SU Redhawks vs. UW Huskies a "Three Part Series" Part 2

Part two.  Yes, I am sitting with a Husky tomorrow and yes he will be wearing purple and yes it's OK.  Principal Adams as I like to refer to him (that's because he is a Principal) has been a friend of mine since Jr High.  He and his lovely wife Kim (the better half) both graduated from the UW and I really can't hold that against them because they are lovely people.  The only time he wasn't a lovely person was when he was staying with my family and destroyed my brothers Lego airplanes and broke our ping pong table, other than that he has been good.

Now unlike the sometimes nasty (most times really) WSU/UW rivalry, we as Jesuit educated people and the renewed rivalry between SU and UW gets to be kind of "touchy feelgood" only because it's like old friends whom have been apart for a long time and now are back together not to unite the state, but to unite the city - Mountlake vs. Capital Hill, Monster PAC 10 vs. Little Independent.  Realistic high basketball IQ people know it is going to take a few more years before SU can begin to trash talk the Huskies. 

This is about reuniting the kids to play in the sandbox, the hype, the press, the pregame party, the battle at the Needle.  Now, let's be serious, none of you at the game wearing purple are going to be my friends for 40 minutes so let us get that straight. Yet I am glad you came to the party and we our creating an exciting new competition for the city of Seattle & Queen Ann businesses since Howard Schultz blew the last one.

To the right is a picture taken by me at my friend Principal Adams house on Lake Tapps - It was once a big tree that needed to be cut down and so he as a Husky stalwart had the base carved into a UW Husky Dog.  I being a stalwart SU Chieftain...opps I mean Redhawk (whatever) decided to dress up the Husky in the spirit of fun SU competition.  So this is what the renewed rivalry is all about - friends coming together with community of spirit, practical jokes and that is why Principal Adams is sitting courtside with me. I wearing red and he wearing purple.

How will the Redhawks compete tomorrow Tuesday February 22nd at KeyArena in front of 10,000 fans?  That my blog readers you will find out tomorrow morning for it will be all SU Tuesday for me!   Don't forget the pregame rally that night at 5:30 in the Center Pavilion and yes, purple is welcome - but don't expect me to talk to you.  Check out the Cameron Dollar Radio show tonight on KIRO 710 AM ESPN  8 pm with Groz & Gary Hill live at Jimmy's on Broadway.

SU Redhawks vs. UW Huskies a "Three Part Series"

Part One.  I have Courtside Seats and you don't.  Yes that is not me to the left, but Steven Tyler sits pretty close in the Boston Garden in relation to where I sit in KeyArena and yes, I can make that face when Sterling Carter sinks a three pointer! - Of course, then my ribs get poked by Rothrock's elbow.

Now what is this "Three Part Series," about?  It is about history, passion, building the monster, friends and bringing the community together, growing boys to men and a whole lot of other stuff.  So there will be one blog tonight, one blog Monday afternoon and one blog Tuesday morning - which will be devoted to Seattle University Men's Basketball for 24 hours - no job search, no laundry, uh but yes I will need to feed the dogs.

There are five people(s) that are the reason I love Seattle U basketball and why I will sit in the seats I will have for the rest of eternity and why I believe we will be in the NCAA Finals and I will be sitting there too!

1. Former eight year SU coach Joe Callero whom I have know for 38 years who had a dream and jump started the resurgence (I love that word) back to Division I basketball.

2. Athletic Director Bill Hogan who has been a tireless mentor to me and leader to the program and is a kick in the ass to hang out with. (Can I say that NCAA?)

3. Now present Coach Cameron Dollar, who looks at you with superman x-ray vision and makes you freeze to listen to his words.  Who continues the vision, work ethic and mission of building the historic program back to where it belongs or even farther.

4. A special man - John Dougherty who in the 1960's as the President of the Tomahawk Club for SU sat in the exact same seats (then the Coliseum) on the court that I do - as I am the President of the Courtside Club in alumni and community support for the program to resurgence.  John is another tireless warrior to the program.  By the way my seats kick ass!  Just ask the referees.

5. The alumni.  So many great relationships have sprung from the unity that I may have never discovered, the O'Brien's, the Grimm Brothers, Steve Looney and crew, Terry Thomas, Matt Moran, and Mr. Elbow Rothrock, Bill Eisminger, Anita Willis-Crawford and more and more and more.  Look, this ain't no Academy Award speech here so you get the drift I can't list you all.

The point, Tuesday February 22nd SU host the University of Washington Huskies  in my house KeyArena and I really can't trash them for I have a very high basketball IQ and they are a formidable opponent with a great history in the past with us; which why the renewed rivalry now in year three has brought SU's program back and all the five people(s) listed above for me to love Seattle University Basketball and Seattle University!  And you should too!

