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After a disappointing and frustrating start to conference play earlier in the year, the Charlotte 49ers (11-5-3, 4-3-2) have managed to turn their season around after winning seven-straight matches and clinching a spot in the Conference USA Men’s Soccer Championship game.
The game will be played on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 1:30 p.m. against fifth-seeded Tulsa (11-5-3, 4-3-2).
The two teams met earlier in the season in the last game the 49ers would lose before going on their seven-game winning streak. The 49ers have outscored opponents 19-2 in those seven matches.
“It’ll be a different game here as opposed to there. We could have been 4-0 up at halftime, it was when we were having that little stuttering spell,” said Head Coach Kevin Langan about the team’s performance on the road in the 3-2 overtime loss to Tulsa back in October.
“Giuseppe [Gentile] was injured, we had to leave him behind. Aidan [Kirkbride] was injured, so we went there without a full squad. We weren’t high on confidence just because of the previous results, so it will be a completely different game. I don’t really buy into revenge. That’s not really my style.”
The 49ers have played their first two matches in the conference tournament without defender Anthony Perez, but will have him back in the championship game. The 49ers will face Tulsa with a full squad this go-around, and look to win their first conference championship back in Conference USA.
For seven accomplished seniors that have earned award after award and played in NCAA tournament games, there is one title those seven have yet to earn: a conference championship title.
“For this senior group, for them to graduate with all the accolades and been probably the most successful class ever in this school history, but never to have won a conference championship, we want to put that right on Sunday. It would be a just reward for this senior group,” said Langan.
Despite the success in the previous three seasons for the 49ers, the Charlotte team was never able to pick up an Atlantic 10 Championship win. Now that the team is back in Conference USA making an appearance in the championship game for just the third time in program history, the team is hoping that the third time will be the charm.
With a healthy squad, home-field advantage and momentum from a winning-streak largely playing in their favor, the 49ers are hoping Sunday’s match will crown them the 2013 Conference USA Men’s Soccer Champions for the first time ever.
For seven seniors whose collegiate careers will soon be coming to an end, the chance to walk away with one last title would be everything.
For some athletes, learning a sport takes patience, practice and persistence. For others, it comes as second nature.
Charlotte 49ers volleyball middle hitter and senior Amanda Videmsek had no trouble picking up the sport growing up.
“When I was young, it came pretty naturally,” said Videmsek.
It was deciding which sport to pursue more competitively that ultimately became difficult.
“My parents just kind of pushed me to try everything and see what I really liked to do,” said Videmsek.
“I played basketball, I played softball, volleyball and I think I tried soccer when I was really young. I used to be a dancer, and my dad always told me that I would get the rebound because I was taller than everyone in fourth grade. He said I’d throw it to someone and dance to the other side of the court.”
After years of dancing tap, jazz, ballet and hip-hop, and balancing volleyball, Videmsek was forced to make a decision.
“When I got to high school, I had to decide between dance and volleyball,” said Videmsek.
“I think I chose volleyball because I was tall, too tall for dance. I was getting too tall to be partnered with anyone, and I saw an opportunity to go to college and play.”
Videmsek attended a small, all-girl college preparatory high school in Ohio. Due to the smaller program, many of the colleges pursuing the middle hitter were just down the street.
“It started off locally,” said Videmsek.
“Cleveland State, Toledo, a lot of local schools. When I went to nationals and got my name out there on a more national level, schools like UNC Charlotte, UMBC, Baltimore, Florida Gulf Coast, a lot of smaller schools. Charlotte was the biggest opportunity I had.”
Ultimately, Videmsek came down to deciding between UNC Charlotte and Florida Gulf Coast. After spending so much time in Ohio, the Beaumont School volleyball star wanted to get out of the state to do some exploring. Warmer weather didn’t hurt either.
“I realized I wanted to get out of the state, I just wanted to go away for a little bit,” said Videmsek.
