22nd Annual WVU Classic
June 09, 2004 03:45 PM | General
June 9, 2004
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| Babcock |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – According to West Virginia University’s head fundraiser Whit Babcock, the Mountaineers’ “friendship tour” wraps up this week in Charleston with the 22nd annual WVU Classic, presented by Charter Communications.
The Mountaineer Athletic Club’s annual golf event takes place at Berry Hills Country Club, June 10-11, and Babcock says it is expected to net the WVU athletic department in the neighborhood of $50,000.
And while Babcock admits most of the MAC events are “friend-raising,” the WVU Classic is the one exception. “It is $600 per person to play and it’s probably the most traditional event we do being in its 22nd year,” he said.
The former Auburn fundraiser says the WVU Classic has grown into a pretty unique event.
“I guess when it first started it was a little more celebrity based where they flew people in. But now we use our WVU coaches as the primary focus,” he said. “I think MSN also adds an element to this with the TV show and the coverage. This is pretty unique.”
In addition to being unique, the Classic is also very important because it takes place in Charleston.
“Charleston is our opinion center where a large number of our fans reside,” said Babcock. “We basically have three big events in Charleston: the dinner and the FanFest which went really well, the WVU Classic, and now we have a Kickoff Reception which is an 1100 Club event in July. That event is primarily to support football.”
Babcock concedes it’s sometimes tough for all of the coaches to clear their busy schedules to make Mountaineer Athletic Club events. But he’s appreciative of their willingness to attend as many as possible, particularly football coach Rich Rodriguez and men’s basketball coach John Beilein.
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| Mountaineer football coach Rich Rodriguez will be one of several athletic department members on hand for the 22nd annual WVU Classic in Charleston. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
“Rich and John have been great,” said Babcock. “They not only give their time but they’re usually the last ones to leave. A lot of coaches would just get in and out after they speak but they stand at the door and shake everybody’s hand on the way out. They’re fabulous.
“From that perspective all of our coaches are wonderful,” he added. “The whole year we had 12 events; six of those were golf and six of those were dinners and all of our coaches have been very, very generous with their time.”
Babcock expects about 120 golfers for this year’s WVU Classic. A practice round is scheduled for Thursday from 9 am to 3 pm and a Fashion Show/Lunch at the Charleston Marriott will take place from 11:30 am to 2 pm.
“We’ve put a bigger emphasis on the Fashion Show to make that a more appealing function,” he said.
The Fashion Show is part of the wide variety of opportunities Babcock says the MAC provides to get everyone involved in Mountaineer athletics.
“What golf does is that it sometimes excludes women and it excludes men that would rather hunt or fish or can’t get off work all day. We’re one of the few businesses where we can be everything to everybody. We want to have a program for every Mountaineer fan and alumnus out there whether it’s $5 or $500,000,” he said.
Thursday evening a pairings party will take place at the golf course from 6 to 10 pm. Golf begins on Friday at 10 am following breakfast. An awards ceremony concludes the afternoon.
Babcock points out that an event of this magnitude couldn’t be done without a great deal of local support. A longtime catalyst for the WVU Classic is Charleston businessman Jack Cipoletti. MAC’s Executive Director is also appreciative of the fact that some new people have begun to step forward to help.
“Jack Cipoletti is still the driving force behind this event but we’re seeing more people come on board and help us,” said Babcock. “Tim McNeely and Jay Cipoletti are two that have brought a little bit of younger blood to the Classic.”
This is the third year Charter Communications is the WVU Classic’s presenting sponsor.
“Without a title sponsor there is no way in the world the WVU Classic would work. That is crucial to the existence of this,” said Babcock.
