swok34
11-21-2005, 03:50 PM
Home opener tonite at 7:30 pm. No radio or video unless you're paying for it. Live stats available:
http://www.aggieathletics.com/index.php?SID=WBB
And a write up by the man himself, Gary Blair:
Ten Things That Will Happen Monday
November 18, 2005
Two years ago, in my first game as an Aggie, we opened up on the road and lost a close game to LaSalle 67-62 at a tournament in Boston. Last year we opened on the road in a tournament in Miami and were defeated by South Florida 62-56.
What have I learned about my team and program over the last two years?
Open at home to start the season. We'll do that Monday night at 7:30 p.m. versus Saint Peter's.
There is nothing like a home opener at Reed Arena, the Hullabaloo Band, student body standing, kids playing ball in the Blair Kids Court before the game, and the excitement in the air as Aggie fans meet the new players and welcome back the veterans.
We will start the game undefeated just like the rest of the 320 Division I college programs. By the time the second weekend comes along there will be less than 60 or so undefeated teams. Then as December turns into January we will be looking at 10 or 12 programs trying to hang on before the Big “L” finally finds most of us.
***
What will you see Monday night at Reed Arena? You'll watch young talent, good depth, size that can play, explosive point guard play, the reigning Big 12 Freshman of the Year in Morenike Atunrase, and a defense that can suffocate you with pressure at certain times.
In the stands, you will see approximately 1,000 season ticket holders, 300 Gary's Group special interest groups of kids and adults, 250 Junior Aggie Club memebers, 400 to 500 students, and another 250 to 500 paying fans that are trying us out to see if they want to become regulars, casual fans, or one timers. I might be a little slow with my math, but I believe that I can accommodate another 9,000 or so of you in the coming months.
Building programs, teams, and crowds have been my trademark over my 32 years of coaching and promoting basketball. I love what I do. I love my staff and our support staff in the way they prepare to help us be a success. I love the kids as they come and watch the ladies and ask for autographs after the game. And I love the thrill of victory and even the agony of defeat.
I love opening night of the basketball season and seeing the hope in the eyes of my players and their belief that they can be national champions.
Who believed in the Chicago White Sox before the baseball season? Who believed in the Houston Astros after a 15-30 start? Only the loyal fans and the players and coaches, that's who believed. Who thought Baylor and Michigan State would play for the National Championship in women's hoops last April? Somebody did, because they proved people wrong.
Monday night here is what you can count on.
1. Aggies standing and cheering until the clock goes to “0:00”.
2. Coach Blair not opening up in a zone defense.
3. Coach Blair leaving two tickets for Elvis at Will Call; remember Elvis had a military background for a while just like many Aggies.
4. Coach Blair out there throwing candy to the kids before the game.
5. Coach Blair wearing a new sport coat, at least to start the game before I hand it off to Radar for safe keeping, while Coach Schaefer will have on a sharp looking sweater.
6. Assistant coach Amy Tennison not giving birth to her child during the game. That will have to wait until January.
7. The Aggies will press, but you will not know when. :D
8. The contest will be an event not just a game. Fans will leave with a content look and a smile on every face.
9. With five minutes to go, all of the Aggie fans will stand and bring the team down the home stretch. The 12th Man will be there for us if we run a player short or need a voice to cheer us on.
10. And you can count on Tuesday Coach Blair will be leaving on a jet from Houston to Hawaii to take my Aggies to a prestigious tournament. I will be on the beach, but not tanning. I'll be there watching a computer of the game the night before and trying to keep that Hawaiian Sun from glaring on the screen.
I don't guarantee victories, but I can guarantee my top 10 list will happen.
Let's Play Ball!
Gig'Em Aggies!
Coach Blair
http://www.aggieathletics.com/feature.php?type=2&Feature=302
http://www.aggieathletics.com/index.php?SID=WBB
And a write up by the man himself, Gary Blair:
Ten Things That Will Happen Monday
November 18, 2005
Two years ago, in my first game as an Aggie, we opened up on the road and lost a close game to LaSalle 67-62 at a tournament in Boston. Last year we opened on the road in a tournament in Miami and were defeated by South Florida 62-56.
What have I learned about my team and program over the last two years?
Open at home to start the season. We'll do that Monday night at 7:30 p.m. versus Saint Peter's.
There is nothing like a home opener at Reed Arena, the Hullabaloo Band, student body standing, kids playing ball in the Blair Kids Court before the game, and the excitement in the air as Aggie fans meet the new players and welcome back the veterans.
We will start the game undefeated just like the rest of the 320 Division I college programs. By the time the second weekend comes along there will be less than 60 or so undefeated teams. Then as December turns into January we will be looking at 10 or 12 programs trying to hang on before the Big “L” finally finds most of us.
***
What will you see Monday night at Reed Arena? You'll watch young talent, good depth, size that can play, explosive point guard play, the reigning Big 12 Freshman of the Year in Morenike Atunrase, and a defense that can suffocate you with pressure at certain times.
In the stands, you will see approximately 1,000 season ticket holders, 300 Gary's Group special interest groups of kids and adults, 250 Junior Aggie Club memebers, 400 to 500 students, and another 250 to 500 paying fans that are trying us out to see if they want to become regulars, casual fans, or one timers. I might be a little slow with my math, but I believe that I can accommodate another 9,000 or so of you in the coming months.
Building programs, teams, and crowds have been my trademark over my 32 years of coaching and promoting basketball. I love what I do. I love my staff and our support staff in the way they prepare to help us be a success. I love the kids as they come and watch the ladies and ask for autographs after the game. And I love the thrill of victory and even the agony of defeat.
I love opening night of the basketball season and seeing the hope in the eyes of my players and their belief that they can be national champions.
Who believed in the Chicago White Sox before the baseball season? Who believed in the Houston Astros after a 15-30 start? Only the loyal fans and the players and coaches, that's who believed. Who thought Baylor and Michigan State would play for the National Championship in women's hoops last April? Somebody did, because they proved people wrong.
Monday night here is what you can count on.
1. Aggies standing and cheering until the clock goes to “0:00”.
2. Coach Blair not opening up in a zone defense.
3. Coach Blair leaving two tickets for Elvis at Will Call; remember Elvis had a military background for a while just like many Aggies.
4. Coach Blair out there throwing candy to the kids before the game.
5. Coach Blair wearing a new sport coat, at least to start the game before I hand it off to Radar for safe keeping, while Coach Schaefer will have on a sharp looking sweater.
6. Assistant coach Amy Tennison not giving birth to her child during the game. That will have to wait until January.
7. The Aggies will press, but you will not know when. :D
8. The contest will be an event not just a game. Fans will leave with a content look and a smile on every face.
9. With five minutes to go, all of the Aggie fans will stand and bring the team down the home stretch. The 12th Man will be there for us if we run a player short or need a voice to cheer us on.
10. And you can count on Tuesday Coach Blair will be leaving on a jet from Houston to Hawaii to take my Aggies to a prestigious tournament. I will be on the beach, but not tanning. I'll be there watching a computer of the game the night before and trying to keep that Hawaiian Sun from glaring on the screen.
I don't guarantee victories, but I can guarantee my top 10 list will happen.
Let's Play Ball!
Gig'Em Aggies!
Coach Blair
http://www.aggieathletics.com/feature.php?type=2&Feature=302