What a day!

Autumn Combs broke Union's career blocks record as a junior. Now the question is can she get to the single-season record of 273? She had 232 last season. Only time will tell.

Don't forget to come out Tuesday night to see Union host Cumberlands. Action gets underway at 7 p.m.

At Burch/Nau Field, Jason Lanham made his home debut as a head coach a memorable one. The Lady Bulldogs won 9-0 with two players posting hat tricks in the process. The thing about the two players with the hat tricks... one is a sophomore and the other is a freshman. The future and present are bright for the Lady Bulldogs.

The men's contest took a little while to unfold. But when it did, Union came out on top. No matter what happened with the stopping of play, coming back out, warming up, and then going back in, Union kept focused. Also, the team looked impressive with the mixture of new faces and experienced players on the pitch.

I was impressed with the attendance at today's games. It was great to see so many Union fans out supporting the soccer teams today. Everyone there gave Union a home-field advantage.

Well, it is time for a long weekend! Enjoy Labor Day and stay tuned for what's next.

Media guides, media guides and more media guides

One of the fun, but yet frustrating, parts of being a SID (sports information director) has to do with media guides. They really put a SID to the test.

It is always a challenge trying to figure out how to place stuff in them, come with a new and catchy cover design, get everything typed up and do it all in a timely manner and have the guides back from the printer before the season starts. To try to stay on top of things, we generally start working on a media guide months in advance. For example, we were working on the football media guide back in March and April.

And when you've got as many athletic programs like we do here at Union, it's a year-round process.

My favorite part of it all is the design aspect of it. I love looking at what other schools have done, borrowing bits and pieces of their designs and then recreating a new look for the Bulldog and Lady Bulldog media guides. The hardest part is developing a cover design that can easily translate from sport to sport. Since there are just two of us in the Sports Information Office, we don't have the luxury of developing a unique look for each sport. As much as I'd love to, we just don't have the time to do.

But the best is when you finish all the guides for a sports season and have them at the printers. There is just this nice sense of relief ... and that's where I'm at right now.

The football, men's soccer, women's soccer and volleyball media guides all have been printed and the cycling media guide is being printed right now. (And you can look at the all by clicking on the links. )

However, all that means is that I get a short breather from working on a media guide. Fortunately for me, it's Labor Day weekend and I can wait until Tuesday to start on basketball.

That time...

Well, it is that time again - the Fall sports are starting! The Union men's and women's soccer teams kick the 2008 season off later today at West Virginia Tech. This weekend, volleyball plays four times at a tournament hosted by Anderson University while the cyclist ride to the University of Missouri.

It's just hard to believe that classes start today. It seems like just yesterday we were relaxing and getting ready for the fall sports, well now the seasons are HERE. The great thing about the new seasons are the hopes and dreams of championships are alive for everyone.

The new season brings championship dreams for everyone. The volleyball team looks to repeat the 2007 AAC crown this season. The soccer teams should contend for the conference titles. The cycling team fell short of the MWCCC championship last season, but should contend for the program's fifth conference title.

Now, I didn't forget about football and cross country as both open next weekend. I'll have some notes and thougths on the teams next week.

This should be a great year once again for Union athletics and each of you can keep up with it at www.ucbulldogs.com.

It's an exciting time!!!

Well, it's just about official. Summer is over. At least for me it is.

You see, the fall sports season kicks off in earnest tomorrow when the Union men and women's soccer team open up at West Virginia Tech. From here on out, it'll be non-stop sports until mid-may - unless the Bulldog baseball team extends the season with another trip to the NAIA World Series. (Which wouldn't be a bad thing. I would like to make the trip Idaho again :-D)

But while life might get crazy now, I AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. It's been too quiet the past few months. Sure, Gene and I have gotten a lot done during the summer. The fall media guides all finished (and will be appearing www.ucbulldogs.com very soon!!!), and we've gotten a jump on the winter media guides as well. We've added a few new wrinkles to the web site as well, especially a new photo gallery which will get put the use VERY SOON. But we have to during the summer because once the season starts; it's anything goes from that point. And it feels like every day is game day.

But I love game day.

There is nothing like it. Watching two teams warm up for competition and then squaring off on the field of play, putting forth their best efforts as they strive for victory ... I can't wait.

And now I don't have to for the season, it is upon us.

Welcome to UC Bulldog Extra

Welcome to UC Bulldog Extra - the official blog for Union College Department of Athletics.

This blog will be maintained by the UC Sports Information Office and will give Bulldog fans some extra news and tidbits that won't necessarily make the UC Bulldogs athletics website (www.ucbulldogs.com). We will regularly add here interesting news and notes, as well as fun facts and oddities, from our 23 varsity athletic programs and, sometimes, some timely opinion by SID Jay Stancil and Assistant SID Gene Renfro.

In other words, think of this as the site for "The News That Didn't Make The News.

As always, we are open to suggestions you have for our online content. If you have a comment, feel free to drop us an email.