As the 2008 baseball season begins, I have found myself thinking of teams I played for when I was at the University of Maine. I started to think of why I had so much fun and why it meant so much for me.

Albeit we won a lot of games and had a very successful collegiate experience, it was the guys and the special bond we shared and still share today that made my experience tremendous. We were all part of something greater than our individual accomplishments, and together we touched the lives of a lot of people in ways we never imagined.

What we learned and accomplished has in many respects defined who we are today. The dedication, commitment, responsibility, courage, loyalty, and passion are all part of what made our experience great. We realized it wasn’t about one person or a group of people; it was about the tradition and the people before us who worked so hard and made it possible for us to follow. We made a commitment to each other and to those before us to continue the great tradition. We did not want to let our predecessors down, and at the same time we wanted to be part of the foundation for those who would play after us.

One of my many goals at Colby is to make certain that the players I coach have the same positive experience that I had in college. I want them to understand that dedication, commitment, responsibility, courage, loyalty, and passion are all part of what will make their Colby experience great. I want them to play for the Colby tradition that started back in 1867 and to keep solid the Colby foundation for those who will play after them.

I am excited as I see evidence of these goals being reached. I believe the right relationships are being built. To make certain that those who follow us can be proud, we need to continue to improve our program each year. These improvements will help us keep up with the competition and will provide the necessary tools for current and future Mules.

As the 2008 baseball season officially starts, it is like Christmas Eve. I get a new team with new members, and we get to use the new Iron Mike Pitching Machine that we were able to purchase thanks to Bob and Kathy Whelan P’09. Their generous donation also allowed us to purchase an infield tarp and an outfield-fence windscreen that will transform Coombs Field into a ballpark.

The Whelans’ goal is that alumni and current team families come together to match their contribution. When we reach our financial goal, we will continue forward with needed projects. We plan to move the bullpens to the playing field surface, to enlarge the current backstop, and to rebuild the outdoor batting cage area. When these projects are completed, Colby baseball will have set another cornerstone for current and future players.

Message from C Club President Alex Wilson '73
What it Means to Me To Be a Colby Athlete
Spring 2008 Previews