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News Archive: September 2005
Cross Country Wins at Great American
Braving very early hours, the Cross Country team won the Small School’s Division at the Great American Cross Country Festival in Cary, North Carolina. The meet draws many of the top team from across the country. FUMA was originally set to run in a division held later in the day but was moved due to Association constraints put on schools from Georgia and New York. The 7:30 am start time however, did not bother the FUMA runners as they placed four runners in the top 25. FUMA was led by the 2-3 finish of Axel Mostrag and Szymon Rola. Jonathan Buckland and David Johnson had outstanding finishes as well. Buckland was 11th and team captain David Johnson was 16th. Donte Brown rounded out the scoring with a 60th place finish as the Blue Devil harriers hung on to edge Providence Day School of Charlotte 91 to 99. The win marks the first invitational win for FUMA in Cross Country in over ten years.
Posted by CPT Dan Thompson, Monday, September 26, 2005 03:44 PM
Athletics
FUMA Varsity Football falls to 2-1
FUMA's PG football players faced a much tougher Louisburg College team than some fans expected today and came away on the wrong end of the 12-14 final score.
This is the first football team that Louisburg College has fielded in seventy years. As the junior college started their program they had over 200 players show up to play and winnowed the team down to their 100 best. Their great depth and some strong performances helped them power over the FUMA Blue Devils in a hard-fought game that truly came down to the last play to decide the game.
Neither team had much offensive success early in the game and the contest rocked back and forth with a lot of sound and fury, but no points on the board. The Louisburg Hurricanes drew first blood and put 7 points on the scoreboard with a touchdown and point after kick. The Blue Devils answered with a touchdown of their own, but the point after kick did not make it through the uprights, leaving the score at 7-6 at the half in favor of the Hurricanes.
In the second half, FUMA's Jacoby Ford, who had been shut down by excellent punt and kick return coverage throughout the game, unleashed a remarkable run as he left his right split end position to take the handoff on a startling end-around, racing past defenders, breaking tackles, and maintaining his balance in an outstanding display of speed and agility, ending up in the end zone more than seventy yards later. The points never made it on the board, however, as the play was called back on an illegal block by FUMA.
In a game marked by penalties, interceptions and fumbles on both sides, it was hard for either team to mount much of a successful offensive drive. Louisburg was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct on at least three separate occasions. At one point, a double penalty on the Hurricanes negated a long gain and moved them back almost seventy yards from where the ball had been spotted.
As time ran down in the fourth quarter, with the Hurricanes ahead 14-6, FUMA pressed hard and finally completed some passes to get into the red zone. With 2.3 seconds remaining and only time for one play, the Blue Devils connected on a touchdown pass to bring the score to 12-14. With time totally expired in the game, FUMA had only a two-point conversion attempt to tie the score but the final pass sailed incomplete giving the Hurricanes the win.
Posted by CPT Dan Thompson, Sunday, September 18, 2005 10:16 PM
Athletics
FUMA 41, Hargrave 0
FUMA's prep football team shut-out Hargrave Military Academy in a one-sided 41-0 contest played in Fork Union. Quarterback Tienne Jefferson was 3 for 3 in passing, with all three passes going for touchdowns. That's quarterback efficiency!
Nate Rullman wrote an outstanding article about the game for the Charlottesville Daily Progress that's well worth the read. Find that article by clicking here.
For Richmond Times-Dispatch coverage of the game, click here.
Posted by CPT Dan Thompson, Saturday, September 17, 2005 06:25 PM
Athletics
FUMA Spirit One on the Road to Mississippi
In a white bus loaded with clothing and supplies, Fork Union Military Academy's MAJ Steve Macek and CPT Brian Garriss are enroute to Mississippi to join forces with the relief operations of the Baptist General Association of Virginia already in place to aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
They hope to return with young men in search of a safe learning environment in which to continue their college prep education.
Schools are among the critically important infrastructure that has been damaged or completely lost in this storm-ravaged region. The Academy is opening its heart and doors to receive at least 10 young men whose families have been affected by this tragedy. This decision came as a result of a recent meeting of the Executive Committee of FUMA's Board of Trustees. The mission of the Academy is to provide young men a college preparatory education in a residential, Christian environment and the family at Fork Union Military Academy is eager to welcome these young men into their home.
As stated in a recent letter to FUMA's Board of Trustees, General John E. Jackson, Jr. noted, "There was great excitement and compassion in the voices of the Executive Committee, who feel led of the Lord to do this work." A copy of the General's letter to the Board is as follows:
Dear FUMA Board Member
Two weeks ago in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I called Dr. John Upton, Executive Director of the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) to ascertain what the Virginia Baptists were doing in the efforts to help the survivors of the storm. He told me that they had four teams on the ground. I told him that on behalf of FUMA, if the team chief could find families who had lost everything, (not a tall order, given the circumstances), with sons eligible to enroll in grades 6-12, that we would offer to fully fund the enrollment of 2 boys- going so far as traveling to pick the boys up. One of our current parents, from Gulfport MS, lost everything in the storm. Although he's still recovering himself, he called this morning to inform us of a friend of his family- a single mom who works as a nurse. She and her son will arrive on our campus this coming Monday, and we're praying that this boy will stay.