Part two on Monday afternoon - "Who gets to sit with me?"

Don't forget the Cameron Dollar show Monday Feb 21st on KIRO AM 710 ESPN with David Grosby and Gary Hill 8 pm at Jimmy's on Broadway.

Yeah. I know this was a pretty "sappy" part one but I believe!

All Hail to Garrett Lever

OK, this was an ugly game from a statistical point.  SU 60 Northern Illinois 48 - but SU held NIU to only 12 points the first half!  Both teams shot in and around the 30% percentile.  But a "W" is a "W" in the win column and the Redhawks showed once again that having a lead at the half they can pull out a "W."  Now 8-2.

Now lets really talk about the keys to the game for SU -

Yes, it's Mr. Defense, Garrett Lever who held the fifth nations scorer Xavier Silas to six points - What?  Get out! Yes, can you believe it? Silas averages 25.6 points a game, he only had six and spent most of the time on the sidelines.  Yep,  So I don't care if Lever averages 3 or so ppg.  I care he is a defensive, "you ain't going to get that ball in the hoop," and "don't try to pass that rock," monster.  Hello Isaiah Thomas of the purple regime at UW ( coming up next) get real!   SU traveled to the Midwest as the only team in the ESPN Bracket Buster series to do that out of their region and the only team as an Independent invited and won!  So suck it WCC!

Quote of the day from Donald Dollar (assistant coach and dad)  on ESPN Radio for next weeks game against the University of Washington "We are going to shock the world."

So it will take me a day or so to formalize an intelligent plan for the next blog coming up with the renewed rivalry and people are going to pack KeyArena (est 10,000) and this will be a big TEST for my beloved Redhawks, but you know what..."I believe we can 'shock' the world!"  Ask Oregon State, ask Virgina and ask that dude from the Washington Post - get out?  Really! Yes he really wrote about SU.  Redhawk Nation on the rise!

Come to Jimmy's on Broadway for the Cameron Dollar show on Monday Feb 21st at 8 pm or hear it on KIRO 710 AM ESPN with my buddies the Groz and Gary Hill then watch Capital Hill battle Mountlake on Tuesday in my house KeyArena Feb 22nd and yes, I will be wearing the Red Converse!  Goseattleu.com for tickets.

ESPN Bracket Busters here we come to Northern Illinois U

NIU is where?  Lets see, you fly into Chicago then you drive somewhere (Dekab Ill.  What the?) for an hour plus, maybe more due to snow and then you find the Northern Illinois University Huskies in Podunk ville. Then you run into the guy to the left, a ridiculous looking midget mascot.  Rudy, you rule over that guy...and frankly you don't rule over many.

Now NIU plays in the Mid American Conference who has 12 teams and two divisions with teams like Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Ohio (no, not the really good one) and a host of other Podunk (that's my favorite new word) schools.  The Huskies are 7-17 in play and 3-9 in the conference but let us not look past the farm boys, they breed them big in the mid west and NIU has played formidable teams as in Temple, Missouri and a common opponent in Utah Valley (which we beat in Key Arena) NIU has lost seven of their last eight games with a great losing streak of six.  SU needs to meet more teams with stats like that.

What is the ESPN Bracket Buster?  In lay man's terms it is a hyped up marketing piece to have more games on the TV - god love'em I need more games on the TV.  Here is an interesting bit.  SU is the only school traveling outside their region to play in the ESPN BB. And if you go on the website all the conferences are listed then there is the magical SU marquee.  That's because we are Independent and we don't have a home yet because we are the new kid on the block and all the bully's and yes referees and yes conference commissioners like to abuse us. Suck it!  We will prevail and we will travel umpteen miles and play whomever, whenever. wherever and we will show the Nation that College Basketball is back in Seattle!  Eat that Gonzaga!

OK, not my best writing, but I am saving it up for Tuesday's game against, yes, the University of Washington.

SU vs. NIU 1 pm PST on KIRO AM 710 ESPN in the ESPN Bracket Buster Series.  Go Seattle U! 

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and rock'd by Gunrock the Mustang

Happy Wednesday!  NOT!  First I am branding this blog to the left picture in many ways.  Seattle U 78 UC Davis (last place in the Big West) 88.  There are many great things about being Division I basketball and playing in KeyArena as your home court and seeing the building of a program from the ground up and participating in a sense of community amongst students and alumni and eating a pregame dinner with a "very attractive friend and her daughter" and also having said "very attractive friend and her daughter" sitting next to you courtside and sitting in seats with others that you enjoy in community. Drinking Irish whiskey with fellow alumnus after the game in laughing, with intellectual conversation that are all great experiences - they add value to life and living.  Those events keep you going and keep you coming back for more.  Much like getting a birdie on the 18th hole, but shooting a 98 for the round.

