by

Alan B. Gibson

Meet the Bulldogs, Big Blue Mania this weekend

Mark the calendars and make your plans to be at Clinton County High this Saturday evening.

Whether you call it Meet the Bulldogs or Big Blue Mania – or neither, Saturday will be our first chance to take a look at the teams we will be following through the winter months on the basketball floor.

A separate article beginning on page 1 in this week’s Clinton County News gives more exact details of the schedule for Saturday night, as well as an up-close look at the three new inductees this year to the C.C.H.S. Basketball Wall of Fame.

It will also give fans a chance to take a first look at some changes/upgrades made to the Lindle Castle gymnasium, namely the new trophy case that is the dominant fixture now in the lobby, as well as a new paint job inside the gymnasium itself.

Of course the night will begin with the 4:00 p.m. start to the slate of activities, the optional meal in the cafeteria which serves both as a fundraiser for the Basketball Booster Club as well as a chance for fans to spend some time together enjoying some good food with other fans, players and coaches.

Cost of the pre-scrimmage meal is just $5, and this year the Booster Club is offering a choice of either tenderloin sandwich or chicken breast sandwich. Of course if your are especially hungry – I’m sure for $10 you could have both.

At 6:00 p.m. we move into the gymnasium for the introduction of the cheerleaders, players, and the support and coaching staff members, then the brief blue-white scrimmages that give the fans attending their first look at the teams in action.

Following both scrimmages, the schedule will move to the final portion of the program, the induction of the three members of this year’s Basketball Wall of Fame class.

I’m one of the members of the selection committee to the Basketball Wall of Fame, and I must say this is one of the best groups we’ve brought in at any one time.

Jerry Perdue is coming in as a “Fan Extraordinaire”as well as an above average player. Referred to by those close to the program as “Mr. Bulldog”, Jerry has long been a fixture on the sidelines and makes it a point to be available as a “fan” for the players to be able to lean on or have support from whenever needed.

Our two players coming onto the Wall of Fame represent the early to mid 2000s for the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs, and have some very impressive stats on their induction plaques.

Michael and Brittany Abbott DeForest also represent the first time the Committee has inducted a husband/wife duo. Michael is currently a Captain in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Jackson, and a veteran having served in Afghanistan. Michael and Brittany will be driving to Albany to accept their induction plaques this weekend.

All in all, this should be a fun-filled, exciting start to what promises to be a great roundball season for our Big Blue teams.

Be there!