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-   -   Welcome to the World of Rooting for the Cubs (http://www.udpride.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20739)

John C. 03-19-2012 08:12 PM

Welcome to the World of Rooting for the Cubs
 
CHANDLER (AZ) -- Being an old-timer and one of the alleged “blue hairs” that populate the Arena, I think that I have a good view of what the University of Dayton’s men’s basketball program has been for the last 50 years. I was there for most of the glory years and certainly there for the bottom of the barrel years. I was a season ticket holder for over 20 years and would fall asleep as a kid with my transistor radio safely hidden under my pillow listening to Tom Hamlin broadcast games against Loyola, DePaul and Louisville.

I have loved everything about the Flyers over the years and I have more UD garb than I care to admit. My favorite time of year is the NCAA Tournament and have even taken off Thursday and Friday of the first week to get to see all of the action. The sad thing is, I rarely get to see my Flyers. All too often I watch Xavier playing in the Sweet 16 and hope my Flyers make it to the second round of the NIT.

I don’t like to admit it, but I might as well start rooting for the Cubs. Every year the Cub fans turn out in droves to watch their team and hope for the best. Every once in a while the Cubs actually do well enough for the gullible fans to think they could be watching a championship club. Yet every year for over a century, the lovable Cubs stub their toe and fall down the ladder to another 3rd, 4th or 5th place finish.

Yet, every year, the fans keep coming back hoping that this would be their year and every year they get ready for winter knowing that their Cubs failed again. I’m afraid that is what we Flyer fans are becoming. Every year we start off thinking that this is the year the Flyers will make a run and every year we make up excuses for why we didn’t and Xavier did.

I’m tired of rooting for the Cubs. I want to root for the Yankees. I want to feel the thrill of the NCAA Tournament for something other than how my bracket is doing. I want to feel like a Xavier fan feels every year. I’m jealous and I’m not afraid to admit it.

Every year I convince myself that this is the year that will be different. I have to admit that this was the year that I didn’t. I was certain that we would only win 17 games and be lucky to make it to the NIT. Then the Flyers started winning at the beginning of the league season, Archie was going to win national coach of the year and UD was a 9 seed in the Tournament. Once again, I get sucked in just to be disappointed by another fall from grace.

Don’t get me wrong, I think that Archie did a good job this year with the hand he was dealt. He had a couple brain farts along the way, but still did the things he needed to do to get a undermanned, under talented team to 20 wins. I have now given him his one year grace period. He has had an opportunity to see what it is like being the man. I expect those brain farts to go away. He will have a fuller bench next year and there should be no excuses for not having the right tools in the tool box.

With talented transfers, a good group of freshman enrolling in the fall and one of the leading candidates for A-10 Player of the Year, this team should be good enough to contend for the league title. Another 9-7 season will not be good enough. Another season sitting on the sidelines when the bracket is revealed will not be good enough. When hired, Miller implied that it would take him two years before we could expect the type of recruits that is needed to be a regular in the Tournament. After seeing Lehigh and Norfolk State knock off 2 seeds and watching Ohio U make it to the Sweet 16 when two weeks ago it didn’t look like they could get in, I have no more patience.

The University of Dayton has the tools to succeed. You have to wonder if they had the desire. Would they have fired Brian Gregory if he would have continued winning 7 or 8 games in the league every year? I doubt it. People were still showing up, they were still making money.

It is time for this program to succeed. I’m tired of hearing the phrase “Getting to the next level.” It is time they get in the Tournament and win games. As Peter Finch yells in the movie Network, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.”

It’s time to start winning.

Swampy Meadows 03-19-2012 08:20 PM

John:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I can't find fault with a thing you said. I'm especially glad you wrote this now,as I've got nuthin'.

Ready to slip into off-season mode and count the days until the Red and Blue game.
Posted via Mobile Device

MD Flyer Pride 03-19-2012 09:05 PM

Very well said! I totally agree. No more excuses. No more setting the bar low. The winning attitude (and results) needs to come from the UD President to the folks that park the cars at the UD Arena.

If the University wants to raise more money from UD Alums and fans... find a way to get to the NCAA Tourney on a regular basis!

Go Flyers!

Chris R 03-19-2012 09:38 PM

The Mad Dog has Spoken!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bobber 03-20-2012 12:04 AM

Don't turn any goats away at the gate. Oh yeah, and watch out for a nerd named Bartman.

AC91 03-20-2012 09:20 AM

I don't know if Swampy will agree with me, but i think in some ways the analogy i would use is the pre-2004 red sox. We are close but the same team seems to be in the way...and we can clearly focus our anger and frustrations at that one team (and though we didn't sell babe ruth after some significant success, we maybe sold a bit of our soul when we departed the MCC like we did). But that analogy has a happier next chapter as they, after many near misses, they got over the top in epic fashion in 2004. As a Yankee fan, this wan't exactly the easiest thing to write, but as a sports fan, i think (hope?) this is more apt.

Piqua Flyer '66 03-20-2012 10:12 AM

I could not agree more.....
 
we've been floundering too long.
We have the attendance, facilities, university, campus, etc., etc., that should be good enough to get players in here that can allow me to relax on Selection Sunday. Just like Norfolk St. , Lehigh, OU, xu....if we can get in WE CAN WIN ALSO.........ask Huggy Bear.


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