Thank You

[muskiefan82]

To all of the players, coaches, AD's, staff (academic and athletic), administrators, and fans who have done so much to get X to the Big East where a disappointing 21-13 season in which so much went wrong, still results in an 11 seed and another NCAA tournament berth with an actual chance to win a few games.

From Anthony Hicks and Bob Staak to now has been a journey, but this is what it has done. Thank you. I have been a fan since that first game in Schmidt Fieldhouse on November 29, 1982 against POWERHOUSE Union, KY.

I did not attend Xavier. After high school I joined the army. I still remember reading the Stars and Stripes in Germany when X beat #1 Cincy. Andy Macs quote made the front page of the sports section in the Stars and Stripes. Everyone who knew me came up to me that day because they knew I was a huge Xavier fan.

After the army, my GI Bill paid for my undergrad at, yes, UC. Sorry. I wore X gear my entire time there. My GI Bill covered the bill. It would not have covered Xavier's so I made a choice. I never stopped being a fan. I've been to a game every year, even when deployed, except for one. 1995-1996. I was in Bosnia. I could not get home. That is the only year they had a losing season. I blame myself! Sorry.

I got my Masters at Thomas More. Again, my work paid the full bill there. My office is full of X stuff gathered over the years, yet people are confused when they see my degrees. I tell them the degrees are one thing, but my heart belongs to the X-Men.

Thank you for making all of these years so much fun and for making these seasons of frustration be seasons other teams would give everything to have.

I love you guys. Go out there and give it your all. That's all I ask. I know you will. Thanks for everything you gave this year. I appreciate it. Go X! Beat Maryland!

[murray87]

Very well said! Go Muskies!!

[GoMuskies]

POWERHOUSE Union, KY.



Clearly they are a powerhouse. Union won the NAIA Division II national title yesterday.

[muskiefan82]

Clearly.

[waggy]

Nice dude.

I am at the moment hammered.

Eh, poker night.

[X Factor]

(starts slow clap)

[Masterofreality]

Clearly they are a powerhouse. Union won the NAIA Division II national title yesterday.

Xavier LOST to Union KY in 1969.

Great post, but if you are going to hand out thanks, hand out a BIG one to Dr. Bill Daily, no longer the unsung hero of Xavier athletics.
As Athletic Board Chairman in the late 1970's Dr. Daily fought hard against the Philosphy Professor Mulligan from trashing the entire Xavier athletic program and taking it to Division 3. Then he and Big Jim McCafferty were the instigators of the movement to get Xavier into a Conference- which turned into the MCC.

There were some great stories told at the XU functions at the Big East Tournament in New York last week and many inside ones about that era.

Never forget Bill Daily!

[muskiefan82]

Xavier LOST to Union KY in 1969.

Great post, but if you are going to hand out thanks, hand out a BIG one to Dr. Bill Daily, no longer the unsung hero of Xavier athletics.
As Athletic Board Chairman in the late 1970's Dr. Daily fought hard against the Philosphy Professor Mulligan from trashing the entire Xavier athletic program and taking it to Division 3. Then he and Big Jim McCafferty were the instigators of the movement to get Xavier into a Conference- which turned into the MCC.

There were some great stories told at the XU functions at the Big East Tournament in New York last week and many inside ones about that era.

Never forget Bill Daily!

Agreed. I can't imagine the last 35 years without the Xavier he created.

[xudash]

Great post MUSKIEFAN82.

[American X]

Cool story, bro. I endorse your message.

I was just telling to Lady X the story of the arc of Xavier basketball over the past 35+ years. As a fan, I take deep pride rising from a moribund, flat-lined shell of a program to previously unimagined heights, fighting, scratching and clawing for every inch along the way.

This thing of ours is not just easily latching onto some blue-blood program. I think this makes our highs so exhilarating and our lows so devastating.

As MuskieFan82 said, to those who built it all, we salute you. We are breaking through to even greater heights soon.

[Mel Cooley XU'81]

The man is holding me down: Reps.

It's all been good and there's more to come.

Thanks for the post.

[KabeX]

Never, ever apologize for taking advantage of the GI Bill and getting your education at UC. As much as we like to bash it, it's a good school and frankly it's the least our country can do for what you gave. I was a Bearcat fan for ONE DAY - the day my step-daughter chose UC (CCM) and it's $10K per year tuition over Butler ($40K) and IU ($35K). GO BEARCATS! Now then, after that day was over ...

I started being a serious fan in '88 when I started my MBA. So I can appreciate the rise but not as much perhaps as some others here who lived through the Union College days. Regardless, it means much more - rooting for your team as they rise and rise and rise. Those are fans for life. Now my son is a fan. He's 12. Countless and priceless moments have been made and many more in the future God willing, rooting for our beloved Muskies. It's the simple things in life that wind up meaning so much.

Now then, almost time to make some mock turtle soup!

GO MUSKIES!

[XUGRAD80]

I did my undergrad at X and took grad courses at UC. I competed for both schools..X on the D1 varsity level and UC on the club level. I attend UC football games as a season ticket holder and have attended many many BB games there over the last 40 years....but my HEART bleeds Xavier Blue and not red. I can't help it, I CARE about X and am damn proud to say that I have been around for the whole climb, the whole journey, and I am damn proud of all of the players, coaches, and administrators that have made this journey possible. Even more, I also share in the giving of thanks for all they have done to help the university I love become what it is today....on the court, on the campus, and in the community. M82....GREAT POST!

[xdude]

And thanks for reminding us '82 of what we are all a part of... Here! Here!

[American X]

This historic week of Xavier basketball made me recall this excellent thread started by MuskieFan82.

