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Gmu: How the school has Changed since 2006

Professor Craig Esherick was working for the New York University sports management program when the George Mason University men’s basketball team went on their improbable run to the 2006 National Collegiate Athletic Association Final Four competition. 

Months later, Esherick was officially a faculty member at GMU. 

“I lived in Arlington my whole life, so I knew a lot about GMU to begin with and so I decided to apply for a job,” Esherick said.

 The GMU of 2011 is different in many ways from the institution it was when the GMU basketball team went on their Cinderella run back in 2006.  One could conclude that the Cinderella run sparked the difference.   For instance, the number of students has changed, the number of academic programs has risen, the amount of research accomplished has swelled, and new faculties have been constructed. 

It could be said that a student enrolling at GMU today could experience a whole different college life compared to just five years ago.

Located just outside of Washington D. C., GMU is a perfect destination to attract a vibrant and diverse student body.  Since 2006, the university’s overall student enrollment has climbed from 29,728 to 32,562. Along with this, the number of undergraduate student applications went from 15,887 in 2006 to 19,991 for the current academic year. Five years ago, Mason’s acceptance rate was 70 percent. In 2011, the acceptance rate is 50 percent, due to the schools increasing popularity.

These examples are just a few that lend itself to the revitalization of interest by perspective students when they are reviewing college.

“The different programs offered provide students with a wide range of majors to choose from.  Students start investigating GMU and they soon discover that it is a great school and then apply.  Whereas in the past, students wouldn’t of given GMU a second thought”, said Esherick.

GMU has programs in twenty eight countries, with reciprocal relationships with a number of foreign universities, including schools in Australia, England, France, Germany, China and Russia.    GMU is currently in partnership with many top Russian universities such as Moscow State University and St. Petersburg State University. The Higher School of Economics, in Moscow, and has recently launched several dual-degree programs in areas such as economics, management, and international affairs. 

In 2006, Mason’s faculty generated $65 million in sponsored research funds. In the past five years, this total has grown to more than $100 million. Emerging as key areas of research since 2006 are climate change, transportation, neurological diseases, bioterrorism and cancer.

Two of George Mason University faculty members traveled to India as part of a U.S. Department of State cultural exchange program meant to develop awareness of basketball in the country. Robert Baker, associate professor of sport management, and Esherick. They held coaching clinics and youth basketball camps in various cities throughout India. The trip is funded by an International Sports Initiative grant.

GMU will forever have clubs and organization for their students. Crazy Awesome Food Entertainment GMU, or otherwise called Café GMU,  is an organization founded by a group of enterprising students who work with chefs and local food establishments to formulate on-campus cooking activities for students.

  “It is a great way to get your palate wet.  You can learn a lot of really neat things that will help you stay healthy while living on campus, plus the food is really good,” said Amy Allen, a graduate assistant of Student Activities. 

Allen, who received her bachelor’s at University of Maryland, chose GMU for her post-graduate studies because of its prime location near a hub of economic growth. 

A sense of style, atmosphere and architecture often set the tone for perspective students. Often the school housing, technological capabilities, academic buildings and overall amenities are in the balance when prospects are considering schools GMU needn’t worry in these areas. Mason has invested more than $1billion in renovations. “The main campus located in the heart of Fairfax, VA is currently undergoing construction to make an older looking campus into a more modern one”, says Robert Baker.  

This initiative started in 2001 and is estimated to conclude in 2012.  To date, GMU has added many new state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Donald and Nancy de Laski Performance Arts Building, the new hotel and conference center, George Mason Inn, and the new graduate housing community, Masonvale, and many other resident housing and athletic facilities.

Bean Salsa Dip

This is the hands down best salsa I have ever made.

I got the idea from my neighbor who is Spanish....

You have to try this. Great for parties. Its good on Quesadilla's, chips, tacos.

Bean Salsa Dip;

1 can      Black beans 16 0z.

1 can      Garbanzo Beans 16 oz.

1 can      Sweet Corn 12 oz.

1 can      Diced Tomatoes with green chilies 16 oz.

1 cup     Cilantro; chopped

1 cup     Green Pepper; chopped

½ cup    red onion; chopped

½ cup    white onion; chopped

4 tbps.  Lime juice (to taste)

4 tbps.  Lemon juice (to taste)

½ tsp     Garlic power

                Salt and Pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl, refrigerate 30 minutes before serving. 

