University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Once a Bulldog. Always a Bulldog
10.11.2022 | Men's Soccer
Story Written by Mike Gore
Once a Bulldog. Always a Bulldog.
A few weeks ago, the UNC Asheville athletics department welcomed back some men's soccer alumni from the 1980's for a weekend that was quite memorable.Â
Most of the players returning played during the early 1980's, during a golden period of soccer at Asheville. The Bulldogs made the transition from NAIA to Division I during that period but enjoyed some great success. Asheville won a school-record 16 games in 1984 and advanced to the District 26 championship match.
Helping to organize the reunion was former Bulldog sweeper Frank Seidl. He was a key player for Asheville during that era and graduated in 1986.Â
"We had a great time that weekend," said Seidl from his Clearwater, Fla. home recently. "Some of us hadn't seen each other since we graduated from UNC Asheville. You're talking more than 35 years ago but we picked up right where we left off and the years just melted away."
A lot has changed at UNC Asheville since the early 1980's but the memories haven't faded for Seidl.Â
"The thing I remember most is the bonding with the players. I remember the games but the biggest memories are the relationships you develop with your fellow players," stated Seidl. "And you have special memories. Things like road trips in vans and how we used to have to sprint to the cafeteria after practice to get to lunch or dinner."
Working with this reunion was another alum from a different era, Greg Garrison. Greg was a standout midfielder for the Bulldogs and helped lead Asheville to the 2001 Big South Conference regular-season title. He was an all-conference performer for the Dogs and upon graduation, Greg became an assistant coach for both the men's and women's teams. He and his wife Ashley then bought an ice cream shop, The Hop. Over the last decade, The Hop has become the top ice cream shop in Buncombe County thanks to the hard work of Greg and Ashley.Â
But Greg has never forgotten his alma mater. He sells his ice cream at as many UNC Asheville athletic events as he can.Â
"I volunteered to be the alumni coordinator for men's and women's soccer a few years ago," said Garrison. "So I was delighted to help out with this event and welcome back these great alums from the 1980's."
"Hats off to Frank Seidl. He did a sensational job of getting all these alums together for this special weekend. It was fun watching them all gather and talk about their days at UNC Asheville," said Garrison.Â
The weekend began with a Meet and Greet at Zillicoah Beer on Friday night. On Saturday, the alums got a chance to meet the current Bulldogs while they were in a pre-game practice in the morning.Â
"I really enjoyed watching the alums meet the current players," stated Garrison. "I wasn't sure who enjoyed it most, this year's team or the alums. It was really a lot of fun to observe."
The alums were then given a tour of the facilities and shown a Greenwood Field Master Plan by Aaron Bessey, Associate Athletics Director for Leadership Gifts.Â
After the tour, the alums got a chance to watch both Bulldog teams play in a doubleheader at Greenwood Field before going to a mixer at Highland Brewing Company to end the day. The weekend ended on Sunday with lunch at alum Dano Holcombe's Root Down Food Truck. Holcombe was a key player for Asheville on former coach Steve Adlard's late 1980's and early 1990's teams.Â
"We really enjoyed seeing the campus and all the new facilities," said Seidl. "Things have changed a great deal since we played and went to school here. One of the things I really liked seeing is all the students they have on campus now. We didn't have that in our day and it was good to see so much student activity on campus."
"I like all the improvements they've made in the athletic facilities," added Seidl. "UNC Asheville was a special place to go to when I was in school and I can see it's still special."
Though Garrison didn't play with this group, he sure enjoyed spending time with them.Â
"It was so heartwarming to see these guys get together again. Some hadn't seen each other since they graduated but they quickly remembered so many great things about their time at Asheville," said Garrison. "It was neat to see their coach Hank Komodowski on hand. His memory for games and details of those games were incredible! I know the guys really enjoyed seeing him again."
It was an incredible weekend as players from the 1980's met up with an alum from the 2000's and got to know Bulldogs in the 2020's. Garrison summed it up perfectly afterwards.
"Once a Bulldog. Always a Bulldog."
