Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Tracy and Mo!!! Hope you both have a great day!

Love,

Your Coaching Staff :)

Burgers, Brats...and Balloons

The team gathered at Coach Miller's house for a fun evening on the deck. There was lots and lots of good food and fun! The team played hillbilly golf and cornhole...with much trash talking. Coach Miller won in a landslide over Tracy and Lo...but as the video shows, they got their revenge!! Enjoy!!

New York

I am back in the office after my whirlwind trip to New Jersey/New York to visit two of my college roommates and their families. It was a great trip because I got to spend some quality time with them and their children, ranging in ages from 9 weeks old to 7 years old. All of us (even the husbands) went to school at Davidson College, and we have been friends ever since. My first stop was Newark, New Jersey, not really on the tip of a lot of people's tongue as a vacation destination! I actually stayed in Chatham, New Jersey and that town truly represents the meaning of the Garden State. I got to meet the youngest addition to the family, John born on March 16. (Yes, John 3:16 for all of you sports savvy fans out there). You don't realize how small that really is until you hold him. I spent a lot of quality time with him and told him every story that I knew about his parents from college! (Some may call it embarrassing but I consider that a necessary educational tool for the youngster) Since Mom had just given birth via c-section, I was given a to do list that she could not do because of the baby. The first thing on the list was plant the garden. Yes, I said it, I was in charge of planting the garden on my vacation! As it turned out, it was no easy task considering the garden had weeds as tall as her 4 year old and had several large cinder blocks in it, which were buried by the weeds. It took about 3 hours, but we (Kathleen-her 4 year old was my assistant) planted 8 tomato plants and 13 basil plants. Kathleen's role was to keep me hydrated, but I had to quickly reassign her after she brought me 2 cups of hot water to drink. I must admit that she has got a good sense of humor already! After the to do list was complete, I was able to see 2 end of the school year choral concerts for her other children and those were quite entertaining as you could imagine.

Then I was off to Scarsdale, New York to visit my other college roommate and her family. She and her husband have 4 kids and are in the middle of a family move to Rye, New York so things were a little hectic to say the least. I was immediately immersed in responsibilities such as watching lacrosse practice, after-school pickups and helping out at the new house. (I removed 9 strands of Christmas lights from the front yard!) I immediately went into coach mode at the lacrosse practice, even yelling out instructions at one point. I honestly couldn't help myself, and we even stayed afterwards to practice! (Gotta start good practice habits even at age 7) One of my favorite things was getting to read to them at night before they went to bed. By the end of the week, they all knew how to cheer for BGSU and do the Falcon handshake. Even though all of them will be going to Davidson when they grow up, they were properly brainwashed with BGSU cheers!

It wasn't your typical vacation, but it was a fun trip that I would do again in a heartbeat! My friends have become great parents!
Now off to get ready for July recruiting.
Roll Along,
Jennifer Roos

WBCA Board of Directors

Hello Falcon Fans!

Exciting news. I have recently been named to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Board of Directors. The announcement was made by the WBCA on Wednesday (June 17).

I am excited about my appointment to the board by WBCA CEO Beth Bass and WBCA President Geno Auriemma. I am joining an elite group of coaches that will keep working hard to build the game of women’s basketball.

I was appointed, along with San Diego State head coach Beth Burns, to the board to fill the positions of Northern Illinois coach Carol Owens and Arizona State coach Charli Turner-Thorne, after they were named to the WBCA’s Executive Committee. Turner-Thorne has been named the new Vice President as she follows in the footsteps of Connecticut’s Geno Auriemma, who will take the reins as WBCA President in August. Owens has been named to the Secretary position, taking over for Bonnie Henrickson (Kansas).

Over the past couple of years, I have also been actively involved in several other committees. I am currently the chair of the Russell Athletic/WBCA National Coach of the Year Committee. I am also a member of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Rules Committee and the WBCA Legislative Sub-Committee

Bugher's Athletes in Action Adventure

Greetings Falcon Fans!

I hope everyone is having a great summer so far. Mine has been pretty busy, but definitely fun. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend the Athletes in Action Ultimate Training Camp, which took place at Colorado State University. I wanted to take the time to share some of the experience with you. I apologize if this seems long – but it was such an amazing experience I wouldn’t know what to leave out! It was definitely a great opportunity and I am so glad I went. I would recommend it to any college athlete that has the chance to go.

Back in April, a former AAU teammate of mine asked if I wanted to go with her out to this camp, and before I knew it, I was fundraising and part of the group! I did not know what to expect – all I heard was this camp was for college athletes, it focused on how to incorporate God in your sport, and it was “really intense.” It ended up being one of the best experiences of my life. I went out to Colorado with a group of about 12 people from Miami (OH) since that is where my friend attends and participates in Athletes in Action on their campus. We drove a solid 20 hours, staying the overnight at a friend of the group’s house in Kansas. We were either sleeping, playing Catch Phrase, Apples to Apples, or watching a couple of the guys karaoke to the Backstreet Boys the entire way.

