JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida Department of Athletics announced today the return of the Awesome Osprey Band for men’s and women’s basketball games for the 2009-10 season.

In addition to the return of the Osprey Band, another college staple that will return to UNF this year is the cheer squad.

“The UNF Department of Music is working with Athletics to provide fun and entertaining music for the men’s and women’s home basketball games,” said Marc Dickman, Director, Awesome Osprey Band.  “The Osprey Band will certainly generate excitement at these events. The band will be a wonderful opportunity for UNF student musicians to get involved in school activities and support the basketball teams.”

The Osprey Band returns after a seven-year hiatus. The 2001-02 season was the last year the Osprey Band performed at basketball games. The Osprey Band will make its debut on Thursday, Nov. 5, as new head coach Matthew Driscoll and the Ospreys open the season with an exhibition game vs. Ave Maria at 7 p.m. at UNF Arena.

The cheer squad will join a dance team to form Velocity, a high-energy Spirit Team that performs at all home basketball games, various events on campus and within the community. The Cheer Squad did not perform at basketball games last season.

“The return of the Awesome Osprey Band and the Cheer Squad will add an enormous amount of energy to our basketball games,” said Lee Moon, UNF Director of Athletics.  “These are traditions that are a fabric of college basketball and we are happy to have them both back. Add in the presence of the dance team and we expect UNF Arena to be a great place to watch college basketball.”