“I love my family and everything, I just needed to go out and be independent for a little bit. I wanted to go somewhere warm. I love the summer, so Florida and Charlotte really stood out to me for that.”
Videmsek was one of 125 in her graduating class and the only volleyball player in her graduating class to go play at the collegiate level.
“No one else on my team was going to play volleyball anywhere,” said Videmsek.
“It was a huge burden lifted off of my shoulders knowing I was going to college, knew where I was going.”
Making a big move away from all things known to a new city can be scary for many. For Videmsek, she says it was one of the best decisions she’s ever made.
“I’m playing college volleyball in Division I. Not many athletes get that opportunity,” said a humble Videmsek.
“I love waking up every morning and working hard to reach a goal. I think that’s how I am with everything from athletics and my education.”
Not long after moving from Ohio to North Carolina, the 6’0” volleyball student met Justin Seager, former Charlotte 49ers baseball player and 12th round pick by the Seattle Mariners in the 2013 Major League Amateur Draft. They’ve been together ever since.
“It’s been three years,” said Videmsek with a smile a mile wide.
“He’s obviously been one of my biggest supporters here since I met him freshman year.”
Seager spent the summer playing and traveling with the Everett AquaSox, a minor league affiliate of Seattle. It was the longest Videmsek had ever spent away from Seager, but says it was an opportunity to learn more about herself.
“It was hard at first getting used to him not being around,” said Videmsek.
“It’s given me a chance to do more me. I’ve been with him this whole time at college, so I’ve never not been with him. It’s kind of fun to have more girl nights and focus on me right now.”
Though Videmsek has spent more time bonding with the girls and learning what it’s like to be alone, not seeing Seager in the stands doesn’t get easier.
“Not having him in the stands is weird, not being able to look up in the stands and see him, but it’ll be really exciting when he gets to come back,” said Videmsek.
“Having my parents here will help. His parents come to my games a lot, so it helps to have them there. It’ll be hard seeing the empty seat next to them, though.”
The empty seat won’t stay empty long as Seager will be back in Charlotte in a few weeks.
Seager present or not, Videmsek knows that her last year playing college volleyball is an important one. The 49ers have not been to the conference tournament since her freshman year.
“I want them to remember me for our team’s success. The past couple of years, we haven’t had a lot of team success, like post-regular season,” said Videmsek.
“If we can make it to the conference tournament this year, I think that’ll be a great thing for the team to remember me as – as the captain that helped make it to the conference tournament.”
The excited and passionate 49ers captain knows it takes a team effort to make anything happen. It’s still early in the volleyball season, but conference play will heat up quickly and only time will tell if Charlotte will see a match in the post-season.
“My freshman year was the only year we made it to the conference tournament, and that was an amazing experience,” said Videmsek.
“It’s not an individual thing; it’s a team thing. I want them to remember me for our team’s success.”
Perhaps success is making it into the conference tournament, but Videmsek has already succeeded in making her almost four years of college volleyball worth it.
“The girls I play with make everything worth it.”
In a game that not many expected a team like Charlotte to be playing in, the 49ers men’s basketball team (5-1) upset the No. 14 ranked Michigan 63-61 in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Championship game and have raised the bar for the upcoming season.
After pulling out a 68-61 first-round win over Kansas State, the 49ers were able to garner one more win when they rallied past Northeastern by a score of 86-77 in the semifinals of the tournament.
Michigan, the runner-up in last season’s NCAA Tournament, nearly missed their opportunity to play in the championship of the Tip-Off after squeezing by Florida State in overtime.
With both teams hungry for a championship title, the game proved nothing short of hard-fought.
At the half, Charlotte led 35-30 leaving Niner Nation with visions of a 1977 repeat.
It was in 1977 that the 49ers upset Michigan, the No. 1 ranked team at the time, in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament to advance and make the program’s only Final Four appearance.