We had previously notified the National Association of Independent Schools, informing them that we had space for up to 12- 6th graders, 12- 7th graders, 6- 8th graders, and 25 upper schoolers (grades 9-12), and would be willing to offer substantial financial aid to help with tuition costs. We have yet to receive any queries regarding that offer.
I stand in awe of what the Executive Committee of FUMA's Board decided to do today. I am very much pleased to report to you that the Executive Committee authorized me to send two Admissions Officers to drive to the disaster area- to the center of destruction to join up with the Virginia Baptist team in Picayune, MS. They leave tomorrow morning with the hopes of collecting as many as 10 young men with which to return to FUMA. There was great excitement and compassion in the voices of the Executive Committee, who feel led of the Lord to do this work. We have space for up to 50 more, over and above the original 10, and I have asked my Admissions guys to see how much interest there would be in filling those slots. If necessary, we'll go and get them too.
The program would be for this school year, and we want to raise $8,000 to cover room, board, and uniforms for each of the boys, so for the first 10, we desire to raise $80,000 to help cover expenses. As only the Lord can do, we already have $50,000 committed from 3 board members and 1 business partner of a board member, so we have $30,000 to go for the first 10. If we can get the whole 60, we would need to have $480,000 in hand to help with expenses. Always dealing in round numbers, (you know me!), if we could make it $500,000 that would be perfect.
Here's the question. Do you want to be a part of it? We all feel led of the Lord to do this thing. I'll keep you posted on our progress. Please give prayerful consideration to what part you may play in this great work.
In His Service,
Lt. General John E. Jackson, Jr.
[Keep us with news from the FUMA Spirit One Team here]
Posted by CPT Dan Thompson, Friday, September 16, 2005 09:33 AM
General News
FUMA Alum Bryce Wagoner in 9/11 movie
One of our own alumni, actor Bryce Wagoner, will be appearing in the Discovery Channel's movie "The Flight That Fought Back" tonight at 9pm. The movie chronicles the events of September 11, 2001 as passengers on Flight 93 fought back against the hijackers who had taken over their airplane.
Wagoner plays the role of passenger Richard Guadagno and says he was helped in his portrayal by many conversations with Guadagno's sister, Lori Guadagno.
Of his role in this powerful and emotional movie, Wagoner says, "The intensity didn't hit us until that first 'Action.' Then it never stopped. You can't get away from the words people were saying and the gravity of the situation."
Read more about Wagoner and the movie in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Posted by CPT Dan Thompson, Sunday, September 11, 2005 09:38 AM
Alumni
Valley Forge powers past FUMA's prep
from the Richmond Times-Dispatch:
VALLEY FORGE 38, FORK UNION PREP 20
FORK UNION -- Jonathan Downs rushed for 222 yards on 16 carries to lead Valley Forge over Fork Union Prep yesterday.
Quarterback Dere Hicks was 8 for 14 for 101 yards and added 43 yardson eight carries for Valley Forge. Nick Gro added 40 yards on four receptions for Valley Forge.
Fork Union was led by Stephen Palmers' 90 yards on 12 carries, and another bright spot for the Blue Devils was Jamal Schulters' 95-yard kickoff return.
Valley Forge ------------------------- 7 6 19 6 -- 38
Fork Union ------------------------- 7 3 0 10 -- 20
VF Hicks 75 run (Gallagher kick)
FU Schulters 95 kickoff return (Sherrill kick)
VF Hicks 2 run (kick failed)
FU FG Sherrill 29
VF Parrish 8 run (Hicks run)
VF FG Gallagher 26
VF Downs 53 run (Naumoff pass from Hicks)
VF Downs 11 run (kick failed)
FU Palmer 10 run (Sherrill kick)
FU FG Sherrill 37
Read the Times-Dispatch article online here.
Posted by CPT Dan Thompson, Sunday, September 11, 2005 09:09 AM
Athletics
Beatty Library Addition
The Beatty Library Addition is near completion. It will contain the Middle School Library, three new classrooms and an executive conference room. Each of the spacious classrooms has a video projector, desktop computer and stereo sound system. Any of the faculty may reserve these classrooms and show video clips, sound bytes or Power Point presentations to enhace the learning experience. The largest of the classrooms also houses a computer lab.
The new Middle School Librarian, Mrs. Barber, and LTC. Feathers talking in the Beatty Library Addition.
Middle School teachers Mr. Benson and Ms. Nolting were the first to take advantage of the new classrooms. See pictures here:
http://photos.forkunion.com/gallery/783798
Posted by , Monday, September 5, 2005 11:15 AM
General News
Charlottesville newspaper reports on FUMA Middle School's Officers' Training
In a front page article with several pictures, the Charlottesville Daily Progress profiled FUMA's Middle School program, following young officers returning for their leadership training.
Reporter Megan Rowe and photographer Brady Wolfe spent several days on the campus and even accompanied the young cadets on an inner tubing trip down the James River.