The camp started on May 23rd and lasted a week. There were athletes from all over the country – including Maya Moore, who was an intern. The very first night we dove into the first of the five principles taught throughout the week. It was called “Audience of One,” and we talked about potential idols and how to compete for God, turning sport into worship. Monday, the topic was “Inside Game,” where we talked about what motivates us and how our identity in Christ frees us to compete with a new motivation – a “thank you” response. On Tuesday we talked about “Holy Sweat” and learned a variety of resources for spiritual training such as solitude, prayer, the Bible, and being a part of a community. The next principle, “Hurtin’ for Certain,” was about how God uses pain and trials to deepen character. The last principle was “Victory Beyond Competition” in which we learned about the importance making an impact with the talents that God has given you. Monday through Thursday, after the seminar, we went outside to practice what we learned by playing volleyball. It was pretty tough to apply the principles and still be competitive, but we all realized it would be even harder to do on our campuses. It was still fun though, and one day, my team won the trophy that the team with the winning record got to keep until the next day’s matches!

Sunday through Wednesday were pretty relaxed. We had the seminar, played volleyball, and had evening discussion groups after worship with Chazz, a very energetic and talented musician. One afternoon, I went hiking with the Miami group for 4 hours. It was gorgeous! I am pretty sure we got lost though because we had to cut straight down one of the mountains until we found a path… Anyway, we also went to a Colorado Rockies game one night and bowling another, and had a women’s luncheon one afternoon. So I began wondering, “When is the intense part going to come?” And then there was the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. on Thursday… The idea of the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. (Scriptural Principles plus Exhaustion equals Confidence In Almighty Lord) is to engage you in competition for so long that you cannot rely on your athletic ability any longer to get you through – you have to rely on God and the support of your teammates. It was a very powerful experience. We were drafted onto teams – my team was the T.H.U.G.s (Totally Humble Under God) and just for the record, we won first place. From about 1:00 pm Thursday until 1:00 pm Friday, we competed in ultimate frisbee, tug of war, a push up relay, basketball, swimming, a test over the principles, a campus wide obstacle course (in which we had to run to stations all carrying a board amongst our team with a tire looped around the middle), sprint relays, and the climax – “Golgotha.” (more on that in just a bit) Everyone started hitting their wall around 10:00 p.m. when we were playing basketball. Many people looked like they were ready to collapse and there were huddles for prayer before each game. People had been cramping up all day and it just got worse in the pool. I don’t think I will ever forget how each team fearlessly came together in prayer on such a frequent basis, or lay hands on a teammate who was cramping or hurting. Everyone went to bed after the test – around 1:30 am. The last place team started their obstacle course at 4:30 a.m., while the first place team (that would be ours J) started at 6 am. I had never been so excited to sleep until 5:30 am in my life! Before we completed the last event, Golgotha (which did not count in the points of the competition), we drove up one of the foothills that overlooked a lake and listened to the most dramatic reading of the crucifixion I have ever heard. I don’t think there was one dry eye in the crowd. After that, one person at a time from each team ran a half mile down the hill carrying a wood 2x4 and carried it back up on their shoulders, like a cross. Going up, if you looked down at your shadow, it was like seeing Jesus on the cross – a reminder of our importance in His eyes. It was so powerful to watch everyone, even the big tough football players, cross the finish line and fall into their friends’ arms crying – whether it was from the feelings of accomplishment, gratitude, or pure brokenness and surrender. That night we had a bonfire where many people accepted Jesus as their personal Savior – we heard about them the next and final night, when we were given the opportunity to share our testimony if we wanted.

We left the camp that night/morning – around 2:30 a.m. to drive back home – and drove straight through. I had such a great time and met many amazing people. I think what made it so memorable was all the small group situations we got put into – the volleyball team, S.P.E.C.I.A.L. team, and small groups for discussion. I am keeping in touch with many of the people and plan to do so in the future. Neither this lengthy blog nor the pictures can do justice as to how awesome the Ultimate Training Camp was.

Thanks for letting me share with you and I look forward to seeing you soon!Enjoy your summer!

Laura Bugher

Fan Package Information for Costa Rica

Chiquita Tours has put together a great travel package for anyone wishing to travel and cheer on the Falcons in Costa Rica August 12-20, 2009. Please review the information and notice that the deposit is potentially due JUNE 17 in order the keep the cost down.

The package includes:
• Round trip airfare from Detroit MI to San Jose, Costa Rica on Delta Airlines
• 5 nights accommodations at the Real Intercontinental Hotel (same place the team is staying)
• 3 nights accommodations at the Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel (same hotel the team is staying)
• Complete transportation and guide during entire stay. This includes airport pickup and drop off, transportation to all games and back, and transportation to all excursions.
• Full day White Water Rafting Adventure
• Guided Nature Tour, Ariel tram, and Zip-Lining Excursion
• Arenal Volcano Hike, Hot Springs soak, and dinner Excursion
• 4 Buffet breakfasts included along with 2 lunches and 1 dinner

**The package does not include and Exit Fee of $26.00 per person, meals not mentioned on the itinerary, and any tips for guides you may wish to give.

