BEVERLY HILLS (MI) – The thrill of last night’s UD victory eliminated the bad taste the Flyer Faithful had left over from the VCU meltdown on Friday. But it quickly faded in the post-game press conference when AG addressed the “darkness on the edge of town” which is college sports gambling.

If that phrase sounds familiar, it is the title of one of Bruce Springsteen’s most penetrating tunes:

Well everybody’s got a secret, son
Something that they just can’t face
Some folks spend their whole lives trying to keep it
They carry it with them every step that they take
Till some day they just cut it loose
Cut it loose or let it drag ’em down
Where no one asks any questions
Or looks too long in your face
In the darkness on the edge of town

Here is what Coach Grant had to say:

“I have to say something because I think it’s just necessary at this point,” Grant said. “You know, these young men, we’re asking them to sacrifice quite a bit for us to be able to do what we do and enjoy what we enjoy. So I’m just asking all the Flyer fans just to understand that we’re dealing with 18-, 21-, 22-year-olds, and this is about them. This is about them. Alright? So those of us that love the Flyers – which is the vast majority of our fanbase – we appreciate you. Alright? But if this is about anything else that doesn’t relate to what’s in the best interest of the kids, what’s in the best interest of this university and this proud program and this community that loves the Flyers. There’s some laws that have recently been enacted, that really to me – it could really change the landscape of what college sports is all about. And when we have people that make it about themselves and attack kids because of their own agenda, it sickens me. They have families. They don’t deserve that. Mental health is real. So if you’re a Flyer fan, I ask you just to understand what you’re dealing with, with young people. Alright? Take a step back, and reevaluate your priorities. And if you can’t, we don’t need you. We don’t need you.”

Here is how the story was covered:

Jablo and The DDN provide video coverage:

https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/daytons-anthony-grant-talks-about-online-hate-players-have-received/3c1e12f4-16cb-42d3-82b9-aa9c9e192e00/

Hal McCoy:

https://pressprosmagazine.com/2023/01/18/mccoy-uds-grant-rips-insensitive-fans/

Cincinnati Enquirer:

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/othercolleges/2023/01/18/dayton-coach-anthony-grant-sickened-by-sports-gambling-related-threats-directed-at-flyers-players/69817189007/

Not being a gambler, I just don’t get it. If you are stupid enuf to wager money on college sports – any college sport – you need to put on your big boy pants and take the loss without lashing out at the players. They didn’t place the bet, you did.

Man up.

Elsewhere in Flyerland:

– Love these post-game graphics that UD puts out:

– Jablo mentioned that Mustapha Amzil’s family delayed their return to Finland after the loss to VCU because they wanted to see Dayton win. Mission accomplished.

– Micah Davis, a 2024 PG from Franklin, IN was sitting behind the UD bench last night. Here is a brief mixtape:

https://twitter.com/EditzHoop/status/1612916209388757001

– Speaking of recruits, 2023 signee Jaiun Simon continues to impress at Pebblebrook (GA) HS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YawaO7Oqzfw

– This video of Randy Pausch’s last lecture at Carnegie Mellon has received 21 million views over the last 15 years and it has earned every single one of them:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

That’s it “From the Swamp.”
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