The game came down to the last minute. With 40 seconds on the clock, Charlotte held a five point lead. After blowing the lead, Michigan’s Mitch McGary tied it 61-61 with just eight seconds left.
Charlotte’s Terrence Williams missed a layup, but snagged his own rebound to make his second attempt giving the 49ers a 63-61 victory over the 14th-ranked team and a championship title for the second-straight year.
“You almost don’t know what to say after that one. That was one of the most incredible basketball games I’ve ever been a part of. I just can’t say enough about these kids,” said Charlotte Head Coach Alan Major.
Denzel Ingram led the 49ers with 12 points and four rebounds. Pierria Henry finished the night with 11 points, six rebounds and a steal. It was Willie Clayton that recorded the only double-double of the night with his 10 points and 15 rebounds.
The tournament, as a whole, truly epitomized what playing like a team looks like for the young Charlotte team.
“The thing that’s been the most fun and encouraging for me to watch is just them coming together down here and being a team,” said Major.
“It’s the hardest thing to do in sports these days, to legitimately root for the next guy on your team and not care what happens to you. They’re really trying to be a team, so I’m just really thankful to God for them.”
The team returns home to Halton Arena on Sunday, Dec. 1 when they host UNC Asheville at 6 p.m.
For many college football coaches, the thought of packing up and moving to coach a first-year program is intimidating.
For Napoleon Sykes, outside linebacker coach of the Charlotte 49ers football team, the decision wasn’t exactly an easy one.
“There was a lot of thought that went into it,” said Sykes.
“What really sealed the deal was an opportunity to put a mark on a program at the ground level. The things that we do, the traditions that we start, will all outlive us here. It was a very unique situation that kind of sold itself.”
Seeing how his team of eight outside linebackers has come together to form a more than special bond, the decision has been worth it.
“Honestly, these guys impress me every day with how hard they work,” said Sykes.
“I could talk for hours about these cats. They are a good bunch of guys. Love these guys to death.”
For Sykes, making sure his team is focused both on and off the field has been of utmost importance. Only two of the eight outside linebackers – Mark Hogan (6-0, 210) and Tyler DeStefani (6-3, 215) – have college football experience, so being focused has remained a top priority.
Hogan, a transfer from Georgia State, is a graduate student at UNC Charlotte. Hogan holds the record in tackles for the Panthers.
DeStefani, a redshirt junior, played football at Newberry College in Newberry, S.C. He made the Charlotte team after a walk-on tryout in April of 2012.
For Nico Alcade (6-2, 205), Jalen Holt (6-4, 225), Zeb Little (6-1, 195), DaQuavius Reid (6-2, 195), Mark Pettit (6-4, 235) and Jordan Starnes (6-2, 230), the college football experience is completely new.
“They have been through a college football preseason, season and off-season, so their experience has been priceless for everyone in the room,” said Sykes regarding the experience between Hogan and DeStefani.
Sykes attributes the success of his linebackers in part to their self-motivating personalities. The outside linebackers vary in not only age, but also playing experience, yet all come to practice ready to tackle their job.
The outside linebacker motto, “We’re Different,” possesses a multitude of meanings.
“As an outside linebacker, you might have to play like a cornerback sometimes, then like a safety, an inside linebacker or a defensive lineman,” said Sykes.
“No other position on the field has to do all of those things in a single game, so we are literally very different than any other position.”
That motto doesn’t just stick for when the “Myopic Maniacs,” Sykes’ nickname for the outside linebackers, are on the field. The motto is meant to hold true off the field as well.
“We want to be different than the average guy. We want to excel in the classroom and be gentleman. We want to be great men.”
Though the group may be self-motivating, there’s no denying that Sykes is an inspiring coach that wants nothing more than his team to be the best they can be – both on and off the field.
“We remind ourselves every day how important it is that each of us does our best, because there is a guy to your right or left that needs you to be at your best.”