What is not great is losing!  I know, I know, high basketball IQ people, losing builds on the block of teaching lessons on how to win. Now there are games one gets beat, there are games that one wins, and there are the worst games - the ones you lose that you should win - the ones that totally deflate you - the ones that resonate for days.  We had one of those last night.

First Half - the Good Half  Dr. Jekyll- woot woot!

Totally in control SU shot 50% from the field, 33% from downtown and a commendable 86% from the free throw line and had a lead by 12 - before said "Attractive friend and daughter" are having fun eating red ropes and watching SU play really smart skilled ball and be right where the trends pointed them to be.  OK, I love Sports Center and those crazy shots at the buzzer - but I really did not want to be witnessing "live" a three pointer by UC Davis hitting a 45 footer to end the first half to cut the lead to eight.  Okay, no problem SU is 7-1 leading at the half - its all good.  That is me convincing myself nervously.

Second Half  - the bad half shows with Mr. Hyde and I think it was the Red Ropes

"Attractive friend and daughter," go get popcorn and more red ropes (which I think where manufactured in 1956) and skittles and other treats.  I remain in my seat pondering the first half stats and feel pretty good until Mr, Hyde puts a lid on the SU basket and all hell breaks loose! - A goat rodeo as I like to say.  SU shoots 27% from the field, 21% from behind the arc and a horrible 45% from the free ( I mean its free for crying out loud) throw line!  Up by eight at half and down by 10 - err!  "Attractive friend and daughter," who both have pretty high basketball IQ's comfort me in not worrying - yes actually nine year old Alex did proclaim we will win - plenty of time in the game.  Meanwhile I now watch SU implode, explode, deteriorate and I again watch the guys in Zebra uniforms act like monkey's. I eat more popcorn and really bad red ropes, Now I lean over with 1:56 to play and ask "Attractive friend," can I worry now? Attractive friend says, "Yep."  That's not the answer I was wanting to hear, but was feeling.

I witness errant passes, missed layups, lack of the entry pass to the post, clanging off the rim free throws and really bad red vine ropes all to the end of a game that should of been won by the Redhawks

Adding insult to injury I am reminded at the post game get together in Buckley's that I should not be drinking Bushmills for it is the Protestant Irish Whiskey - I should be drinking Jameson's.  Yes, I know the Catholic version - duh, we are a Jesuit school. How about I have a Jameson when we win?

Well, it was the Bushmills and the company of said "Attractive friend and her daughter" and the company of the Grimm brothers and sons after the game that made the evening enjoyable even though we lost a game we should of won - but hell, we play in KeyArena, the kids played their hearts out, we love the coach, the program is on the rise. On to the next one - SU vs. Northern Illinois in the ESPN bracket buster Saturday - I really hope their Red Ropes are better than at the Key and can only hope only Mr. Hyde stays home.

Listen to the game on KIRO 710 ESPN and get ready for next the match up versus University of Washington next Tuesday February 22nd at Key Arena 7:10 pm- Yep I'll be there


Also thanks to all of you Seattle U Hoops readers - we have passed 1,000 viewers!! and Thanks Attractive friend and her daughter for the company - Go Seattle U!  And thanks KeyArena for really bad Red Ropes!

What the hell is an Aggie?

Seattle University takes on the UC Davis Aggies (Mustangs) Tuesday February 15th in KeyArena and  their mascot is Gunrock.  Actually kind of representing a mustang and actually there is a bar in Davis named the Gunrock Pub.

An "Aggie" is someone who attends an Agricultural College. The Morrell Land Grant of 1865 established A&M (Agricultural and Mechanical) Colleges throughout the country. Many of them are referred to as "Aggies" in reference to the Agricultural part. Some famous Aggie schools are Texas A&M, Florida A&M, Michigan State, Penn State and California-Davis. The Texas A&M mascot is Reveille, a collie dog. Gunrock the Mustang is the mascot for UC Davis.

Now there is some interesting connections unlike Rudy the Redhawk who isn't a real bird, looks like he just woke up from " an week long bender" and hasn't showered in a month.  [Don't worry Administration, I look forward to your letters :) ] Gunrock is the real deal mascot, nestled in Davis California in an agricultural area has a pub named after him, wines named after him and olive oil named after him - Get out! Really! Although he really doesn't look like a mustang, the linearity is admirable for a mascot so I will opt out to trashing him like Matty the Matador for it seems there is some intelligence to his structure.  Now there is a Rudy's Barber shop in Seattle that is quite popular with many of my friends and people from Seattle.  I would suggest Rudy the Redhawk may want to pay a visit and clean himself up maybe even get his picture in front of Rudy's Barber Shop, which is iconic in Seattle, just like Gunrock has on the internet - Oh, people we have a long way to go on this mascot thing.  OK I'm done...not really hehehe, but for now.

