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Post by theneumann64 on Apr 24, 2013 20:45:35 GMT -5
That 1 month ago tonight, this moment came in to our lives:
As we go on talking about next season, the future of the A-10, etc. we really need to remember just how incredible the last few months have been for us as fans. Without getting overly personal, something happened to me the day between the K State and Ole Miss game that made it tough for me to enjoy the next week (although I'll admit that the Southwest Philly Floater and subsequent interview did make me smile for the first time in nearly 24 hours).
So although I was watching the games, and reading everything the next few days, I wasn't quite experiencing that last week of the run as fervently as everyone else. I also didn't have as much time to sort of sit and reflect back on everything until it was all over. Don't get me wrong, I loved the whole ride, and up until the K State game I was just as emotionally into it as everyone else, but I wasn't able to put all the pieces together once it was over until now-ish.
Realistically, La Salle is never going to win a National Championship again. Those are for the UNC's, Duke's and Kentucky's of the world. And the Final 4, with few very notable exceptions, is the same deal, huge schools who've been good for 40 or more years, pay their coaches millions, and play in areas where their school's basketball team is the center of the sports universe. So, without being overly pessimistic, we probably just saw the best year, or tied for the best we're all likely to see again.
I don't mean that in a negative way; I mean it as a plus. As in "We just had a once in a lifetime season, let's never be done enjoying it." I'm a huge Giants fan, and it's the same way I feel about the 2007 season: I'll never be done enjoying it. Nothing bad, or good, that happens again will ever diminish that year in my mind.
So let's use this thread for memories, videos, stories, links, etc. from the 2012-2013 La Salle Explorers. I'm not going to pin it, because it should never fall too far down the page, if we're doing our job.
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Post by theneumann64 on Apr 24, 2013 20:47:15 GMT -5
This picture has been my cpu background for 4 months now.
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Post by theneumann64 on Apr 24, 2013 20:51:52 GMT -5
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Post by durenduren on Apr 24, 2013 20:57:26 GMT -5
I second this. You got all the gold stars that day.
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Post by glorydays on Apr 24, 2013 21:00:03 GMT -5
Neumann, I have had some strange reflections upon the the Ole Miss gane, the SW Philly Floater and the fact this happened on Palm Sunday. There is a connection there that I can't figure out.
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Post by durenduren on Apr 24, 2013 21:10:28 GMT -5
What about the awesome connection between the 150th Anniversary celebrations and the run? More weird stuff. You could go as far as the luck of us drawing in Kansas City, weird.
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Post by coqui900 on Apr 24, 2013 21:28:17 GMT -5
Has it only been one month?
I always wondered what it would be like to see La Salle go on a big tournament run. Those two weeks completely blew any expectations I could have ever imagined. There was a profile about Br. Ed in the NY Times! We learned that Dr. G has a cat named Sherlock. There was a ROHAN BROWN DAY!
I think my favorite thing came w/ my buddy Mike. Work and family and life keeps us from hanging out as much as we'd want. But we watched every game together. I wouldn't have wanted to do it with anyone else. So many people other people had so many similar experiences.
It was just so surreal hearing non-stop La Salle hoops talk on the Monday and Tuesday after The Floater. I've said it a few times but that whole few weeks felt so much like a real life version of Friday Night Lights -- a huge, dormant community came to life around the success of a basketball team. A lot of people who went to La Salle really remembered how great a college experience they had and what it meant.
We also got to share this with the players to a ridiculous amount courtesy of the brilliant work Kevin Bonner and the staff did with those videos. It was more than just a recap of the games. You really got to see the entire personality of the players and how much this meant to them, too. Most importantly, we got to see what you always hope for in a team you root for -- they're great kids. They're funny, goofy, loose kids who obviously love each other. It's not a cliche with these guys.
I legitimately do not think I will like sports to that degree ever again, not until I have a kid who will hopefully love sports as much as I do. The Phils 2008 run was amazing and epic and that captured the entire Delaware Valley. But this was so much better considering how much time I've spent caring about a team when there weren't too many people who did. It was so great to see my classmates and friends with college and professors and people I don't even know think the same way about La Salle that I do. I cried more than just a few times during the tournament and I know I'm not alone.
The final message on the board is something that I'll always remember and more than just as a slogan:
A great season ends.
Life goes on.
Love goes on.
Family goes on.