Florida Marlins tonight

Marlins -133 Risking 369 to win 300

Picked this up off a website

Underdogs are [225-217, +67.7 Units] this season. NL dogs are 118-117, +31.8 units. AL dogs are 107-100, +35.9 units. Divisional rival dogs are only 82-101, +6 units meaning most of the units won are for betting on non-divisional rival dogs. We love betting dogs.

Road teams are 221-243, +12.4 units thus far in the season. Home teams generally do much better in the beginning of the season than they do at the end. Since teams are now just getting into the groove of playing ball, the home field advantage just becomes that much more of a better. But because we are on top of all the baseball trends and differences that occur season to season, we know how to adjust and bet.

Underdogs this season off of being shut out are 18-17, +5 units this season.

Underdogs this season coming off having scored double digits are 16-9, +9.7 units. In fact, over the past 12 season, this is a winner. +77 units. Only had two losing seasons during that time.

As you might  know I'm pro-biased to music video's. There are some great ones out there, (Kanye West - power, Florence and the Machin-dog days are over). Here is a great video of an Irish band called Two Door Cinema Club. Formed in 2007, the band is composed of band members Sam Halliday--guitar, Alex Trimble--lead vocals, and Kevin Baird--bass and Benjamin Thompson--drums.





More Mommy Magic: 506 Ways to Nurture Your Child

NHL/NBA Playoffs Recipe Special. Potato Au Gratin, By me

• 1 pound parsnips, peeled
• 1 pound sweet potato peeled
• 1 pound turnip cut into disks(1/4 inch)
• 1 pound russet potatoes, peeled
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken stock
• 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic 
• 6 ounces Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• Special equipment: a 1 1/4 quart oval gratin dish

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F with rack in middle.

Slice vegetables into 1/4-inch thick slices. In a large bowl, toss vegetables with cream, stock, tarragon and salt and pepper, garlic and Gorgonzola. Put into prepared gratin dish. Cover loosely with heavy duty foil. Bake for 1 hour, until vegetables are fork tender. If tender, remove foil, leave dish on middle rack and turn broiler on high. Broil gratin until top is golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

Au Gratin can be made 1 day ahead and reheated at 325 degrees F, covered with foil for approximately 50 

Mom

On spring break, a little over 2 weeks ago, I was at home celebrating the school year with my mom, a couple hours later she was at the hospital..

 My mom decided to change her way of life. About 2 months ago she gave up drinking alcohol for lent. The sobriety carried on till her incident. 

Mom decided to have a drink with My brother an I and some of our friends after 30 minutes she went up stairs. My brother made her a rum and coke, however it was very strong. You could say the alcohol triggered a difference in her behavior. That night when she went up stairs, she decided to stroll out to the backyard and sit by our pool, to watch the stars.  About 30 minutes later I heard from my brother that my mom fell on her head. I Immediately  went up stairs to find my mom with a huge bump on her forehead, the size of a golf ball. She didn't remember how she got from outside to upstairs. Which was upsetting. 

This picture was taken two days after the incident.

I'm glad to say its been two weeks and my mom is doing better. She is completely fine and her swelling and black eye is completely gone. 

The Easy Way to Stop Drinking

Saturday Trends, Stats, and Info Part Two

BOL

Play AGAINST ATLANTA using the Money Line in all Games after Shutting out their opponent

The Record is 2 Wins and 12 Losses for the last two season (-14.85 units)

Play AGAINST WASHINGTON using the Money Line in All games as a road underdog of +100 to +125

The record is 3 wins and 20 Losses for the last two season(-16.60 units)

Play ON TORONTO using the Run Line in Home games vs. Right handed starters

The record is 47 wins and 28 Losses for the last two season (+27.10 units)

Play on - ALL TEAMS AGAINST a run line (+1.5,-130) to (-1.5, +160) with a starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.850 or worse on the season, with a hot bullpen whose WHIP is under 1.200 the last 10 games.(MINNESOTA)
54-17 Since 1997 (76%)

Play AGAINST SAN DIEGO using the Run Line in Home games vs. right-handed starters
The record is 2 Wins and 13 Losses this season(-13.75 units)

Play AGAINST SAN DIEGO using the Run line in Home Games in  night games
The record is 1 Wins and 11 Losses this season (-12.95 units)

