Dear Friend of William & Mary Athletics,
 
Most of us love sports because of the team spirit and camaraderie that comes from good competition.  When we talk about sports, though, sometimes we tell the story through numbers.   Three and out, going for two, perfect 10, 18 holes and 40-love are phrases that we all understand and give us a snapshot in time of where we are in a game or match.
 
So, I thought it might be interesting to count down how I spent last week:

• Cheering on SEVEN W&M teams in competition
• Celebrating SIX victories
• High-Fiving Women's and Men's Cross-Country as they dominated the W&M Invitational.
• Spending FOUR fun hours tailgating and cheering in Zable Stadium and losing my voice as our football team gave up a stingy THREE points in defeating Lafayette.  ESPN took note!
• Spending TWO days in the Washington, DC area, and when not getting lost, meeting with Tribe friends and donors.  Plus, congratulating men's soccer on a TWO and 0 start.
• Enjoying a tense and tenacious ONE-nil  women's soccer shut out of ECU!

 
 
I must admit I had another candidate for #One, and that would have to be when Coach Mike London presented me with the game ball after Saturday's game, making it about 20 years since I got my last one!  And yes, you did see my arm moving forward as I had to check myself from spiking the ball and doing my own W&M victory dance. 
 
While our countdown did go this high, another great moment for the W&M family was last weekend when women's volleyball celebrated their 50th anniversary and honored legendary coach Deb Hill.
 
 
It's hard to convey how much I am enjoying every minute of my time at W&M and meeting so many of you.  The student-athletes continue to be my guiding light and I am trying to demonstrate that by attending as many games and events as possible.  Watching these competitions gets me fired up every time, win or lose, and it means so much to our student-athletes when they hear our fans cheering them on. 
 
Every week brings multiple opportunities for our fans to come out and cheer on the Tribe.  Please grab a friend, your family or your co-workers and come to campus for some great intercollegiate athletics.  Hope to see you soon!
 
 
Go Tribe!
 

Brian D. Mann
Director of Athletics