Dear Friends of William & Mary Athletics,
 
Today is a great news day!  About a year ago, we launched our $55 million All In campaign for W&M Athletics. I'm pleased to announce as of today, we have raised more than $29 million. This has been possible, thanks to you, our Tribe family. 
 
A Million Thanks And More!
Our friends and supporters have demonstrated once again their love for W&M Athletics and their desire to show our 500 student-athletes how much they mean to all of us. I'd love to thank each one of you individually, but the Mannuscript is simply too short for that!
 
I am particularly grateful to an extraordinary group of donors who have collectively made recent gifts totaling $1.1 million to help us reimagine our future home,  the W&M Athletics Complex: Doug Brown '71, J.D. '74 and Escha Brown, Marilyn L. Brown HON '07, Carol E. Evans '64, Don Garber '74 and Betsy Johnson Garber '77, Gary Hickman '78 and Hope Hickman, Ron Holmes '81 and Anne Catlett Holmes, Jim Penny J.D. '83 and Pamela Jordan Penny '77, HON J.D. '16, and Michael Sapnar '88.
 
 
The All In campaign is a game changer for W&M Athletics. Every coach and Athletics staff member joins me in expressing gratitude for all you are doing for our program.  Your continued support will be what truly has an impact on the future of our programs.
 
Relief from March Madness
As March Madness rolls into its final weekend, I know most sports fans are looking at their broken brackets, scratching their heads and wondering about all the upsets that ended up with four storied programs in both finals.  As a nice antidote, let's turn our attention to a couple of different sports—football and women's lacrosse.
 
Last week we released our 2022 football schedule and it's time to start making plans to catch the Tribe at Zable Stadium in the fall.  The first order of business is to secure your season tickets, which just went on sale.   We've streamlined the buying process and have package prices for every budget.  Getting your tickets now means you won't miss any of the action in our five home games. Coach London and his staff are building something special, as we are coming off a 2021 campaign that saw us earn the most wins since the 2015 CAA Championship squad. Additionally, the Tribe finished the season with the CAA's most productive rushing offense and placed seven standouts on the postseason all-conference team, highlighted by defensive end Nate Lynn, a Buck Buchanan Award Finalist for national defensive player of the year, and quarterback Darius Wilson, the CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year.
 
 
Speaking of Football AND Lacrosse+Golf
Two guys who know their way around the gridiron, our own Mike Tomlin and former NFL standout Rondé Barber (whose daughter, Justyce, is a freshman on our lacrosse team), are joining forces to host the Inaugural W&M Women's Lacrosse Golf Event.  This promises to be a fun-filled outing and will be a great fundraiser for our women's lacrosse team.  My handicap is a work in progress and I intend to take advantage of all the on-course coaching available!
 
 
Speaking of golf, I got my week started with plenty of exercise as I walked the Kingsmill course with our women's golf team on Monday and did the same with our men's golfers Tuesday at the Golden Horseshoe course (ok, ok, I also took full advantage of the golf carts but you get the idea!).  And this followed a Saturday night at the Two Rivers Country Club where I introduced Duncan Weir, one of the first international golfers recruited to play for the Tribe, and a golf legend due to his years of association with the British Open and the iconic Royal and Ancient.
 
 
One Tribe One Day
It's still two weeks away, but please don't forget that OTOD is scheduled for April 12 this year and the focus is increasing support for W&M Athletics.  Last year more than 10,500 donors raised a record $3 million for W&M.  This will be the ninth year for this annual day of giving and I'm feeling competitive.  Shall we go for a new record in honor of the Tribe?
 
Lastly, as usual, the upcoming weekend will be filled Tribe sporting events.  We will be celebrating our seniors in lacrosse, men's tennis and the men's and women's track and field programs, as well as hosting both the Colonial Relays (click here for complete schedule) and ECAC Men's Gymnastics Championship.  The weather looks to be cooperating, so if you are able, I hope you find some time to come out and enjoy the opportunity to support our student-athletes.
 
Go Tribe!
 
Brian D. Mann
Director of Athletics