Once a Bulldog. Always a Bulldog.
A few weeks ago, the UNC Asheville athletics department welcomed back some men's soccer alumni from the 1980's for a weekend that was quite memorable.Â
Most of the players returning played during the early 1980's, during a golden period of soccer at Asheville. The Bulldogs made the transition from NAIA to Division I during that period but enjoyed some great success. Asheville won a school-record 16 games in 1984 and advanced to the District 26 championship match.
Helping to organize the reunion was former Bulldog sweeper Frank Seidl. He was a key player for Asheville during that era and graduated in 1986.Â
"We had a great time that weekend," said Seidl from his Clearwater, Fla. home recently. "Some of us hadn't seen each other since we graduated from UNC Asheville. You're talking more than 35 years ago but we picked up right where we left off and the years just melted away."
A lot has changed at UNC Asheville since the early 1980's but the memories haven't faded for Seidl.Â
"The thing I remember most is the bonding with the players. I remember the games but the biggest memories are the relationships you develop with your fellow players," stated Seidl. "And you have special memories. Things like road trips in vans and how we used to have to sprint to the cafeteria after practice to get to lunch or dinner."
Working with this reunion was another alum from a different era, Greg Garrison. Greg was a standout midfielder for the Bulldogs and helped lead Asheville to the 2001 Big South Conference regular-season title. He was an all-conference performer for the Dogs and upon graduation, Greg became an assistant coach for both the men's and women's teams. He and his wife Ashley then bought an ice cream shop, The Hop. Over the last decade, The Hop has become the top ice cream shop in Buncombe County thanks to the hard work of Greg and Ashley.Â
But Greg has never forgotten his alma mater. He sells his ice cream at as many UNC Asheville athletic events as he can.Â
"I volunteered to be the alumni coordinator for men's and women's soccer a few years ago," said Garrison. "So I was delighted to help out with this event and welcome back these great alums from the 1980's."
"Hats off to Frank Seidl. He did a sensational job of getting all these alums together for this special weekend. It was fun watching them all gather and talk about their days at UNC Asheville," said Garrison.Â
The weekend began with a Meet and Greet at Zillicoah Beer on Friday night. On Saturday, the alums got a chance to meet the current Bulldogs while they were in a pre-game practice in the morning.Â
"I really enjoyed watching the alums meet the current players," stated Garrison. "I wasn't sure who enjoyed it most, this year's team or the alums. It was really a lot of fun to observe."
The alums were then given a tour of the facilities and shown a Greenwood Field Master Plan by Aaron Bessey, Associate Athletics Director for Leadership Gifts.Â
After the tour, the alums got a chance to watch both Bulldog teams play in a doubleheader at Greenwood Field before going to a mixer at Highland Brewing Company to end the day. The weekend ended on Sunday with lunch at alum Dano Holcombe's Root Down Food Truck. Holcombe was a key player for Asheville on former coach Steve Adlard's late 1980's and early 1990's teams.Â
"We really enjoyed seeing the campus and all the new facilities," said Seidl. "Things have changed a great deal since we played and went to school here. One of the things I really liked seeing is all the students they have on campus now. We didn't have that in our day and it was good to see so much student activity on campus."
"I like all the improvements they've made in the athletic facilities," added Seidl. "UNC Asheville was a special place to go to when I was in school and I can see it's still special."
Though Garrison didn't play with this group, he sure enjoyed spending time with them.Â
"It was so heartwarming to see these guys get together again. Some hadn't seen each other since they graduated but they quickly remembered so many great things about their time at Asheville," said Garrison. "It was neat to see their coach Hank Komodowski on hand. His memory for games and details of those games were incredible! I know the guys really enjoyed seeing him again."
It was an incredible weekend as players from the 1980's met up with an alum from the 2000's and got to know Bulldogs in the 2020's. Garrison summed it up perfectly afterwards.
"Once a Bulldog. Always a Bulldog."
Monday, November 13
Monday, November 06
Monday, November 06
Monday, October 30