7.21.2011

FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University will begin its 2011-12 home athletics campaign with The GAME 2.0 (Greatest Athletics March Ever), a special community event to take place on Sunday, August 21, involving the first women's soccer home match against Howard University at the Athletics Complex.  The festivities will get under way with tailgating in the Longwood Dining Hall beginning at 4 p.m., followed by a spirit carnival in the Grand Dining Room at 4:30 p.m., a pep rally featuring Longwood President Patrick Finnegan in Willett Hall at 6 p.m., and a 6:15 p.m. march from campus up Fourth Street and Longwood Avenue to the soccer facility on Johnston Drive for the opening kickoff at 7 p.m.  This is the second-straight year for the kick-off event, a collective effort among the Athletics Department, the Office of First Year Experience, and the Town of Farmville, as last year's The GAME was played before a raucous and record-crowd of over 1,300.
    
“The energy and fantastic Lancer spirit displayed during 'The Game' was extraordinary,” said Troy Austin, Longwood Director of Athletics.  “Furthermore, it provides a great example of the positive outcomes possible when Longwood and the Farmville community work together.  I am excited to, again, bring the Longwood Family together for The GAME 2.0 and another fabulous evening.”
   
Longwood student leader Ernest Elliott '12 (FYE Coordinator for New Lancer Days) will open the pep rally for President Finnegan, and will be assisted by Ben Miethke '13 (member of men's soccer team and representative to the student-athlete advisory committee) along with student peer mentors.  The rally will serve as motivation for everyone to march to the Athletics Complex where they will cheer on the Lancers in their home opener against the visiting Bison.  A limited number of commemorative Longwood Lancers' scarves will be distributed at the pep rally.  This event welcomes all new students to both the Longwood and Farmville communities.
   
Transportation will be provided to students who want to participate in the event but choose not to march.  There will be numerous giveaways at the Athletics Complex by Lancer Productions, along with concessions sponsored by ARAMARK.  A shuttle service back to campus will be available beginning at 8:15 p.m.
   
The GAME came about during the spring 2010 after women's soccer associate head coach Steve Brdarski, FYE assistant director Stacey Wilkerson, and former SGA?President Ben Brittain '11 brainstormed for ideas to incorporate athletics into New Lancer Days (NLD), Longwood's extended four-day orientation experience for all new students leading up to the start of the fall semester.  NLD provides new students an opportunity to meet classmates, develop friendships with upper-class student leaders, learn about valuable resources available on campus, and explore a variety of issues that they will undoubtedly face during their time at Longwood.
   
For more information, please contact Stacey Wilkerson at 434.395.4925 or email firstyear@longwood.edu.  Phone 434.395.2414 (trs: 711) to request disability related accommodations for New Lancer Days or The GAME 2.0.