For many college athletic programs across the country, men have typically held the Athletic Director position since the beginning of time.
It wasn’t even until the early 1970s that Title IX, the law to ensure that there would be no discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program, was passed. Though passed, many women weren’t seeing the difference.
“When our class graduated, timing was everything with our group,” said Judy Rose, athletic director at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
“Title IX had passed, but colleges weren’t implementing it.”
Little did Rose know at the time, that “group” would come together to form an inseparable bond and go on to be three of the most well known women in college sports.
Pat Summitt, former head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers women’s basketball team and the all-time winningest basketball coach in NCAA history, is one of the friends in that pack of women.
Sylvia Hatchell, current women’s basketball coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and second all-time winningest basketball coach in NCAA women’s basketball history, is the other.
Rose, one of six, grew up in a large family in a small town. “Not much to do in those small towns. Not much to do, so you played sports,” said Rose.
“I knew early on that I wanted to be a physical education teacher and coach basketball at the high school level. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I never thought about coaching at the college level.”
After graduating high school, Rose attended Winthrop University and played college basketball during her time as an undergraduate student.
“My older sister was a much better basketball player than I was, but I had more passion for the sport,” said Rose.
“I went to Winthrop for undergraduate and it was an all-girls school when I went there,” said Rose.
“And then to go to Tennessee, it was such a culture shock. It was a whole new world for me.”
It was during her time at Tennessee that she had the opportunity to coach the women’s basketball team with Summitt and Hatchell. It was then that her passion for coaching grew even more.
Rose graduated from the University of Tennessee with her master’s in Physical Education in 1975 and was hired as the women’s basketball coach at UNC Charlotte in 1976.
In 1981, Rose was promoted to Assistant Director of Athletics. During her first year of holding the new position, she was still the women’s basketball coach.
“Probably one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make was to get out of coaching,” said Rose.
“I loved coaching, but I didn’t want it to consume my whole life.”
In 1982, Rose stepped away from coaching women’s basketball for good to focus on her duties as Assistant Director of Athletics. In 1985, Rose was again promoted to Associate Director for Athletics under then Athletic Director Jeff Mullins. Mullins was also the men’s basketball coach at the time of Rose’s promotion.
In 1990, due to some controversies at other schools, the NCAA decided that a head basketball coach or head football coach could not be an athletic director. Mullins was forced to make a decision.
“Jeff Mullins said to the Chancellor that he recommended that I be named the athletic director,” said Rose.
“I didn’t even know that I wanted it only because I had no female mentors that had done it. I was going to be the third woman to ever lead a program. I was already doing every bit of the job, but I didn’t have the title.”
Her hesitance in part came from knowing her success or failures would ultimately affect other women in the sports industry.
“I cannot fail. If I fail, they won’t add another woman,” said Rose.
“I put the pressure on myself that I’d be doing a huge injustice to women if I mess up.”
Rose was promoted to Athletic Director in 1990 and has held the position ever since. At the time, Rose was the third woman elected to head a Division-I athletic program and is currently one of five female athletic directors in the country.
“I was thinking, ‘What if they don’t accept me? Will I be the best representation for the program?’”
Rose has more than represented the university in her reign as athletic director. She was the first female to sit on the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee. She served on the committee from 2000-2004.
“I never got asked to be on the women’s committee,” said Rose.
“I had played basketball, coached basketball, but they never asked me to be on the women’s committee. They asked me to be on the men’s.”
A few years after serving on the committee, Rose felt the need to push Chancellor Dubois to consider bringing football to Charlotte.
“I was like, ‘Y’all. We have to be ready. If the chancellor gives us the go ahead, we have to have a plan. We have to know what we don’t know right now.’ At times, it seems like it was just yesterday, and at times it seems like it was 20 years ago,” said Rose.
A teary eyed Rose said she could not have done all the planning for Charlotte 49ers football without the help of so many.
