Inflatable games, pony rides, and autographs from UMW athletes and coaches set the stage for an exciting launch of UMW's Eagle Club on Saturday, as hundreds of fans gathered for a special day at the Battleground for Eagle Nation Day. Eagle Club members and NFL Hall of famer Darrell Green and Olympic Gold Medalist Jeff Rouse spoke at the event and met with fans for photographs.

Free food, games and contact with the Eagle teams caused a carnival-like atmosphere for the day's official launch of the first athletic booster club at the school, with an authentic Civil War era cannon blasting the official launch at 12:30 p.m. Members of the Fredericksburg community cheered along with Eagle athletes as the cannon blasted and tee shirts were thrown into the crowd.

"Wow!  That’s the first word that comes to mind when I think about our event today", said UMW Director of Athletics Ken Tyler. "What an incredible celebration of UMW and our athletic department.  We officially launched the Eagle Club, which is significant, but we also forged a real connection with the community and got to tell our story and showcase our talented and dedicated student-athletes. It was truly a great day to be an Eagle!"

Fans everywhere may join the Eagle club at various levels of giving. More more on the Eagle Club, please see the club brochure HERE or contact Philip Pierce, Director of Athletic Development at 540-654-1153 or ppierce@umw.edu.