On Feb. 11, it was announced that Associate Head Women’s Soccer Coach Steve Brdarski was leaving for a head coaching position at St. Bonaventure University. Brdarski’s departure left a void not only on the Longwood women’s soccer coaching staff, but also in other areas.
Brdarski was instrumental in the formation of the Greatest Athletics March Ever (G.A.M.E.) event. This event has become an annual tradition at the university each year since its inception in August 2010. Director of Athletics Troy Austin says that the event is designed as a “celebration of Lancer spirit” particularly for freshmen of the University.
The event has been held at the tail end of New Lancer Days for the past three years. It is typically on the night before classes start. At the beginning of the event, there is a pep rally held at Willett Hall.
Following the rally, students, faculty and staff march from the gym all the way to the Athletics Complex east of main campus.
In past G.A.M.E.s, there was an athletic event of some kind. Typically, this event came in the form of a women’s soccer game. For example, the women’s soccer team hosted the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams this year.
According to Austin, Brdarski was instrumental in the marketing of the event. In addition, Austin said that Brdarski helped to create the concept and get it organized. “What gets lost in the shuffle is ... Coach Brdarski’s partner in crime ... Stacey Wilkerson.” With him gone, Wilkerson, assistant director of First Year Experience, will head up the planning committee.
“They [Brdarski and Wilkerson] started up something ... We are hopping on to a moving train.” Austin admits he is nervous that athletics now has the responsibility of continuing without Brdarski.
With the people in place, Austin is very optimistic about the 2013 version of the G.A.M.E. With the event firmly established, Austin believes it will be much easier to market the event to the Longwood student body. “We have to make sure that the event is just as good and just as thoroughly planned,” Austin said.
On the same token, Austin believes that word of mouth will be important as the Class of 2017 enters Longwood. “We are trying to figure out a way to enthuse them and leave them with a good first impression.”
The forth edition of the G.A.M.E. (The G.A.M.E. 4.0) is still in the planning stages. Not only is Brdarski gone, but this might also be the first Athletics March without a game at the end of the road. Austin said, “As our schedule currently stands, we don’t have a women’s soccer game or any game scheduled for that day.”
There is no concrete idea for what the ending event will be at the 2013 G.A.M.E. Austin said, “We are going to look at a bunch of different options and try to be creative.” Austin says he believes that Wilkerson and the committee want to have “something finalized” in terms of planning in the next two weeks.
One aspect of the event that is certain is that there will be a newly designed scarf for students and faculty. In keeping with previous designs, the newly designed scarf will feature Longwood’s colors.
In addition to the scarves, athletics will be unveiling a new feature next August. This has been an annual tradition at the G.A.M.E. since the very beginning. Previous reveals include the scarf itself, the mascot Elwood and “Hail to Longwood U,” the school’s fight song. At the moment, Austin is unsure what the reveal will specifically be at this year’s event.