“At times, it seems like it was just yesterday that we started all this planning, and my staff started two years before the chancellor agreed to have football,” said Rose.
Though football has now consumed so much of her time, she considers herself lucky to work with so many talented and dedicated coaches and student athletes.
“We’re a large university, but we have a small feel within the athletic department, so we’re family. It’s that family thing.”
The Charlotte 49ers football team (4-2) hosted 24th-ranked Gardner-Webb (4-2) at home inside Jerry Richardson Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5.
The student section was obviously missing many fans as it appeared most students chose to leave town for fall break.
If those fans that left watched the game on TV or followed along on Twitter, one can imagine that they were disappointed after missing an almost unbelievable comeback to beat a nationally ranked program at home.
In the opening drive of the game, the 49ers were unable to do much after Mikel Hunter’s 27-yard kickoff return, forcing Brandon Strupp to punt.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs drove the ball down the field in their first drive of the game. On a third and goal from the 5-yard line, quarterback Lucas Beatty was unable to find a receiver in the endzone, forcing GWU to settle for a field goal with 8:36 to play in the first quarter.
The second drive of the game for the 49ers looked similar to the first: another three and out.
GWU marched the ball down the field almost effortlessly, converting two third-down conversions to keep possession of the ball. It was Beatty’s 3-yard pass to Kenny Cook that gave the Runnin’ Bulldogs the first touchdown of the day. With the 49ers trailing 10-0 with 4:09 to play in the first quarter, the pressure was on for the young Charlotte team.
During the third drive of the game, the 49ers finally found their rhythm. After four consecutive first downs on a six play, 73-yard drive, Kalif Phillips found himself in the endzone on a six-yard run for the first 49ers score of the day.
The GWU offense answered back with a touchdown on a 20-yard pass from Beatty to Cook, giving the Runnin’ Bulldogs a 17-7 lead over the 49ers to wrap up the first quarter.
Charlotte opened up the second quarter with a first down on a 5-yard run by Phillips. Johnson finds Austin Duke on a 24-yard pass. Johnson then found CJ Crawford on a 17-yard pass to give the 49ers their second touchdown of the game after driving the ball 67 yards. The touchdown was Crawford’s first of the season.
Cook proved early on that he was a dangerous weapon for the GWU offense as he received for more than 100 yards before the halfway mark in the second quarter. Beatty found Earnest Harmon on a 3-yard pass for a GWU touchdown, giving the Runnin’ Bulldogs a 24-14 lead over the 49ers with 9:55 to play in the first half.
The GWU offense fumbled the ball and Caleb Clayton-Molby recovered it, returning possession to the 49ers. That was Clayton-Molby’s third fumble recovery of the season and the 49ers’ 11th this year. Unable to convert a third down, Blake Brewer kicked a 43-yard field goal to cut the GWU lead 24-17. That kick was Brewer’s longest field goal of the season.
49ers took back possession when the GWU offense ran out of downs and Jordan Day missed a 39-yard field goal. On a third and 10, Johnson found Trent Bostick to pick up a first down.
Johnson connected with Duke for a 26-yard pass to tie the game 24-24, with just 0:14 to play in the first half. The touchdown was Duke’s fifth of the season.
After the first half of the game, the 49ers were three of seven on third-down conversions to the GWU six of eight. Going into the game, the 49ers were 41.3 percent successful on third-down conversions.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs started the second half of the game with possession. After driving the ball 75 yards in 12 plays, Beatty found Harmon in the endzone for another GWU touchdown to give them a 31-24 lead over the 49ers. That was Harmon’s second touchdown of the game and Beatty’s fourth touchdown pass of the game, tying his career high.
The 49ers drove the ball down the field, but were unsuccessful in scoring, forcing Brewer to attempt a 48-yard field goal. Drew White blocked the kick and Demarji Devine returned it to the Charlotte 2-yard line. It was Juanne Blount that ran it in for a GWU touchdown, giving the Runnin’ Bulldogs a 38-24 lead with 8:31 to play in the third quarter.