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Post by coqui900 on Apr 25, 2013 9:50:53 GMT -5
Man, I'm watching and reading a lot of La Salle stuff after this thread and it's so awesome. The feeling I had during that time period hasn't gone away.
I would do anything to go back to the Monday after the floater so I could hear when our two sports radio stations became WEXP. These are the same stations that have literally forgotten to update our game scores a few dozen times over the years.
When was the last time a college team had the love and attention of the city -- I have the Southwest Philly Floater DN on my cubicle at work -- like that? I think it had to have been Jameer's St. Joe's team. I don't think Villanova's Final 4 teams or any of the great Temple teams had the outpouring of love we had.
I also love the cottage industry of novelty shirts which popped up involving the Floater and Cousin Bern and All We Do Is Turn Up.
I would absolutely love it if that became a huge student section chant next season. I think it has lasting power.
Another chant I would love to hear: The students chanting "IN" anytime our guys go to the FT Line. That was Jerrell's mantra against K State when he became Mr. Clutch (which is one of the more underrated miracles of the season). And what other student section chants during their team's FT attempts?
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Post by luhoopsfan on Apr 25, 2013 10:00:41 GMT -5
It didn't come full circle for me until I was in Las Vegas wearing a La Salle hoops shirt and the dealers (in the casino not drug) were giving me props for the team and a couple girls at the pool were excited to see my shirt b/c they picked La Salle to beat K-State and couldn't believe they were right. I then had long conversations with each of these people about La Salle the University not the men's basketball team and they were really happy for the community and genuinely interested to learn more about the school, its mission and its history in the area. I always dreamed of this run and in some ways I'm a little sad it's over b/c I wonder what it will be like in the future. A weird part of me will miss the days I rolled up to TGA on a Saturday afternoon and practically laid out like I was in a recliner watching the game with hardly anyone else around but people that knew the game and cared deeply. I'm not saying those people are gone and that the likely new members of the regualr attendees are different, but I held a great sense of pride knowing that I was with this team night in and night out through some of the worst basketball ever played at a once-incredible program. In the end, all I wanted was to know my belief in a turnaround wasn't wasted.
As great as the wins and national attention were, knowing that the final message to the team from Doc G was what it was makes me even more proud to be an alum because our program isn't just about winning and making money, it's about being the best possible team you can be and that in the end, life goes on, love goes on, family goes on. La Salle.
I really hope they make t-shirts with that on there because it's such a great reflection of the program and university.
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Post by coachd on Apr 25, 2013 11:55:07 GMT -5
Has it only been one month? I always wondered what it would be like to see La Salle go on a big tournament run. Those two weeks completely blew any expectations I could have ever imagined. There was a profile about Br. Ed in the NY Times! We learned that Dr. G has a cat named Sherlock. There was a ROHAN BROWN DAY! I think my favorite thing came w/ my buddy Mike. Work and family and life keeps us from hanging out as much as we'd want. But we watched every game together. I wouldn't have wanted to do it with anyone else. So many people other people had so many similar experiences. It was just so surreal hearing non-stop La Salle hoops talk on the Monday and Tuesday after The Floater. I've said it a few times but that whole few weeks felt so much like a real life version of Friday Night Lights -- a huge, dormant community came to life around the success of a basketball team. A lot of people who went to La Salle really remembered how great a college experience they had and what it meant. We also got to share this with the players to a ridiculous amount courtesy of the brilliant work Kevin Bonner and the staff did with those videos. It was more than just a recap of the games. You really got to see the entire personality of the players and how much this meant to them, too. Most importantly, we got to see what you always hope for in a team you root for -- they're great kids. They're funny, goofy, loose kids who obviously love each other. It's not a cliche with these guys. I legitimately do not think I will like sports to that degree ever again, not until I have a kid who will hopefully love sports as much as I do. The Phils 2008 run was amazing and epic and that captured the entire Delaware Valley. But this was so much better considering how much time I've spent caring about a team when there weren't too many people who did. It was so great to see my classmates and friends with college and professors and people I don't even know think the same way about La Salle that I do. I cried more than just a few times during the tournament and I know I'm not alone. The final message on the board is something that I'll always remember and more than just as a slogan: A great season ends. Life goes on. Love goes on. Family goes on. Well stated. The 2007 Giants was a very painful season for most of us and we can't really relate to that. However the 2008 Phillies is different. There was a buildup to the 2008 Phillies as well. The season before they showed us promise. I do believe we have a shot at another NCAA Title; it won't be easy as Butler found out by reaching the finals and coming within a shot of beating Duke. If Zack had played against Wichita State maybe we find a way to pull that game out. Then, who knows what would happen against Ohio State. The cards will always be stacked against us but doesn't mean that you only set your goal to reach the Final 4 next year.
