Both the UNF basketball teams in accompany with the athletic department are stirring up the campus with fist-pumping school spirit events for JU week.
Every Osprey will have the opportunity to be a part of the “Pack the House Challenge” as the women take on Jacksonville on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. Along with a “White-Out the Dolphins” Friday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. as the men go head-to-head against Jacksonville. The first 2,250 fans in attendance to the men’s game will be given a white T-shirt for the white-out sponsored by MetroPCS. The two teams will be playing the Jacksonville Dolphins for the second time in less than 10 days.
The men have a record of 9-11, 4-6 A-Sun going into the game against UCS Upstate Jan. 27, as JU is 10-8 overall and 7-3 in conference action.
“A good portion of the student section in the Arena has already been filled,” Brea Kratzert, director of marketing for UNF Athletics said. “It’s obvious we have an increase in school spirit. We will defiantly carry events like these on in the future to increase school spirit for all of the [athletic] teams.”
Before the women’s game there will be Market Day in the plaza of the UNF Student Union from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to kick things off. There will also be a pep rally in support of the men’s team Friday, Jan. 29, from Noon-1 p.m. taking place at the Student Union. Head coach Matt Driscoll, a handful of the men’s players and a few members of Velocity will be attending the pep rally.
“[JU week] is a great testament to what coach Moon is doing for the athletics at UNF,” women’s head basketball coach Mary Tappmeyer said. “The events are bringing a lot of energy and excitement on campus. We are hoping the events will bring a lot of enthusiasm from the fans.”
The women have a record of 5-14, 2-8 A-Sun, as the Dolphins are 5-13, 4-6 A-Sun. During the previous game against the Dolphins, it came down to overtime as sophomore guard Brittany Kirkland had a career-high 25 points. Alongside Kirkland is senior forward Arlande Cherizol landing a career-best 18 rebounds.
“When we have a lot of fans cheering on the players it really gives them a boast, they work really hard on the court and the fans are like the sixth man,” Tappmeyer said.
The men’s game will be the CSS Atlantic Sun TV Game of the Week and can be seen on Comcast channel 54 in Jacksonville. In addition to being televised, the game can also be heard on AM 1320 WBOB and 103.7 FM in Jacksonville or on-line at 1320WBOB.com. Both the women’s and the men’s games can also be seen live on asun.tv.