The 49ers ran out of downs, driving the ball into GWU territory and on a fourth and five, an incomplete pass by Johnson to Crawford returned the ball to the Runnin’ Bulldogs with 6:27 to play in the third quarter.
Throwing the 49ers defense off, Mike Estes picked up his first receiving touchdown of the season when wide receiver Richard Jules found him on a 27-yard pass. That touchdown was Jules’ first passing touchdown and gave the Runnin’ Bulldogs 21 unanswered points and a 45-24 lead.
The 49ers were picking up momentum and driving the ball after two consecutive first downs by Phillips and Hunter. The 49ers were going to go for it on a fourth and three, but a false start call forced the kicking team on for the 49ers. Brewer missed the field goal sending it wide left, leaving the 49ers trailing 45-24 with 1:48 to play in the third quarter.
The 49ers opened the fourth quarter with a pick by Martay Mattox to give him his first interception of the season and 10th team interception. Johnson took a big hit and Lee McNeill relieved him for a play. On fourth and goal on the GWU 5-yard line, Johnson came back in and connected with Crawford on a 5-yard pass for a touchdown. The 49ers trailed 45-31 with 12:30 to play in the game.
Charlotte forced GWU to punt after a three and out. The 49ers took possession of the ball on their own 10-yard line. On a third and eight, Johnson found Crawford to pick up a first down and prevent the 49ers from being forced to punt. Charlotte ran out of downs and though Johnson found Duke on a fourth down, it wasn’t enough to pick up the first.
A bad snap by Hudson Smith over the punter Day’s head gave the 49ers a safety – their second in school history – cutting the GWU lead to 12 with 5:20 to play in the game.
The 49ers continued their momentum on the drive when Johnson connected with Duke on a 20-yard touchdown pass, cutting the GWU lead to five with 4:27 to play in the game.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs took possession of the ball on their 13-yard line. Nico Alcalde sacked Beatty on a second down. That was Alcalde’s first career sack. GWU was forced to punt after a strong Charlotte defense prevented the Runnin’ Bulldogs from picking up a first down.
With 3:23 to play in the game, the 49ers took possession of the ball on the GWU 48-yard line, giving them good field position to score. Johnson found Bostick on a 48-yard pass for a touchdown, giving the 49ers their first lead of the game with 3:15 to play. The 49ers attempted a two-point conversion, but were unsuccessful. The 49ers took a 46-45 lead with 3:15 to play in the intense game for the biggest comeback in school history.
Blount fumbled the ball and Mark Hogan recovered the fumble to give the 49ers the ball back on their own 44-yard line. Alan Barnwell dodged defenders and made a 56-yard dash to the endzone. After a successful extra point by Brewer, the 49ers secured a 53-45 lead and 29 unanswered points with 2:19 to play in the game.
After a roughing the passer call on the 49ers, Blount ran a 1-yard carry into the endzone, forcing the Runnin’ Bulldogs to attempt a two-point conversion that would tie the game. Strong pressure by the Charlotte defense prevented the GWU offense from tying the game, securing a 53-51 lead.
Hunter recovered a GWU onside kick giving the 49ers the ball on the GWU 46-yard line with 0:31 to play.
“That was the most exciting football game I’ve ever played,” said a speechless Johnson who plans to spend his Sunday celebrating at home with family.
“I’m going home for the first time in five weeks.”
Johnson finished the day completing 27 of 46 passes, for 342 yards and five touchdowns.
“I wasn’t sure if we could ever slow them down,” said Head Coach Brad Lambert.
“The thing I’ve admired about this football program is their preparation each week. They’ve done a really good job of preparing Monday through Thursday for whatever’s coming on Saturday.”
The 49ers host the UNC Pembroke Braves on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 12 p.m. for their Homecoming game at Jerry Richardson Stadium.