This is the most exciting time of the year for a Flyer fan. I get goose bumps just thinking about the things that lie ahead in the coming weeks. For myself and the rest of the staff, it ultimately begins and ends with UDPride, and we’re excited to be back again for another season. This is our seventh year, and a lot has changed since I first started running this outfit as nothing more than a personal amusement while learning HTML in college. Who knew then it would be like this, but it’s a testament to Flyer fans that have remained loyal and look forward to great coverage of Flyer sports by Flyer sports fans just like yourself.

This is the best time of the year because so much is happening and UDPride is at the epicenter of it all. One of the unintentional benefits of running a web site like this is the access it gives you to stories, people, players, coaches, administrators, and personnel that most fans are not privy to. Each year we’ve tried to make the product a little bit better, become a tad smarter, and cater to many different Flyer interests. It seems to be working because over 600 fans are registered on our message board alone, and the University of Dayton has always treated us like the New York Times when it comes to requesting information, media passes, statistics, photo opportunities, interviews, and anything else we think Flyer fans take an interest in. To us, that’s the best compliment of all. When the university respects us enough to want us involved, we’re running this hobby the right way. And it remains a jobby, though sometimes it looks or feels like a job all to itself.

We have normal occupations like everyone and donate evenings, weekends, and summers to pull it off.

So much is going on right now that it’s hard not to be excited. Fall sports are ready to take flight in a couple weeks and Dayton is once again fielding some of the best teams in the conference, and potentially, the entire country. The UD womens soccer team is looking to outdo last year’s Sweet 16 season with a great lineup of home games, while the mens team is once again a favorite to win the A-10 title. Coach Hoyer’s volleyball team is out to defend their conference title, while the football team looks to finish #1 in the nation for I-AA mid majors.

Everywhere we look this autumn, we’re going to be surrounded by Flyer sports success.

The UD Arena renovations are progressing right on schedule and the basketball season has the word “interesting” written all over it. One of the best home schedules in years will keep fans lining up for tickets and if Coach Purnell’s team starts off hot, it could be a special season. Likewise, the womens team returns four key players who missed most or all of last season with injuries (Cyndi Stull, Stefanie Miller, Sarah Schloss, and heralded freshman Angela Cape). This could be the year Coach Clark has a roster that can compete for the A-10 West crown.

She also has perhaps her best recruiting class to call upon.

And before it’s all over, the Atlantic-10 mens basketball tournament comes to Dayton, along with the NCAA womens regional and the NCAA play-in game. Not to be outdone, UD also hosts the Atlantic-10 womens soccer tourney at Baujan Field.

While the focus of UDPride has always been on the athletes and coaches, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the changes to the site over the summer. We’ve performed a complete site makeover that should make navigation much easier, and we’ve integrated the popular message board into this equation to make everything as seamless as possible. And you’ll be able to access it easier than ever. Just point your browser to go.udpride.com.

One of the new features we’ve added is Pride Plus, a members-only corner for those fans who support us by making a financial contribution to UDPride to help offset our operating expenses. Fans who do not sign up will see no change in our regular coverage. While fans can make a contribution of any size, those who show their generosity in predetermined amounts will receive a login account to this part of our web site as a token of our appreciation. Don’t consider it a fee to receive premium content, rather, look at it as a small perk for doing your civic duty by speaking with your wallet as well as your lips. There’s a level of expectation and quality we have of UDPride and wish not to see those factors compromised because of operating expenses. We’re not in it for the money and surpluses go directly to site improvement.
In short, everything you’ve enjoyed in the past is still here, but we’ve added a few twists and turns along the way. John Churan keeps his planner tight to the vest, but you can expect more features and interviews from him. Doug Lyons continues to work on the UDPride Power Rankings and should have something ready to go by basketball season. The rest of the staff including Dave, Steve, Swampy, and The Fly are all here too. And I’ll continue to work the fall sports schedule and orchestrate things behind the scene.

It truly is the best time of the season. It’s like the crack of the bat on opening day or the first kickoff on the first Saturday in September. Everywhere around us there’s going to be something to do, and I hope all of you make an effort to see as much of it as you can. It’s amazing how much athletic success we’re surrounded by and it wasn’t long ago that aside from a singular sport or two, we had nothing to hang our hat on. Take in a football game, check out the action at Baujan Field, and get juiced in the Frericks Center. Do your part while the athletes do theirs.