Welcome Home, Quinnipiac Athletics (Part 1 - Dedication Ceremony)
Welcome Home, Quinnipiac Athletics
By Seth Rothman
January 27, 2007
HAMDEN — The day has finally arrived. The opening of the TD Banknorth Sports Center, Quinnipiac University’s brand new sports arena for basketball and hockey opens its doors today. First on the schedule, the Men’s Basketball team will take on Long Island University at 12:30 on a NESN televised game. Then, at 3:30, the women will try their luck against the Lady Blackbirds. Finally, at 7 pm, the hockey rink opens its doors for a contest against the top ranked Mercyhurst Lakers. This momentous occasion deserves a momentous blog, and we will give it to you right here. Moment by moment, from arriving at the arena, to the pre-game dedication ceremony, to all three games, this is the place to be.
The day started early.
9:15 – Wake up time. Waking up this early on a Saturday is usually not something to be happy about, but today there was good reason. Today, I didn’t mind waking up at an early hour.
10:30 – Students have to shuttle over to the TD Banknorth Sports Center, so at 10:30, I get to athletics. To my amazement, there are 8 or 9 busses just waiting to take students over to the beautiful arena. The trip over to the York Hill campus takes 5 minutes, and is completed by 10:45.
10:54 – I’ve already got my spiffy media press pass in hand. A great job by Quinnipiac, they had this thing completely worked out, and it was a very seamless procedure to get everything set up.
10:55 Hey look, it’s Mike Kobylanski! Kobes, as we all love to call him, is Quinnipiac’s Head Sports Information Director, and he does a fantastic job. A “great” job, if you will. He’s all hooked up with an earpiece and radio, and looks like a chicken with his head cut off. A common look for Quinnipiac’s Athletic Department on this historic day; though everyone in that department did an absolutely outstanding job, from where I sat today.
11:00 – After getting lost in the bowels of the TD Banknorth Sports Center (though not because of a lack of signage), we find our seats on press row: across from the Long Island University bench on the wing; a great spot to watch two basketball games.
11:08 – After putting our computer equipment down to “mark the spot” if you will, we head outside to await the festivities soon to take place. They will be unveiling a giant Bobcat, and of course formally dedicating the new building.
11:15 – Exactly on time, bagpipers welcome QU President John L. Lahey, Quinnipiac Athletic Director Jack McDonald, President of the Board of Trustees Terry Goodwin, TD Banknorth of CT President John Patrick, and lots of other dignitaries. Lahey calls this day “A historic day in the history of Quinnipiac University.” He goes on to ask members of the Connecticut national guard to use the flagpoles in front of this beautiful building. The United States flag, Quinnipiac University flag, and Connecticut state flag are now flying proud at this new building.
11:22 – Quinnipiac Student Government President Jennifer Rosenbaum takes the microphone to explain the legend of the Bobcat. As this statue is unveiled, she instructs all fans passing by to rub the paw of this creation every time they enter the building.
11:26 – With the help of all the dignitaries on the stage, the TD Banknorth Sports Center sign is unveiled to a gigantic cheer among the thousand or so fans already at this new arena. It is time for basketball.