I have that day between games during the NCAA Tournament feeling. Elation over the previous day's victory and unbound excitement over what lay ahead.

These are the days we have dreamed of.

[XUGRAD80]

This historic week of Xavier basketball made me recall this excellent thread started by MuskieFan82.

I have that day between games during the NCAA Tournament feeling. Elation over the previous day's victory and unbound excitement over what lay ahead.

These are the days we have dreamed of.

I disagree only in that, as I told my wife last evening.........back in the dark days of the 1970’s we couldn’t even have DREAMED of the heights that X has already reached. NOW that we can dream of reaching heights that were beyond what anyone could have ever imagined, and we have those dreams within our reach, I can’t even begin to describe the feeling to many others. But those of you that have been here for the whole journey, you understand.

[Xtemporaneous]

Wow you guys. There's some dust in this thread... making my eyes water.

[whopper]

the job of a coach is to lift you up when you are down and make you humble when you are world beaters. I think Mack is doing it by not getting involved with rankings, Villanova game, etc. It is still about "the 4 minute war". That is the only way we make the final 4. I trust in Mack and hope that we see Tyrique back for Seton Hall as I think he will still play a big role as he would be the big on the floor when we desperately need a stop. It is great to have a team worth rooting for and at 62 can't believe my daughters are at X excited about the sport I have loved since 1970. This is a true team effort the likes of which you seldom see.

[Xuperman]

For me, wins in the early days seemed even more satisfying than now. Maybe because more is expected from us these days. For me, these are hard to top.....Beating Evansville, IN Evansville, winning the MCC championship to get our 1st NCAA bid, beating Marquette and Ohio St. at the gardens in the NIT, the K St. and Missouri wins in the Big Dance, then our 1st S16 beating Mourning and Mutumbo, David West and Co smashing #1 St. Joes, then our 1st E8.....what a ride!!!!

[American X]

Some whiskey fumes.....a little shaky at the office.......a slightly euphoric feeling.....

Let me check the calendar.


Yep, it's March.

[muskiefan82]

My birthday falls on Selection Sunday this year. I am hopeful.......

[joe titan]

My birthday falls on Selection Sunday this year. I am hopeful.......

As long as your number is < 64, it is OK, but still too bad it's not your first birthday.

[UCGRAD4X]

To all of the players, coaches, AD's, staff (academic and athletic), administrators, and fans who have done so much to get X to the Big East where a disappointing 21-13 season in which so much went wrong, still results in an 11 seed and another NCAA tournament berth with an actual chance to win a few games.

From Anthony Hicks and Bob Staak to now has been a journey, but this is what it has done. Thank you. I have been a fan since that first game in Schmidt Fieldhouse on November 29, 1982 against POWERHOUSE Union, KY.

I did not attend Xavier. After high school I joined the army. I still remember reading the Stars and Stripes in Germany when X beat #1 Cincy. Andy Macs quote made the front page of the sports section in the Stars and Stripes. Everyone who knew me came up to me that day because they knew I was a huge Xavier fan.

After the army, my GI Bill paid for my undergrad at, yes, UC. Sorry. I wore X gear my entire time there. My GI Bill covered the bill. It would not have covered Xavier's so I made a choice. I never stopped being a fan. I've been to a game every year, even when deployed, except for one. 1995-1996. I was in Bosnia. I could not get home. That is the only year they had a losing season. I blame myself! Sorry.

I got my Masters at Thomas More. Again, my work paid the full bill there. My office is full of X stuff gathered over the years, yet people are confused when they see my degrees. I tell them the degrees are one thing, but my heart belongs to the X-Men.

Thank you for making all of these years so much fun and for making these seasons of frustration be seasons other teams would give everything to have.

I love you guys. Go out there and give it your all. That's all I ask. I know you will. Thanks for everything you gave this year. I appreciate it. Go X! Beat Maryland!

HERE! HERE!

I also owe my allegiance partly to the GI Bill, but not mine, my Father's. He fought in Korea and didn't hesitate to enroll at Xavier (I think the tuition was quite a bit lower then). I can still recall sitting under the basket in the student section as a "Junior Musketeer" (we even had badges and everything). Having a ball roll to me and giving it to these guys that seemed bigger than life in oh so many ways (can hardly imagine doing this today).

A scholarship to UC led me in a different but similar direction. But I too was and will always be a Musketeer fan, (now "Senior").

Thanks Dad. God Bless You and God rest your soul.

(P.S.: I also experienced many a football game at Corcoran (sp?) to the bitter end. Now undefeated since 1964)

[paulxu]

(P.S.: I also experienced many a football game at Corcoran (sp?) to the bitter end. Now undefeated since 1964)

'73. They were still playing and winning when I was there in the mid-60's.

[Masterofreality]

Xavier LOST to Union KY in 1969.

Great post, but if you are going to hand out thanks, hand out a BIG one to Dr. Bill Daily, no longer the unsung hero of Xavier athletics.
As Athletic Board Chairman in the late 1970's Dr. Daily fought hard against the Philosphy Professor Mulligan from trashing the entire Xavier athletic program and taking it to Division 3. Then he and Big Jim McCafferty were the instigators of the movement to get Xavier into a Conference- which turned into the MCC.

There were some great stories told at the XU functions at the Big East Tournament in New York last week and many inside ones about that era.

Never forget Bill Daily!

On the day after a Big East Regular Season Championship, say your prayers of Thanks that Dr. Bill Daily was where he was in the late 1970's. God provides what is needed, when it's needed.

[UCGRAD4X]

'73. They were still playing and winning when I was there in the mid-60's.

I even have the shirt - just forgot what it said. Early onset ��