Erin Kineman and assistants Summer Stewart and Jeff Paden for their help in this regard).

Once we get the update, you'll get the update. This means if you can't make it to a contest, or you are out and about and away from your computer, the latest DU news is delivered directly to your phone.

The other cool new addition is our "Panther Podcast" feature ... it's a chance for me to interview one of our athletes or coaches and put their thoughts, their stories on our website for all to hear. Simply click on the link located directly next to the "Scores To Your Cell Phone" box to see that we've already added several podcasts since the feature was added, including interviews with DU's sophomore star golfer, Thomas Hay, and senior swimming standout Mitch Snyder.

Our plan is to add a weekly, brief (five to 10 minute) podcast with our head coaches throughout the school year to keep you updated on personnel moves, preview opponents, praise our players, etc. 

Coming soon ... our partnership with the national photo firm Pictopia which will allow Panther fans to purchase some of the action shots we take from DU events. Fans will simply click on a photo gallery and have the option to buy individual photos, with Pictopia taking care of the production, shipping and handling and the Drury Athletic Department benefitting financially from the sale of the pic.  Did we mention that action shots of DU athletes make nice Christmas presents for Grandma?

We invite you to check out all of the above when you get a chance ... we hope it goes a long way toward enhancing your enjoyment of Drury Athletics and the wonderful student-athletes we have on campus.

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I also wanted to drop a reminder on the special activities we have during Drury soccer and volleyball home contests this fall.

Our Andy's "Compete For A Concrete" promotion - in which kids 12-and-under come out onto the field at halftime of soccer games and try to score a goal against "celebrity keepers" for Andy's treats - has been very popular to date. The first volleyball home match of the season is Tuesday (7 p.m. vs. UMSL), and I know there's a serving contest for the little folks to try to take home Andy's as well. 

But Sunday's great fall weather at the DU soccer wins over Southern Indiana provided the first opportunity for our young fans to enjoy our new "Your Panthers" promotion ... that's the one where we invite the kids to come out onto the turf at Harrison Stadium and kick the ball around with the DU men's and women's players for several minutes after the game. 

What a great scene on Sunday to see the likes of our two keepers, Logan Hoffman and Jessie Sanderson, along with Tyson Bramley, Ben Nabers, graduate assistant coach Jen Simeck and others out there rolling around on the artificial turf with the little folks, trying to "stop" shots in the goal and just letting them know that Drury is still a place where you can get close to the action and get to know the college athletes. Several members of the youth soccer program from Clinton made the trip down for Sunday's game and not only got to kick for Concretes at halftime with the rest of the kids, but took full advantage of their chance to try out the turf with the Panthers afterward.

Got a youth team interested in getting in on the fun at a future Drury soccer game? Then give head coach Alf Bilbao (873-7449) or associate head coach Ryan Swan ((873-7830) a call. We'll make sure they not only get recognized over the P.A. system, but leave with some Andy's treats and a good,healthy workout on the turf after the final DU game of the day has been completed.

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Want to meet the six new Lady Panthers' basketballers before the season starts?

There's a great opportunity this Saturday morning, as Coach Steve Harold and the Lady Panthers will be having their first fan breakfast at 8 a.m. that day at the Ryan's Steakhouse location on S. Campbell Ave., just down the street from Bass Pro Shops.

Fans will pay the normal price for the breakfast buffet, but have a chance to meet Coach Harold as well as new assistant coach John Nicolais, new graduate assistant coach Erin Hendrickson and the talented group of DU newcomers for this season - junior (Evansville) transfer Jillian Palan and freshmen Katie Pritchard, Erica Groose, Liz Moriondo, Sarah Jane Plemmons and Kassie Walker.

The Lady Panthers are also accepting final entries this week for their first benefit golf tournament to be held Sunday at the Deer Lake Golf Club.

The three-person scramble starts at 1 p.m. with a shotgun start. The $270 entry fee per team includes lunch, green fees and cart rental as well as prizes.

For more information, contact Keith Spaulding at (417) 224-3261 or kspaulding@logrog.net.

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In case you missed the news, Drury has a junior varsity baseball program for the first time, with Coach Mark Stratton and Co. now having bulked up the roster enough to have a second squad set for a series of scrimmages this fall.

Assistant coach Scott Nasby will guide the jayvee unit against a schedule that starts with a contest against North Arkansas Community College at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Evangel Field.  The Panthers have weekend contests set for Saturday (Three Rivers, 9 a.m.) and Sunday (Rawlings Prospects at 9:30 a.m., Mineral Area at noon) at Meador Park.

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Coach Annie Medico's softball Panthers will also get their first taste of an opponent on Monday, September 22 when they take on Crowder College at 5 p.m. and Missouri State at 7 at the MSU Field.

The Panthers have the majority of their key personnel back from last season's 20-37 finisher, including senior standouts Sadie Ball and Stephanie Ray.