I think it might help some of us get through the tough road ahead this year if we all examine why we are Pirate fans. I am happy to share my reasons with all of you and I hope others will share their reasons with the rest of us. I attended my first SHU game with my dad in the mid-sixties. They were playing Villanova at Walsh and I have to admit that I was rooting for Villanova because my dad was an alumni. I was instantly hooked by the game of basketball and the Pirates as well. My earliest memories were of Pirate players like Greg Tynes and Glenn Moseley. I eagerly hoped that Kelly Tripucka would join Paul Lape at the Hall and a new dynasty would be borne but my first recruiting disappointment occurred and Kelly went to ND. My father told me that the best thing to happen to the Hall was when they joined the Big East and with Danny Callandrillo and the announced move to the Meadowlands I thought good times were on the way and purchased my first season tickets in 1981. Little did I know that I would actually have to wait for a number of years for Mark Bryant to sign and then for the great recruiting class of 1985 with Morton, Greene, Walker and Ramos. The first bid in 1988 was heaven and then we had the wonderful final four ride. I was proud of the way the kids and the coaches handled the disappointment of the loss in the big game. Next came the years where we were relevant in the Big East and I could hold my head high among my Georgetown, SJU and Nova friends. Luther was exciting to watch but let us down in the end. Then came Blaney and the Dark ages settled around the program. We lost out on Tim Thomas and other top recruits but we got a magical point guard named Sha and the games were still fun to attend. At this point my children became interested in the team and for a long time I attended the games with my son and daughters and we had great times win or lose. Listening to Hall Line on the way home and stopping for food at the Tick Tock before the game became special treats and were part of the atmosphere of the game. We signed Tommy Amaker and he promised the world and seemed to deliver it until he ran off to Michigan. Louis Orr was a good man and a good coach but he wouldn't play the game so we went out and got a Shark to deal with. As Shark's do he eventually bit us and created a lot of the mess we have had for the last few years. This was then compounded by hiring a nice guy who just can not seem to make the jump to head coach. He probably is a great assistant coach but he is not a head coach. He is not quick on his feet and does not inspire and motivate players but he did have a good recruiting year last year. I am not sure about the current class but I am willing to wait and see before complaining.
My wife asked me if I wanted to renew my tickets this year and I said of course I do why would you ask that question. She said because it looks like the team is not going to do very well next year and you were so despondent with how this season ended. That made me think about why I keep coming back and why I get excited at the start of every year. It is because I love Seton Hall basketball after all of these years and can not imagine not going to the games or watching them on television. I like all of the players win or lose and enjoy the company of my fellow fans even those that do not understand the game. I will miss Sterling and believe that this is the final nail in the Willard coffin but I am willing to be pleasantly surprised. By the way I mailed in my renewal and this year's donation today. I can't wait for November.
My wife asked me if I wanted to renew my tickets this year and I said of course I do why would you ask that question. She said because it looks like the team is not going to do very well next year and you were so despondent with how this season ended. That made me think about why I keep coming back and why I get excited at the start of every year. It is because I love Seton Hall basketball after all of these years and can not imagine not going to the games or watching them on television. I like all of the players win or lose and enjoy the company of my fellow fans even those that do not understand the game. I will miss Sterling and believe that this is the final nail in the Willard coffin but I am willing to be pleasantly surprised. By the way I mailed in my renewal and this year's donation today. I can't wait for November.
