In previous years, the dinner has featured Jim Morris (the pitcher who broke into the majors in his late 30s), Steve Garvey, George Foster and Marty Brennaman.

Tickets are $60, and Cooper is expecting a crowd in excess of 400.

The Raiders begin workouts after the first of they year and play 13 road games before opening the home part of their season March 13. They have games scheduled against seven teams that participated in last season's NCAA tournament, including Texas A&M, Tulane, Kentucky, North Carolina-Wilmington, Georgia, Vanderbilt and Illinois-Chicago.

"It's the most challenging schedule we have had since I arrived on campus," Cooper said.

Rooma four-timer

Jess Rooma, who earlier became the first player in school history to earn first-team All-Horizon League soccer honors for four years, has been named All-Great Lakes Region second team for the second straight season.

During her career - she played multiple positions - Rooma scored 15 goals, 11 assists and had 41 points in 74 starts.

She is only the eighth player in league history to earn four first-team all-league honors.

Two on All-Academic team

Two Raiders were named to the Horizon League's fall All-Academic teams, including men's cross country senior Jake Bradosky and Amber Kasmer, a women's soccer player.

Bradosky has a 3.523 GPA in organizational leadership, while Kasmer is a 4.0 student in biological sciences.

Detroit led the league with 10 selections, while Butler, Loyola (Chicago) and Valparaiso had nine each.

Teams were honored from men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer and volleyball.

A game and free eats

A free food promotion will be in place for the Dec. 30 men's basketball game with Horizon League favorite Cleveland State, which staged a spectacular upset at Syracuse on Monday night on a 60-foot shot at the buzzer to win 72-69. Fans will be treated to a free hot dog, Pepsi and bag of popcorn.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com