On the eve of UD's grand re-entrance to the Big Dance, perhaps it is time that Flyer Fans all took a collective step backwards and assess the situation. Clearly this is exactly where we all want to be, but did any of us envision a perfect storm of good vibrations that includes:
-- UD Arena being the center of the hoops universe for the First Four with a field of 8 teams battling for 4 spots, including old friends Chris Mack and the
Xavier Musketeers?
-- The Flyers Women's team earning a six seed and facing off vs. the Florida Gators in Happy Valley on Saturday. Jim Jabir has the team ready to rock and will lose only one player -- Cassie Sant -- next year. Her 'replacement' is pepper pot PG Jenna Burdette who is currently tearing it up in Division IV of the Ohio State playoffs, leading her Reedsville Eastern squad into the Championship game on Saturday.
-- Archie and Company are poised to face the OSU Duckeyes who can run but can no longer hide from the Flyers this time. Led by seniors Vee Sanford and Devin Oliver many experts have called for UD to pull the 11/6 upset in the Second Round. Meanwhile, Flyer recruit Darrell Davis has his Detroit Douglass squad in the Final Four of the MI HS Class B Championship. Archie has wisely pocketted two scholarships for next year that can be used on immediate transfers from coaching switches, traditional transfers or JUCO players.
-- Meanwhile the Message Board at UD Pride is humming with positivity and links to articles about the Flyers and tOSU. There is nothing better than opening up the old UD Pride homepage and seeing that there have been triple digit posts since the last time you logged in.
-- Somehow, the whole situation as far as the Men's team is concerned turned around when Archie took a look in the mirror and realized he had to change his approach and stop living up to his namesake Archie Bunker. "The numbers don't matter; the kids do" says it all. Don't know if Archie came to this conclusion on his own or if somebody else helped him see it -- his Dad, brother, AD, coaches, players or captains may have -- but Ryan was a big enuf man to see the light and make the change. Good on him.
Every day is "a good day to be a Flyer" but these next few should be especially sweet. Stop and take the time to enjoy the ride, regardless of whether the guys or gals win or lose. It's all about the journey and The University of Dayton is traveling in rare company right now.
That's it "From the Swamp."
You can email me at:
swampy3130@udpride.com
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