Thank you Raiders...
Mar 10, 2010 16:48:34 GMT -5
Post by longtimefanatic on Mar 10, 2010 16:48:34 GMT -5
This was something I posted on the other site and I am re-posting it here:
We had a decent run of it, our guys had ups and downs, the team had flashes of genius and other nights where we couldn't hit a barn door with a 10 foot pole while standing 5 feet away. It happens...it's why they play the game and don't just rely on the "experts" to determine the outcomes.
I want to wish our seniors well with everything they face in life going forward. They made for great sport for 4+ yrs at WSU and I will miss each and every one. I know the end to this season will not sit well, but after a few days it won't hurt so bad. You guys all played a huge part in entertaining thousands of fans across SW Ohio, and you have helped to build a program that is going to CONTINUE to improve.
I look back at where we started, playing games less than 40 yrs ago in a high school gymnasium. Then 27 yrs ago we were the best Div II team in the country(1983). In 1988 we became div 1, and in 1990 we moved out of the PE Building (which at capacity MAYBE fit 2000), into the Nutter Center(where we have room for @10000). 3 yrs later we earned a trip to our first NCAA Tournament(1993). We eventually played a Michigan State team and BEAT them, the same season they won the NCAA Tournament.
Now we have had four 20 win seasons in a row. In the past 4 yrs we have also routinely faced ranked opponents and played them tight or came away with the upset. And we have been back or been a threat to get back to the tournament on a regular basis. We play in a VERY competitive league that is ALSO growing. I would love to see an A-10 team play the Butlers, the Milwaukee's and Green Bays of our league. I bet they would see that its just as tough here.
Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither were Butler or UD, or any of the other "top" teams. (It took since the 1920's for Butler to grow to their place), and UD once had success in the 60's, and are seeing improvement in the last few yrs. We just need to have faith in our team, our coaches and our athletic department. WE WILL keep improving. It is just a matter of taking it one season at a time and not being overly critical when a team has an off night or an off season (don't take that to mean this was an off-season). We just didn't happen to benefit as much this year as we did in the past with injuries, the bounces of the ball, or the shots dropping when we needed them to. It's when things DON'T go how we hope them to that we grow and learn as a program. Any team can appear great when they get all the calls or make all their shots, but it is a TRUE competitor who can keep his head up when things don't work out how they hoped.
And i think our team is made up completely of COMPETITORS.
You guys wearing the green and gold and representing the Raiders of Past and Present are worthy of our praise and respect, and have secured a spot in my heart as one of the best group of guys a fan could want to see play the game....Thank You for playing the game and representing us so well!!!
We had a decent run of it, our guys had ups and downs, the team had flashes of genius and other nights where we couldn't hit a barn door with a 10 foot pole while standing 5 feet away. It happens...it's why they play the game and don't just rely on the "experts" to determine the outcomes.
I want to wish our seniors well with everything they face in life going forward. They made for great sport for 4+ yrs at WSU and I will miss each and every one. I know the end to this season will not sit well, but after a few days it won't hurt so bad. You guys all played a huge part in entertaining thousands of fans across SW Ohio, and you have helped to build a program that is going to CONTINUE to improve.
I look back at where we started, playing games less than 40 yrs ago in a high school gymnasium. Then 27 yrs ago we were the best Div II team in the country(1983). In 1988 we became div 1, and in 1990 we moved out of the PE Building (which at capacity MAYBE fit 2000), into the Nutter Center(where we have room for @10000). 3 yrs later we earned a trip to our first NCAA Tournament(1993). We eventually played a Michigan State team and BEAT them, the same season they won the NCAA Tournament.
Now we have had four 20 win seasons in a row. In the past 4 yrs we have also routinely faced ranked opponents and played them tight or came away with the upset. And we have been back or been a threat to get back to the tournament on a regular basis. We play in a VERY competitive league that is ALSO growing. I would love to see an A-10 team play the Butlers, the Milwaukee's and Green Bays of our league. I bet they would see that its just as tough here.
Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither were Butler or UD, or any of the other "top" teams. (It took since the 1920's for Butler to grow to their place), and UD once had success in the 60's, and are seeing improvement in the last few yrs. We just need to have faith in our team, our coaches and our athletic department. WE WILL keep improving. It is just a matter of taking it one season at a time and not being overly critical when a team has an off night or an off season (don't take that to mean this was an off-season). We just didn't happen to benefit as much this year as we did in the past with injuries, the bounces of the ball, or the shots dropping when we needed them to. It's when things DON'T go how we hope them to that we grow and learn as a program. Any team can appear great when they get all the calls or make all their shots, but it is a TRUE competitor who can keep his head up when things don't work out how they hoped.
And i think our team is made up completely of COMPETITORS.
You guys wearing the green and gold and representing the Raiders of Past and Present are worthy of our praise and respect, and have secured a spot in my heart as one of the best group of guys a fan could want to see play the game....Thank You for playing the game and representing us so well!!!
