Pack the House Victory Benefits Boys and Girls Club of New Britain

Director of Athletics Paul Schlickmann and Associate Athletics Director Steve Villanti recently presented a check for $500 to the New Britain Boys and Girls Club.  This marks the second straight year that the Boys and Girls Club has received the donation from CCSU.

"It is our privilege to be associated with the Boys and Girls Club of New Britain.  Todd Czuprinski (Executive Director) and his staff do an exceptional and selfless job of mentoring the youth of this community on a daily basis." Schlickmann said.  "President Paul D'Addabbo and the members of the Board have developed a great vision for the present effectiveness and future growth of the organization.  We are pleased and proud to partner with them and hope we contribute in some small way to the positive impact they have on young people every day." 

Central Connecticut was named the Northeast Conference winner of the "Pack the House"challenge for the 2011-12 season.  This marks the second consecutive year that the Blue Devils have represented the NEC among the NCAA's "Pack the House" Champions.  Both years the Blue Devils were able to draw crowds of more than 1,700 to historic Detrick Gymnasium.

Central was one of 32 conference winners in the NCAA Division I "Pack the House" Challenge. "Pack the House" is a national effort in which conferences and institutions compete to build attendance. NCAA Division I women's basketball marketing staffs select a home game and designated that date as a "Pack the House" game with the goal of setting an attendance record.

The NCAA will award and donate $500 to the nonprofit organization of each winning institution's choice.

A crowd of 1,746 packed Detrick Gym for Central's November 30, game against Holy Cross.  The Blue Devils used 38 second half points to win, 63-54, over the Crusaders.  Junior Jaclyn Babe led all players with 24 points in the game.

The Blue Devils previous "Pack the House" victory was the result of 1,824 fans packing Detrick Gym for the 2010-11 season opener against Hartford.  Central earned a 46-41 victory in that game.

For the second straight year, the Blue Devils' $500 donation to charity went to the Boys and Girls Club of New Britain.

The ideas to market the games were as diverse as the membership itself.

At Central, for example, students were able to win an Apple iPod, which was raffeled off at half time.  Also, the dorm with the highest attendance at the game received a free pizza party.  The final step of Central's plan was inviting our corporate sponsors to attend and support the "Pack the House" Challenge.

"I am extremely pleased that we have been selected as the NEC's "Pack the House" Champion for the second consecutive year," said Director of Athletics Paul Schlickmann.  "It says a great deal about the job our marketing staff does and the support that we get from Blue Devil fans on campus and in the community."