FMU celebrates Homecoming on Saturday; Pats host Cougars
The Francis Marion University men's and women's basketball teams will play host to Peach Belt Conference for Columbus State University on Saturday (Feb. 14) as the school celebrates Homecoming 2009.
The women's basketball game will tip-off at 2 p.m. in the Smith University Center, followed by the men's contest at 4 p.m. Admission to all events on Saturday will be free.
Both contests will be broadcast on the radio at 100.1 FM The FAN, and telecast on Time Warner Cable's channel 11 in Florence. The video/audio broadcast of the doubleheader will also be available for free on the internet at http://www.peachbeltsports.tv/.
Homecoming activities will begin Saturday at 10 a.m. when the eighth-ranked FMU women's tennis team entertains Brenau University on the Kassab Courts.
At 11 a.m. there will be an Old Timers' women's basketball game in the gym, followed at 11:30 a.m. by an Old Timers' Game for men's basketball.
The PatriotFest feast of pizza will begin at 12:30 p.m. on the lawn in front of the Smith University Center featuring live music and entertainment, a picnic lunch, and an opportunity for alumni to interact.
At 1 p.m., the Patriot baseball team (3-3) will play host to Davis & Elkins College (0-3) for a non-conference doubleheader on Cormell Field.
From 1:30 p.m. until approximately 5 p.m., the 11th-annual Swamp Fox Club Benefit Silent Auction, featuring sports memorabilia and merchandise, will be held in the Smith University Center gym. (A list of items is at the bottom of this release)
Between games of the regularly scheduled basketball doubleheader, at approximately 3:45 p.m., former Patriot outfielder Anthony "Chico" Lombardo will be inducted into the FMU Athletic Hall of Fame.
A native of Chattanooga, Tenn., Lombardo played two seasons at Francis Marion (1978 and 1979) after transferring from Motlow State Community College in Tennessee. He earned a B.S. degree in sociology from Francis Marion in 1979, and later did post-graduate work at Winthrop University.
Lombardo now resides in Shelby, N.C., with his wife and two children, and he is entering his 18th season as head baseball coach at Limestone College.
As a senior at Francis Marion in 1979, he batted .411 with 49 runs scored in only 38 games. He set Patriot single-season records for batting average, base hits (62), and runs batted in (46). He also compiled 11 doubles, four triples, and one home run, while stealing 50 bases in 54 attempts. He was named to the NAIA District Six All-District Team, while earning All-State, All-Area, and honorable mention All-America recognition. He helped Francis Marion to a 31-7 record, which at the time, was the best in the program's history.
During the 1978 campaign, he earned All-District honors while hitting .344 with 37 runs scored, seven doubles, one triple, 24 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases in 34 attempts.
His career totals as a Patriot include a .377 average, 86 runs and 70 RBIs in only 76 games, with 80 stolen bases in 88 attempts.
He later played one season in the Cincinnati Reds organization, before entering the coaching profession. When he took over the head coaching reigns at Mars Hill College, he became the youngest head coach in the nation. After two years at Mars Hill, he was an assistant coach at Winthrop College for five seasons, and then moved to Limestone in 1992.
In 2005, he guided Limestone to its first Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference championship and was named CVAC Coach of the Year. While with the Saints, he also earned NAIA District Six Coach of the Year honors in 1994, a Louisville Slugger Award for Excellence in Coaching in 1997, and state Coach of the Year recognition in 1997, while compiling a 435-416 record.
He will join 33 current members in the FMU Athletic Hall of Fame, which was formed in 1991.
The 2009 Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned at halftime of the FMU/CSU men's game.
The 15th-ranked Patriot women's basketball team (20-1, 13-1) will be attempting to widen its 1.5 game lead in the PBC standings when FMU entertains the CSU women (13-11, 6-8). Second-place Clayton University is idle on Saturday.
Francis Marion, which trails in the all-time series 22-17, beat the Cougars 78-67 earlier this season in Columbus. FMU is unbeaten at home this season (12-0), has won 11 straight games for the first time in nine years, and continues to lead the nation in four statistical categories, including scoring offense. Only the 1980-81 Patriot squad (23-1) and the 1998-99 team (26-1) compiled better season starts.