So UC Davis plays in the Big West Conference (oh, the same conference of Cal Poly SLO in second place with former eight year SU coach Joe Callero) yet UCD is in last place at 8-15, 2-8 away and 3-8 in the conference, although note SU lost 58-80 in "Aggie country" on the road this year. Yet the Redhawks are much more mature at this point in the season so this should be a nice competitive game.

Come to the game or hear with lively play by play by The Groz and Gary Hill on KIRO AM 710 ESPN - Hey guys you forgot the roses on Valentines day?  Take her to the game!

Where's Rudy?

Do you know where your students are?

I thought the Playstation game of "The City of Lost Children" quite appropriate for today's topic.  Playstation may even consider creating a new game called "Seattle the University with lost students at KeyArena!"  Maybe the game should be about how to find the Key, navigate your way from Capital Hill, find metro bus schedules, organize a dorm car pooling event or use Microsoft Outlook.

This is a hot topic among alumni  - trust me the conversation comes up every game and so if I can get this blog out maybe some of you can have time to get off Facebook and enlighten us.  OK, I am a rarity, a hoopaholic who haven't missed a game in probably four years and then we can go back to my SU collegiate days from 1981 to 1986 and again begin the streak and to boot back then we were NAIA Division "Squat."  During the Utah Valley game last Wednesday I counted a half dozen or so students in the student section and guess what, one of them was my old roommate so he did not even count..  That is pathetic school spirit!  The "Red Zone" should be called the "No Zone."  You are supposed to be the leaders in spirit and support and right now the army you are leading into battle showing the nation we are "Division I Outstanding" is stuck in the dorms and apartments on Capitol Hill.  Albeit Saturday's game against Portland was awesome, shirtless Redhawks painted in red and flags waiving - an anomaly though,   So what are the excuses we toss around each night over a beer after the game amongst a handful of us stalwart alum?  I do not expect the entire 7,500 enrollment to show up, but how about 5% that's 375.

So enlighten me Redhawk Nation?

Here are some of the excuses.

The Arena is downtown?  Yeah, so what, Gonzaga our evil sister Jesuit school can pack in 10,000 in a stadium that games sometimes are played off campus in downtown Spokane.  Against Memphis last weekend the student section was monstrous.  I am sure if T.S. McHughes offered free beer after the game you could find KeyArena - lame excuse.

It's a weeknight and students are studying.  Give me a break.  An 'ole wise Jesuit once told me if he knocked on the doors of an entire dorm most would be on their IPhones or social networking.  (Okay, yes, I know you all are studying and this is a great educational institution). Part of going to college is to learn how to balance social, class and work schedules.  And yes, part of college is also spirit and pride in representing your school in front of the city.  You are all now part of a rare 375 institutions who compete in the class room and on the athletic field.  Just ask the dawgpound - which to date makes us look like a chic in a birds nest - lame excuse.

We don't have the history yet and the students did not come here because SU is Division I. BS.  We have more history than most schools and I can rattle it off but will spare you.  This is something special, a real life "social economic" change to be involved - this sequence of growth is better experience  and observed than you will ever read in a text book.  And BS again, because I didn't go to school at SU for it wasn't Division I then. I went to learn how to think (and write crap like this) but also knew that I had spirit & pride in my school and for a fact there are more basketball players recognized by name than Rhodes Scholars (nothing against you Rhodes Scholars, just saying.) - lame excuse.

In summation of this rampant diatribe. Students need to know how much support the student-athlete needs to compete on a high level - I have been in Connolly Center in the 90's when there were ten of us in the stands. Juggling school and practice and being away on the road traveling for days at a time is grueling.  Student spirit and support raises the adrenaline & self esteem level of the student-athlete which creates wins, which creates publicity, which creates national awareness, which increases the degree of your diploma!  Oh, did I get your attention?

Show me Redhawk Nation how you will support these hardwood warriors representing your university, who by the way have graduated 100% of their seniors for the last three years, playing 65% of their games on the road and out of the classroom.  Or tell me what else I need to do to get your butts in the KeyArena seats.

Redhawks vs UC Davis Tuesday Feb 15th KeyArena 7:10 pm.  Will I be there?  What do you think?  Will you?  The tally - Last Wednesday Feb 9th Attendance 4,000 - Alumni and non alumni 3,992 SU Students 8 - Pathetic Redhawks Nation.