Play UNDER SEATTLE on the total in All games at home with a money line of -100 to -125
The record is 10 over and 31 under for the last three season(19.65 units)

Play AGAINST CHI WHITE SOX using the Money Line in all games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 3 Wins and 13 Losses this season (-12.55 units)\


Play AGAINST DETROIT using the Run Line in ROAD games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 28 Wins and 54 Losses for the last three season (-38.85 units)


Play AGAINST CHICAGO CUBS using the money line in Home games against division opponents
The record is 17 wins and 28 Losses for the last two seasons (-21.30 units)


Thanks to smokenjoke at covers.com. Everything you need to know about today's game.
Weather
Stat sheet
Line-ups
Park factors
Umpire info--provided by statfox.com
Game links
Sports tap--great write up's and more news for mobile device
Stats, Game angles, and more trends--sportspic.com

Freelance Whales and The Joy Formidable

Paul Hewitt press May 1st

I will be reporting live from campus and interviewing Head Coach Paul Hewitt.

Follow up: 3:45 pm

Paul Hewitt, once head coach of Georgia Tech University, held a press conference today with Athletic Director Mr. O'connor and Ex-President Alan G. Merten as Mason's new head coach.

There are many things that influenced my visit," said Hewit.

Hewitt, was born in Kingston, Jamaica and grew up in Westbury, New York. Despite his recent struggles as Georgia Tech's Head Men Basketball Coach, Hewitt helped lead his yellow jackets to five trips to the NCAA tournament in 11 years. including a trip to the NCAA national championship game, where his team finished runner-up to Uconn, this years champion

   "We got the total coach", says O'connor. "Hewitt has good communication skills".  Hewitt is coming to a verterin team at mason. The team is very impressive, although, players like Cam Long and Isaiah Tate have graduated, George Mason is still left with Luke Hancock, Andre Cornelius,  Mike Morrison, and to what some say the pre-season Colonial Athletic Association Player of The Year Ryan Pearson, along with a great group of underclassmen. Also the Patriots are the consensus CAA favorites for next season and an expected preseason top-25 team.

What he will bring to Mason:

Hewitt is an excellent recruiter and some say he is an over-recruiter. He has coached tons of talent like Chis Bosh(Miami Heat) and Thaddeus Young(Philadelphia 76ers). Having recruiting success for both mid-major and a conference like the ACC is a valuable asset and certainly would be hard to come by from any other candidate they could have brought in. 

Hewitt runs a 4 out, 1 in motion defense, a defense with an emphasis on guard play.  His emphasis on guard play will play into the hands of what George Mason once had with Larranga . It's likely he will put some wrinkles on the defense but now throw everything out.  Either way it will make the transition easier for the players.

Follow up: 6:05 pm. Because my digital recorder ran out of batteries, I could not record it

Here is Full Video of Paul Hewitt's press conference

Provided by Gomason.com

Paul Hewitt introduces new assistant head coach

Paul Hewitt Confirmed in Monday's press conference that he has hired Chris Kreider of Georgia Southern University as his firt assistant coach. Kreider served on Georgia Tech's coaching staff as volunteer assistant for one year before being promoted to administrative assistant for the 2008-09 season.

He was an admin guy to Paul Hewitt while at Georgia Tech, not sure what he will do here.

Saturday Trends, Stats, and Info

BOL

Play AGAINST ATLANTA using the Money Line in all Games after Shutting out their opponent

The Record is 2 Wins and 12 Losses for the last two season (-14.85 units)

Play AGAINST WASHINGTON using the Money Line in All games as a road underdog of +100 to +125

The record is 3 wins and 20 Losses for the last two season(-16.60 units)

Play ON TORONTO using the Run Line in Home games vs. Right handed starters

The record is 47 wins and 28 Losses for the last two season (+27.10 units)


Play on - ALL TEAMS AGAINST a run line (+1.5,-130) to (-1.5, +160) with a starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.850 or worse on the season, with a hot bullpen whose WHIP is under 1.200 the last 10 games.(MINNESOTA)


54-17 Since 1997 (76%)


Play AGAINST SAN DIEGO using the Run Line in Home games vs. right-handed starters
The record is 2 Wins and 13 Losses this season(-13.75 units)


Thanks to smokenjoke at covers.com. Everything you need to know about todays game.