Pioneer Points
Director of Athletics Debby De Angelis.
- January 3, 2011
Over the past few years we've made a lot of changes in the Athletics Department: moving to Division II, joining the California Collegiate Athletic Association, hiring new coaches, renovating Pioneer Stadium and adding new staff to name a few. With each month and season, the changes seem to keep coming, and this winter is no different. Over the next few weeks we've got a few exciting transformations in store and we can't wait to unveil them. We are also building up to Homecoming 2011: The Red and Black Attack, a campus tradition that continues to evolve into a weeklong celebration of all things East Bay.
We're hoping you'll join us as we reveal Pioneer Pete, our mascot, after his extreme makeover on Jan. 15, when the men and women's basketball teams take on Cal State LA at Pioneer Gym. Pete has been working during the break to revamp his image and he's coming back improved and better than ever on the 15th.
The celebration of the new and improved Pioneer Pete will continue on Jan. 20, when the Pioneers take on Cal Poly Pomona at Pioneer Gym. The 2011 Mascot Games will take place that day and will feature mascots from local professional teams, as well as the made-over Pete. The San Francisco 49ers' Sourdough Sam, the Oakland Athletics' Stomper, San Francisco Giants' Lou Seal and the Chick-Fil-A Cow will all be on hand to help cheer on Cal State East Bay and welcome the new Pioneer Pete.
The doubleheader that night will mark the Pioneer Race to 1k, as we try to pack the gym to support the Pioneers against the Broncos, whose men's team took home the 2009 Division II National Championship. If 1,000 fans attend the game, everyone there will get a coupon for a free Chipotle burrito! With the Mascot Games, great basketball and a chance for a free burrito, there will be something for everyone when we Race to 1K on Jan. 20.
The fun won't stop in January, though, as we are set to celebrate Homecoming 2011 from Jan. 31-Feb. 6. During the week you'll have the chance to drench your favorite coaches in the dunk tank to benefit Make-A-Wish, compete to become the 2011 East Bay Idol, check out the Pioneer Pride Fashion Show, make some noise at a pep rally and eat and have fun at both the Pioneer water polo luau and the ASI/Alumni pre-game Tailgate, along with many other activities.
In addition, this year's Homecoming Week will feature basketball against Cal State Monterey on Feb. 3 and the second edition of the 2010-11 Battle of the Bay against San Francisco State on Feb. 5. You'll also have a chance to check out women's water polo against Sonoma State, baseball against Vanguard and softball versus Academy of Art and earn prizes by attending the events with your Homecoming 2011 Passport, available in The Pioneer Newspaper.
One last change that we're excited about is our new website, which will be going live soon at . We've worked hard to create a site that will be visually attractive and easy-to-use for fans, staff, prospective student-athletes and parents alike. Check it out and let us know what you think.
After all these changes, we can't wait to see what you think as we continue to move forward and build a program everyone at Cal State East Bay of which everyone can be proud. We hope to see you out showing your Pioneer Pride this winter!
Go Pioneeers!