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Show SPORTS SUU sports organ_ization sets course Thunderbird Athletic Club Executive Committee holds first '95-96 meeting Developing "ownership" in Thunderbird athletics by its individual members, and creating a pyramid of support were a few of the main themes to emerge out of last week's Thunderbird Athletic Club Executive Committee meeting. Club members under the leadership of TAC president Joe Gubler can look forward to a Southern Utah University sports booster organization that will expect more from its members in the way of networking phoning each other to recruit service in Club projects and attendance at the Thunderbird sporting events. The brainstorming session of the TAC Executive Committee Thursday, July 20, was the fir t meeting of the newly named body of Club leaders. Raising money for the athletic programs (particularly cholarship support), creating enthusiasm, and facilitating a social experience for the Club members were goals voiced by the leadership. Gubler says a pyramid of support needs to be developed. The new president a......_....._.:. challenged each of the committee members to recruit four others to invite to Club activities and SUU sporting events. Each of those four recruits would, in turn, be asked to take stewardship over four others, and so on - creating, in effect, a pyramid of support. Gubler says that by putting the social contact between club members into the athletic setting, the whole experience becomes more enjoyable, regardless of the outcome of the athletic contest. Several committee members also felt it important to be able to know the players. Having the football players take off their helmets during team introductions, reinstituting the Player of the Week Awards at TAC luncheons, and Meet the Team nights, will be some of the measures looked at by the booster club leadership to develop a tie between the community and the university team players. Executive committee member Mitch Bealer said letting the club membership feel ownership in University teams is the key to heightening the level of enthusia m. Member Tom Cardon added that the supporters need to feel pride in SUU and realize, "This is your football team, this is your basketball team, this is your university." The Thunderbird Athletic Club begins its 1995-96 membership drive on Wednesday, August 9, 1995. ~ Executive ; Committee ~ members and SUU athletic personnel ~ and coaches will 3 canvass the local ~ business commun~ ity in the annual ""Coaches Day. The first social event for the Thunderbird Athletic Club is the Prime-in-the-Pines prime rib dinner Wednesday, August 16, at 6:30 p.m., at the University Mountain Center, 11 miles up Cedar Canyon. Members of the Executive Committee include: Bealer; Jack Bishop; Tom Cardon, Sr.; Wayne Clark; Roger Davis; Tom Higbee; James Hoyle, Jr.; VaLynne Nicholes; Steve Thomas; Doris Williamson; Keith Workman and, Gubler. e' Two 'Birds recognized Trackster Travis Anderson and basketball player Barret Peery, two Southern Utah University athletes who completed their athletic eligibility last season, have been awarded Degree Completion Awards by the NCAA. To qualify, athletes must have completed athletic eligibility, be within 30 credit hours of completing their degree and be in good academic standing. Peery's award will cover the final 11 hours of his academic program in physical education-coaching and Anderson' will cover his final 20 hours in business administration. Peery played guard on the Thunderbird ba ketball team and helped SUU to the national statistical championship in three-point field goal percentage. The Payson High School product hit 46. 7 percent of his threepoint attempts during his senior season. Anderson, from Cedar High School, was an All-American West Conference performer in cross country and track and field last year, winning Co-MVP honors of the AWC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. At last fall's AWC Cross Country Championships, Anderson finished a close second to AWC MVP Coley Candaele. "We think it's wonderful for those two athletes. They've represented SUU very well and moved toward graduation in the process, said SUU Associate AD Kathryn Berg. 11 Debbie Davis to highlight Prime in Pines D ebbie Davis, having recently released her first solo album, will perform Wednesday, August 16, at 6:30 p.m . at the Southern Utah University Prime-in-the-Pines athletics fund-raiser. Davis will perform songs from her album, "I'll Get Back To You", for the more than 600 SUU sports boosters who annually enjoy the prime rib dinner and country music at the University Mountain Center 11 miles up Cedar Canyon on State Road 14. The title song of the Cedar City native's album was written for Debbie by Jan Buckingham, writer of uch hits as "Moment of Truth" recorded by Whitney Hou ton, "Cleopatra, Queen of Denial" recorded by Pam Tillis, and "I'll Take the Thorns lf You're The Rose" recorded by Lee Greenwood. The album, which has a traditional country sound, was produced and mixed out of Nashville. She has had several songs top the independent chart , with one going all the way to nwnber one. Davis continues to perform around the western I U.S., including regular appearances in Las Vegas. Everyone is welcome to attend the Prime-in-the Pines event. The cost of the dinner is $15.00 per plate at the door, or free for 1995-96 members of the Thunderbird Athletic Club. Membership in the Club can also be purchased at the door. "Prime in the Pines is a highlight of every year," says Cal Rollins of the TAC. "The food, camraderie and enetrtainment are always firstrate.11 Membership in the Thunderbird Athletic Club entitles the booster to a number of benefits depending upon the level of membership entered into. Membership co ts range from $100-$1,500. See the membership advertisement on page 8 of today's University fournal for details. You may clip the form from page 8 and mail to Thunderbird Athletic Club, Southern Utah University, 351 West Center Street, Cedar City, UT 84720 to join the SUU sports boosters. For further information about the Prime-in-the Pines event or TAC membership, call 586-7776. |