Citadel Grayline

SoCon commissioner John Iamarino talks conference expansion, future tournament sites and The Citadel's role in the historic conference.   Jeff Hartsell reports on the 30-year prison sentence for former football players Miguel Starks and Reggie Rice.   We also have the latest on the "suicide by cop" death of Craig Thompson ('89); and a cadet is in hot water for posting inappropriate info on a porn website.   Plus, a Blue-White spring scrimmage recap.

Corps Day 2011.  Confederate Gen. David Flavel Jamison (1810-1864), founder of The Citadel, is spotlighted by Curt Campbell ('74).  As the college celebrates its 168th birthday this week, Campbell tells the story of how his fellow Orangeburg native led the charge to establish the South Carolina Military Academy in the 1840s.   Plus, Jeff Hartsell gives us a glimpse of what to expect at Saturday's Blue-White spring football game.

Zach Urbanus looks back on his stellar Bulldog career in this GrayLine exclusive, after his team lost in the first round of the SoCon Tourney in Chattanooga.   We also chat with women's golf coach Lori Bonacci, whose team prepares for the SoCon Tourney in Hilton Head.  And Jeff Hartsell has the latest with spring practice, Cortez Allen's invite from the Patriots, and the Diamond Dogs' sweep of Appalachian State and David Letterman U.

Mike Groshon ('76) is the Band of Gold Spotlight.  The assistant athletics director for facilities chats about the playing field at Johnson Hagood Stadium, his 30-years of work at The Citadel, and his role as the caretaker of live bulldog mascots "General" and "Boo."   Jeff Hartsell previews the SoCon basketball tourney, where the Dogs open against Elon on Friday.  And Cortez Allen impresses the scouts at this week's NFL Combine.

Fred Jordan, The Citadel's baseball coach and a member of the class of 1979, is this week's special guest.   He shares info on his pitching lineup for 2011, as well as why Clemson is not on the schedule.   Plus, Jeff Hartsell discusses the sinking basketball team; and the ace Post and Courier Bulldog beat writer has a report from the football practice field, as the Gridiron Dogs are undergoing spring drills.

SouthernPigskin.com's J.T. Bennett discusses Kevin Higgins' team, as well as his site's preseason FCS Top 25.  Did the Dogs make the cut?   And Jeff Hartsell has good info on the exhausted 9-18 El Cid basketball team – losers of five straight.

Jeff Foxworthy calls-in to salute his longtime illustrator and redneck pal, David Boyd ('60), who is this week's Band of Gold Spotlight.  The two have a good laugh discussing their work; plus Foxworthy is asked how well he would've faired if he had attended The Citadel.   And the Bulldog basketball team loses three in a row, and now aims to win at home against Elon.

National Signing Day special.   Kevin Higgins discusses the 13 high school players that inked with The Citadel.   The coach also answers questions about the class from Jeff Hartsell and others.   We also spotlight the basketball team, which looks to win its fifth consecutive SoCon game this week.   Plus, Darwin Week arrives on the Charleston campus.  Seriously?

Miguel Starks and Reggie Rice plead guilty in two home-invasion robberies.  Chuck Driesell chats post-game after the blowout win over Western Carolina.   Plus, Zan Edens ('93) gives us the scoop on a signing day party hosted by The Citadel Football Association.

Steve Peper ('78) is this week's Band of Gold Spotlight.  This former Board of Visitors member and Citadel Alumni Association president discusses his time in the Marine Corps, his days leading the school and his work in Charleston.  We also hear basketball coach Chuck Driesell praise his team's road win at Samford this week.  And Jeff Hartsell has info on the latest football commit, a WR/DB from Georgia.

Andre Roberts ('10), Arizona Cardinals wide receiver and Bulldog great, is the Band of Gold Spotlight.   He discusses a few memorable games at The Citadel, as well as his just-completed rookie season in the NFL.   We also spotlight the Star of the West, which The Citadel just commemorated the 150th anniversary of cadets firing on the Northern steamship.   So what happened to the vessel?   Civil War historian Henry McCabe, of Greenwood, Miss., discusses the role the ship had in his state during the war, and how it was purposely sunk in the the Tallahatchie River to deter Union forces from capturing Vicksburg.

100th Episode Spectacular.   U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN), a member of The Citadel Class of 1980, is the Band of Gold Spotlight.  We also hear from The Citadel's Nashville and Music Row connection, Tandy Rice ('61), who was Citadel GrayLine's first guest in 2008.   And Jeff Hartsell previews the Bulldog basketball team's road trip this week to Colorado, New Mexico, and Las Vegas, Nev.

Mike Veeck, Charleston RiverDogs president and visiting professor at The Citadel, discusses his family's 100-year-long relationship with America's Pastime.  His grandfather was a president of the Chicago Cubs, and his late father (Bill) is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., and was a former owner of the St. Louis Browns, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox.  Veeck shares info on the relationship he enjoys with Fred Jordan, Andy Solomon and The Citadel.   Plus, Jeff Hartsell has a report on the basketball team's two recent victories.

The Post and Courier's Jeff Hartsell talks Citadel football and basketball in great detail.   Plus, we discuss the state of college football in the Palmetto State -- and the Bulldogs' position in the pigskin pack.   What will it take to compete for a SoCon championship?

World War II veteran Col. Ted Bell ('42), who earned the Distinguished Service Cross and a Silver Star fighting in the Pacific campaign, is this week's Band of Gold Spotlight.   Bell discusses 1930s cadet life -- including former roommate and lifelong friend Maj. Gen. James Grimsley -- as well as his service years and post-war civilian career.   Also, Chuck Driesell chats with Jeff Hartsell following his first win as the Bulldogs' hoops coach.  And we toast the gridiron team, which won a close one at Samford, 13-12.

Basketball great Rick Swing ('79) is this week's Band of Gold Spotlight.   The Birmingham, Ala., pastor starred on Les Robinson's teams of the late '70s, and parlayed his Citadel career to a 4th round draft pick of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers.   Also, Jeff Hartsell previews Saturday's football finale against Samford, as the Dogs aim for their first SoCon victory of the year in the Magic City.

Get the Red Out recap.   The Citadel loses to Elon during Homecoming 2010, but at least they looked spiffy in defeat wearing new Big Red football jerseys.   Jeff Hartsell has a full report on the 27-16 loss.  Also, USC School of Law alumnus Jim Waddill represents the "prosecution," and Jon Rawl represents the "defense," in a mock trail of whether Kevin Higgins should be retained as The Citadel's 23rd head football coach.

Norman Seabrooks ('73), the first black football player at The Citadel, is this week's Band of Gold Spotlight.   Seabrooks discusses his matriculation to Charleston, the difficulties of being a cadet in the Vietnam War, and his all-Southern Conference playing days.   Plus, Jeff Hartsell brings you up to speed on the Wofford loss, Homecoming 2010, and the SoCon Tournament win by the women's soccer team.

Steve McManus ('64) is the Band of Gold Spotlight.  The former Hardee's CEO and current owner of the Beacon Drive-In in Spartanburg discusses his business career and this weekend's Beacon Iced Tea Bowl, featuring The Citadel and Wofford.  Jeff Hartsell tells us how the Dogs accumulated nine turnovers in last weekend's game against Georgia Southern.   

Charlie Taaffe recalls the 38-35 win over South Carolina on Oct. 20, 1990.   He also discusses his great Bulldog teams, including the 1992 SoCon Champions.   Jack Douglas calls-in to chat with his old coach, and remember his fourth down sneak to seal the victory over the Gamecocks.    Jeff Hartsell recaps the 39-10 loss at Appalachian State, and previews this weekend's home game against Georgia Southern.