Dear Friends of W&M Athletics,

Earlier this week we announced the exciting news that Head Women's Basketball Coach Erin Dickerson Davis agreed to a contract extension that will keep her with the Tribe until 2029! This is a tremendous step forward for our program and I couldn't be happier that Coach E will be wearing Green & Gold for the next five years.

In just two seasons, she has hit numerous milestones, including a program record 12 CAA wins in back-to-back campaigns! Check out her highlight reel, prepare for another great year - and get your season tickets now!
 
 Kicking Off!
A quick reminder that our football season will get off to an early start by hosting the VMI on Thursday, Aug. 29, with a 7 p.m. kickoff. It will be a special evening in Zable, but along with the excitement, there will be a few changes to our usual game day routine. Be on the lookout for an email from Athletics at the start of next week with a complete rundown of what to expect on Thursday. The game has been designated as a "White-Out", so grab your white W&M gear and get inside early, as the first 1,000 fans will get a free t-shirt.
 
 There are new amenities you can enjoy inside Zable.  One is a field-level experience in the new Tribe Touchdown Club, located directly behind the South End Zone (formerly Tailgate Terrace). The new area, which requires tickets, features food, beverages and a fantastic atmosphere up close to all the action; click here for complete details. Also, as you enjoy the fun on the gridiron, there's a new beer in town called Griffin Gold from our good friends at the Virginia Beer Company, which will be available in the stadium. As an officially licensed product, W&M will earn a royalty for every pint & 4-pack sold.
 
 Get in the FLO
Speaking of home openers, tonight the Women's Soccer team will compete in our first regular season home game! The Tribe plays host to familiar state rival, Old Dominion, with a 7 p.m. start. If you are not able to be there in person, you can catch all the action live through FLOSports, which is the CAA's official streaming partner. This year, even more CAA Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Field Hockey, Lacrosse and Baseball games and select conference championships will be available live and on-demand through FloSports. Use this link to take advantage of the special offers made exclusively for CAA fans. One subscription provides access to all the events hosted on the FloSports platform, home or away!  
 
Notable

• Sixteen Women's Gymnasts were honored as Scholastic All-Americans by the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA).
• Offensive tackle Charles Grant, who is a returning All-American and highly regarded NFL prospect, as well as an organ donor, got some well-deserved love from the Newport News Daily Press. Read it here(subscription required).
• Our Men's and Women's tennis teams announced their respective fall schedules, including three home tournaments hosted at the Mackesy Tennis Center at Millie West Courts.  The Tribe men will play the W&M UTR Tournament on the weekend of Nov. 1-3, while the women host both the Tribe Invitational (Sept. 14-15) and the ITA Hall of Fame Classic (Oct. 4 - 6).  

Ever Wonder….
I try to express our deep appreciation for all you do in support of Tribe Athletics as often as possible. Recently, it struck me that you might like to see a tangible example of how your gifts impact our young men and women. Take a look at our Volleyball team as they see their new kits for the first time. Every one of our more than 500 student-athletes receives similar new gear at the start of their seasons, and they join me in thanking you for making those memorable moments.

Progress Every Day
I know our fans are as fired up as we are about the progress on the renovations to Kaplan Arena and the new Mackesy Sports Performance Center.  As I mentioned in the last Mannuscript, the pace has picked up. If you take a stroll by the construction site, you will see bulldozers and work crews readying the site for the next phase; not to mention the giant crane that is now in place. It's happening!
 
 Goodbye, Jaime

As I begin my fourth year at W&M, I've always had Jaime LaBianco by my side. She has been working in the Athletics Director's office for 25 years and has served as the first person many friends, fans, administrators and alumni speak to when they reach out to Athletics. Additionally, Jaime has been critical in countless areas behind the scenes in helping our department stay organized and efficient, from managing all practice and competition schedules to collecting and maintaining contracts. Plus, there is no doubt that she has made my work life a whole lot easier! But as we know, all good things come to an end, and Jaime is retiring on Aug. 30. Thank you, Jaime, for all that you have done for W&M. We will miss you, and so will all of Tribe Athletics! 
 
Go, Tribe!

Brian D. Mann
Director of Athletics