The full article ("At FUMA, Turning Boys Into Men") can be found here.
View Brady Wolfe's excellent FUMA photos here.
Posted by CPT Dan Thompson, Sunday, September 4, 2005 06:20 PM
General News
Varsity football team romps over Bridgewater College
The team from Bridgewater College may think twice before venturing across the mountain again to play FUMA on our home turf. With the stands filled with the corps of cadets, FUMA's PG football players put on quite an exhibition with their 48-10 victory over Bridgewater.
Cadets cheered as the talented postgraduate football players demonstrated the kinds of speed, moves, and monstrous hits you'd expect from future Division I (and, perhaps, NFL) players.
Jacoby Ford, wearing number 14, lit up the field early, showing speed and agility that may be unmatched in FUMA's long football history. Keep in mind that this is a school that has produced two Heisman Trophy winners and saw FUMA alumnus and current Bengals back Chris Perry almost become the third Heisman winner (he finished fourth in the voting). It was simply impossible to watch Ford run with the ball and not wonder already if we might be seeing our third Heisman winner today.
And Ford was not the only FUMA PG player to demonstrate outstanding talent today. The game was filled with receptions, runs, and defensive stops by a wide variety of players, each of whom is likely to become familiar names as the season progresses.
It will be a long season and one game does not tell the tale, but from the looks of today's performances this is a Varsity team that is loaded with talent and top performers. Stay tuned, this should be fun to watch.
Posted by CPT Dan Thompson, Sunday, September 4, 2005 05:25 PM
Athletics
Prep football teams falls to Georgetown Prep
It was one of those hard fought contests that could have gone either way, but today it went to Georgetown Prep as they pulled out a 28-20 victory over the FUMA Blue Devils.
FUMA scored a touchdown early in the game, but the extra point kick missed leaving the score at 6-0. Georgetown Prep answered with a touchdown of their own and put the score at 6-7 in their favor.
The game was a real slugfest and Georgetown Prep was very effective with their running game, moving the ball steadily against the bigger FUMA defense. Fork Union answered with some big plays that would look great on any highlight reel, including some stellar kick and punt returns, but the Blue Devils were not able to move the ball as consistently as Georgetown Prep and the FUMA defense was not able to make the key tackles needed to stop Georgetown in their tracks.
Georgetown Prep's ball control ended up being the key as they were able to get up 28-20 over FUMA and keep the ball out of the hand's of FUMA's potent offense as the game ground down leaving Georgetown Prep with the victory.
Posted by CPT Dan Thompson, Saturday, September 3, 2005 09:40 PM
Athletics
FUMA responds to Hurricane Katrina
Cadets and staff at Fork Union Military Academy are not unaffected by the terrible effects of Hurricane Katrina, nor are we simply watching the news of relief efforts on television.
Cadet Jeremy Thomas' family is from Gulfport, Mississippi and lost everything to storm damage. Jeremy has been in contact with them and they are grateful to be safe, and hope to come to Fork Union this weekend to see their son play in the varsity football game on Sunday, September 4th. It's a hard trip to make at this time, but they want to be with Jeremy for his first home game.
Staff and cadets are collecting funds to help this family and those of our FUMA family directly affected by this tragedy. We are also collecting donations to aid in the general relief efforts.
General Jackson, FUMA's president, raised the concern early this week that not only have families lost homes and possessions, but many now have no way of educating their children in the coming months. There are at least eleven private independent schools in the areas devastated by the storm that are unable to provide education services at this time, and may not be able to in the forseeable future.
FUMA has contacted the National Association of Independent Schools, the Virginia Association of Independent Schools, the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools, the National Catholic Education Association, and other similar organizations and asked them to refer students to us who need a safe learning environment.
General Jackson also contacted John Upton, the executive director of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, and confirmed that our state's Baptist association had teams already on the ground aiding in relief efforts. General Jackson asked that these team members be notified of FUMA's intention to open our doors to young men in the affected area who need a place to live and learn.
FUMA will help pay transportation costs and grant full scholarships or dramatic tuition reductions (based on the family's need) to as many of these students as we can accomodate at this time.
FUMA familes wishing to make donations to support these direct relief efforts should contact Mrs. Bev Hanlin, our school registrar and advisor for our Community Service organization at 434-842-4211 or by e-mail at hanlinb@fuma.org.
[New! Update on Hurricane Katrina Response]
[FUMA sends team to Gulf Coast region]
Posted by CPT Dan Thompson, Saturday, September 3, 2005 09:02 AM
General News
Local Paper Highlights Caleb in Football Preview
Brandon Caleb received press coverage in Charlottesville's Daily Progress High School Preview for his committment to Oklahoma prior to returning to school this fall.
Caleb plays linebacker/receiver for FUMA's prep team and received numerous offers from other colleges, but decided to take his first scholarship offer at Oklahoma. Read more about Caleb's choice in Kris Wright's article at this link
Posted by Elizabeth Liles, Thursday, September 1, 2005 02:53 PM
Athletics
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