The Francis Marion men (14-7, 7-7) also look to continue their winning ways. The Patriots are in fifth place in the PBC, one game ahead of sixth-place Columbus State (8-12, 6-8). FMU has won four of its last six contests, and is 8-3 in the Smith University Center this season.
Francis Marion trails in the all-time series 21-11, but beat the Cougars 84-78 on Jan. 10 in Columbus.
2009 Swamp Fox Club Silent Auction items: Autographed Baseball................................................................................ Reggie Sanders Baseball.........................................................................Orlando Hudson Baseball.Bobby Richardson ('60 World Series MVP, NY Yankees) Baseball/Poster.............................. Jay Bruhner (Seattle Mariners) Baseball................................................ Edgar Martinez (Seattle Mariners) Basketball........................ USC basketball coaches Horn and Staley Basketball................................................ Bo Ryan (Wisconsin coach) Basketball........................................................University of Tennessee Football.......................................................... Dabo Swenney (Clemson) Football. Danny Ford (1981 Clemson coach of national champions) Softball & Sweatshirt.....................FMU 2008 squad region champs Softball & T-shirt...................................FMU 2008 squad region champs Framed Jersey............................ Pearl Moore, WBB career scoring leader Picture................................... Oliver Purnell (Clemson MBB coach) Picture................................ Dabo Sweeney (Clemson football coach) Merchandise FMU Jacket......................................................................... Emery Higgs FMU Baseball Hat and T-shirt......................................... FMU Athletics Golf Package.................................................................... FMU Athletics Golf Package.................................................................... FMU Athletics Golf Package.................................................................... FMU Athletics Golf Package.................................................................... FMU Athletics Golf Package.................................................................... FMU Athletics Dunlop Tennis Racket.......................................................... Mike Duff Dunlop Tennis Racket.......................................................... Mike Duff Dunlop Tennis Racket.......................................................... Mike Duff Soccer Jersey.................................................................... FMU Athletics Various FMU Apparel................................................... FMU Athletics Miscellaneous Wooden Butcher Block (small)....................McCumber/Stroup Wooden Butcher Block (large)....................McCumber/Stroup Wooden Pencil Holder..................................McCumber/Stroup Handmade wooden bowls................................... McCumber/Stroup Home brewed beer.............................................. Travis Knowles Florence Glasses..............................................Florence Country Club Framed Painting................................................... Ashley Furniture Cabin Rental................................................. Hideaway Haven Tackle Box and Bait........................ Irby Street Sporting Goods Ichiro Bobblehead................................................. FMU Athletics Set of 4 Patriot Coffee Mugs................................. FMU Athletics Fitness Forum Membership ETC............... Karen Leatherman Dixie Stampede Tickets...................................... Brian Sciaretta Original Roger Martin Sculpture............................ Stan Napier 2 Darlington Raceway Tickets............................. Dannie Mirovich Lenox China Bowl................................ James and Sally Christian Silver Rice Spoons (in original boxes).. James and Sally Christian Springhill Suites one-night stay................... Springhill Suites Gift Certificate................................................. Black's Tire Service Valentine's Day Gift Basket............ Sweet Serenity Gourmet Foods Gift Pack................................................................................. Starbucks Gift Basket................................................................................ Sephora Gift Certificate........................................................... Fitness Forum Spa Gift Certificate (towards regular priced item)........ Tri 2 Run shop Gift Certificate................................................................. Micky Finn's Gift Certificate..........Bernie's Bed and Bath (small dog pet grooming) One Week (fall or spring) at Myrtle Beach condo........... Gary Edwards Weekend Car Rental........................................... Enterprise Rent-A-Car 2 General Admission Ticket Booklets................ Florence RedWolves Restaurants Gift Certificate......................................................................... Redbone Alley Gift Certificate (year's supply)............................................. Chick-Fil-A Gift Certificate.................................. The Swamp Sports Bar & Restaurant Chicken Bog Dinner for up to 75 (with 2 sides).......... Glen Barron Sports Packages FMU Youth Baseball Camp (June 22-26 or July 6-10)..... FMU Athletics Baseball 3 1/2 hr hitting sessions with FMU staff....... FMU Athletics Summer Basketball Camp................................. FMU Men's Basketball Golf for 4 (must pay cart fee)....... Country Club of South Carolina Golf for 4............................................................ Oakdale Country Club Quail Hunt (Feb 15 - Mar 1).............................................. Bill Brewer
