September 2008

The fall picnic always signifies the unofficial start to a new season. It's always nice to meet the newest Hawks, names and faces that we will become so familiar with over the next four years.

Speaking of new faces, and new voices, the Hawks radio broadcast team will have a new sound during the upcoming season. Amy Lawrence begins her first season as the voice of the Hawks, replacing long-time announcer Jon Easterbrook (who--don't fear--despite new professional endeavors will remain at the helm of the Flight Zone). Lawrence is one of a handful of female play-by-play announcers in the country. She comes to Hartford after serving in the same role at the University of Rhode Island for the last four seasons and as a fill-in host for ESPN Radio. She will be joined by Brian Irizarry, who some minor league baseball fans will recognize as  play-by-play announcer for the Connecticut Defenders, the double-a affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Welcome Amy and Brian to the Hawks' women's basketball family.

Two home games to start the season. That's not too common. But the Hawks better enjoy them, as in succeeding weeks, the planes and buses will be rolling to Chicago, Ohio, Washington, D.C., and Kentucky. The UConn matchup is New Year's Eve Day and a rare non-conference game in February breaks up the America East fare as Marist comes calling in a return matchup.

Looking for a Thanksgiving get-away? Consider heading down to the nation's capital that holiday weekend and catch the Hawks on the back-end of their 11-day travel adventure through the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.

Invitations to the Tip-A-Hawk dinner should be reaching you during the end of September. Hope to see many of you there for an always memorable evening.

Next newsletter, it will be...gulp....midnight madness time. Another season is upon us.