The cost for the trip with double occupancy is $1,885.oo per person. A non-refundable deposit of $400.00 is due by June 17 in order to hold your spot. The remaining balance of $1,485.00 is due by July 10. Payments can be made in the form of credit card, check or money order. Please let Chiquita Travel know if you need any special assistance while in the country.

If you are unable to do an adventure listed in the itinerary, please let Chiquita Tours know and they will substitute it with something you desire. If you would like to take advantage of additional adventures while in Costa Rica, they can add those for you as well.

You will need a passport to go to Costa Rica. If you do not have one yet, please start the process as soon as you can. You can pick up forms at your local post office or if you are a member of AAA, they can help you also. This process can take from 4-6 weeks.

Please call Chiquita Tours with any questions (including concerns over deadline dates) or to book your trip at 1-800-460-0847 or 419-704-8770. Ask to speak with Kristin Brewer or Heather Whitney

Chiquita Tours, LLC
1401 Lagrange St.
Toledo, OH 43608
http://www.chiquitatours.com/
1-800-460-0847
419-704-8770

MAC Tournament to Remain In Cleveland

MAC Champions at the Q

The "Q" in downtown Cleveland

The Mid-American Conference Council of Presidents approved a recommendation to retain a 12-team men’s and women’s basketball tournament format with only eight men’s and women’s teams advancing to Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. The first-round games for both tournaments will be held on campus sites of the higher seeded team. The approved format will be in place for a two-year period (2010 and 2011) and returns to the format used by the MAC from 2000-2006.The Council of Presidents endorsed the Directors of Athletics’ recommendation that over the next 12 to 16 months the MAC develop a fiscally responsible plan to arrive at two 12-team tournaments at separate, neutral-site venues beginning with the 2012 tournaments.

"Although I am disappointed that we will have to wait until 2012 to have our own neutral-site tournament, I am pleased that the President's decided to keep all 12 MAC teams participating in the MAC Tournament. I believe over the next year, the MAC will have a solid plan for the 2012 tournament which would likely include the brand new downtown arena in Toledo."

Falcons Announce First Ever Foreign Tour

Poas Canopy Excursion

Costa Rica is known for it's beautiful waterfalls

Pacuare River White Water Rafting Excursion

Arenal Volcano Hiking and Tabacon Hot Springs

We are excited to announce more details about our upcoming Foreign Tour! The BGSU Women's Basketball program will be travelling to Costa Rica from August 12-20. This will be the first time in school history that we will be doing a summer foreign tour. Highlights of the nine day trip include 4 games, a white water rafting trip, a zip-line forest canopy excursion, and a hiking trip to an active volcano with hot springs. This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to jump start the 2009-10 season and enjoy the experience as a family in a foreign culture.

The first five nights will be spent in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. From there the team will travel and spend 3 nights in the rain forest in San Ramon.

If any of our fans are interested in traveling, here are the hotels that will be hosting the Falcons:

August 12-16

Intercontinental Hotel Real Costa Rica

Prospero Fernandez Hwy.

San Jose 1000, Costa Rica

Phone: 506-208-2100

www.realhotelsandresorts.com/CostaRica.aspx

August 17-20

Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel and Spa

San Ramon, Costa Rica

Phone: 506-461-0300

http://www.villablancacr.com/

Here is the official release from our website, thanks to Mike Cihon!

http://www.bgsufalcons.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/060509aaa.html

Roll Along!

Coach Miller

Aloha...or Someday I Will Live Where There are Palm Trees

View of Waikiki from the top of DiamondHead crater

Shave Ice...I think I had multiple of these a day...

Haunama Bay

View of Downtown Honolulu and marina from our room

View of Diamond Head from Waikiki beach

Although I do miss being on the court with the team, this time of year is nice because we actually do have some time to ourselves. We all heard about Kevin's vacation last week...so now you all get to hear about my trip to Hawaii. This was the first major vacation I have taken in the last three years and it was fabulous. I travelled to Oahu with my oldest and dearest friend from childhood. He lives in Denver and we rarely get to see one another, but every few years, we decide to get away from it all and go someplace fun. The flight is really long, but so worth it once you land on the island. We spent 6 days over there (I actually got a bonus day because they cancelled my flight...yep that was rough!). We hiked to the top of Diamond Head and to a beautiful waterfall in the forest. That was the extent of my physical activity! :) The rest of the time was pretty much spent lounging by the pool and/or beach and lots and lots of eating. We did spend one day driving around the island and visiting the North Shore. We also spent a day at Haunama Bay, one of the most beautiful places to go snorkeling on the island. If you have never been to Hawaii, I would highly recommend it! It was refreshing to be out of the office for a few days, although I did miss the staff. :) I am now settled back into work and excited for the rest of the team to be back on campus here soon. Our Freshmen arrive in 25 days and we are very excited to finally welcome them to campus!!

Ok, next week you will all get to know what Coach Roos did on her vacation to New York City... she leaves tomorrow so wish her safe travels!

Go Falcons!!

Brandi