GOOOOOO Dayton Flyers!!
Featured in the Dayton Daily News
There’s a wind of delight flowing about the Dayton community these days. Good news is bouncing through the hoops, literally. In case you aren’t privy to my family’s text feed, the University of Dayton Men’s Basketball team has been on fire! This week, in their highest ranking since 1967, the Flyers are currently positioned #7 in the country. Yes, that’s right. This might be a normal occurrence for the University of Kentucky or Gonzaga, but the gaining momentum for our Dayton Flyers has been a long time coming. Their success is being met with unmatched support.
There’s nothing like attending a Flyer basketball game. Walking into the UD Arena is like showing up for a family reunion where anticipation for a good game takes place amidst the comfort of home. Common denominators elevate each individual to something greater. The pep band, the pizza giveaways, the center scoreboard slide shows of goofy kids dancing make us all cheer and stand in solidarity. Season ticket holders become friends where history is built on celebrating the 3-point shot from center court. Flyer faithful in their red and blue come to support the extension of the university so many of us are vested in.
Dayton is known to breed basketball enthusiasm. For the past several years, the NCAA has scheduled the preliminary round of their tournament games to be played at the UD Arena. Our community has supported and hosted those underdog teams who hope to extend their thrill; and are met with an arena full of people who buy into their belief in themselves. We Daytonians are gracious and inviting, cheering those who show up to dream big, even when the Flyers prepared to retire until next Fall.
Three years ago, there was a change in the tenured basketball program which whispered fresh air. When Anthony Grant returned to Dayton after playing basketball for and graduating from UD, it made us all feel good. I’m old enough to remember Anthony on the court, and his selection to be the Head Coach for his alma mater felt right. He came home, and since then he’s cultivated a team of Flyers that buy into what he’s known for a long time. Coach Grant represents the spirit of UD from the inside out. He knew before he was coach the extraordinary dimensions of UD; basketball was just one of them. Unique to this season is that there is not one designated team captain, which allows every player to rise to leadership. Funny how when you give a worthy team space, good rises.
This year, in the aftermath of the greater Dayton heartache, I feel like spirit of the Flyer basketball season reaches far beyond the arena. There is still so much unresolved pain from 2019’s tragedies here in the Dayton. Yet, as a community, we’ve persisted. Billboards, t-shirts and Oregon District windows display the message, “Dayton Strong.” It seems for communities that have struggled, the cream of celebration rises to the top, igniting enthusiasm which feels particularly sweet. Sometimes sports transcend the most difficult challenges. Considering the heartache that might be lingering for many, I think that It’s a great time to be a UD Basketball fan. The success of these young men placed in a greater context gives us all something to cheer about. I know, it’s all just a game; but right now, the metaphor of hanging in there in optimism rings especially true with a basketball.
It is a great time to be a Dayton fan; but if you ask any person who has been cheering for years, allegiance to UD was not born with a #7 ranking. Rather, season after season of hope makes this year’s success even more rewarding. Who knows what the next several weeks of tournament anticipation will bring. Right now, it doesn’t matter. Already in the record books for Dayton and her basketball team is success in the sweetest form.