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Post by gymrat67 on Apr 25, 2013 12:18:32 GMT -5
La Salle Explorers men's basketball 2012-13 NCAA Sweet Sixteen season - GOEXPLORERSTV.COM " Behind The Scenes " videos compilation:
La Salle Upsets KState in NCAA Second Round
La Salle advances to Sweet Sixteen
La Salle Travels to LA
Life Goes On, Love Goes On, Family Goes On
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Post by SICguy84 on Apr 25, 2013 13:47:31 GMT -5
I've framed up all the newspaper headlines and clipping from the past season. Daily News and Inqy front pages after wins over Butler and VCU, and of course the NCAA berth and run. Looks real good on the pool room walls next to Phillies 2008 stuff.
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Post by thehawkisdead on Apr 25, 2013 14:35:01 GMT -5
The SWPF was one of the greatest moments I've ever witnessed as a sports fan, and this comes from a guy who's been lucky enough to witness 10 championships from my favorite pro sports teams. I have 11 thumbnail pictures on my work computer's desktop - one from each of those championships, plus the SWPF. That was so special and it will always rank near the top of my favorite sports memories of all time.
I've often said that a championship season never ends. Wichita state may have beaten us, but in my mind this year's run will never truly end to us. It will always stay with us.
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Post by ltrain38 on Apr 26, 2013 17:52:48 GMT -5
I tried to copy that shot in a pick up game a few days later in New Haven, CT, and someone called out "Southwest Philly Floater!" May have helped that I was wearing an old Explorer Entourage shirt, (I was in La Salle gear for a solid week after that). I haven't had to explain where I went to school to people since. My wife was asked in an job interview that week about the team, and specifically if she had seen Rohan Brown (I guess the interviewer knows him).
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Post by crayzeeguy on Apr 26, 2013 19:52:53 GMT -5
Don't forget the Boise State behind the scenes...
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Post by coqui900 on Apr 29, 2013 13:38:22 GMT -5
I know this is from the NIT season but it's still GOLD!
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Post by luhoopsfan on May 10, 2013 22:49:16 GMT -5
I just watched all the videos- this was so awesome, I will never ever forget how happy this made me. I'm smiling now like I did 2 months ago.
Best part? I think we could be a better team next year. Doesn't mean we will go further bit I think it could be a better team. All I know is that 2012-13 will be my FAVORITE team- they are like this years Chicago bulls
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Post by coqui900 on May 17, 2013 16:02:11 GMT -5
I ran into a good buddy of mine from school I haven't seen in a while. He's not prone to hyperbole. He said the tournament run was better than 2008 for him.
We've had some time to digest this now. I could not agree more. I had a slow day at work today and watched a lot of videos -- the Butler win, the behind-the-scenes, etc. I still have that feeling and it's the best.
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Post by theneumann64 on May 17, 2013 21:10:32 GMT -5
I'm watching the K State Game on my DVR right now. Gonna watch all of the 1st half, then probably zoom until the last 8 minutes of the 2nd half.
Something that we lose from being so close to the situation, and tying everything in to the history of the school, our own personal narratives, etc: We were a 13 SEED, and we beat a 4 seed, basically at home, and then went to the Sweet 16. AS A 13 SEED! (and one that had to play-in to boot)
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Post by durenduren on May 18, 2013 18:45:32 GMT -5
On K State. I've never been so overwhelmed by a fan base as I was that day. That place was 100% a home game, no questions asked. I never heard a stadium so quiet as they were at the end of the 1st half and as loud as they were during their runs in the 2nd. At one point I turned to a friend during a G timeout, and between the nerves, we both were floored as to how loud it was. As a fan of sports, it was impossible to not appreciate and respect.
It really felt like the handful of La Salle fans there versus the world. Made it all the better.
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Post by theneumann64 on May 23, 2013 17:29:09 GMT -5
Just searching around youtube for no particular reason and came across this video. Hadn't seen before.
Crazy to see all the areas you recognize filled with that kind of atmosphere.
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Post by coqui900 on Jun 6, 2013 17:13:49 GMT -5
Near the end of the K-State video, someone shows a phone w/ a baby doing the Binocular Fingers or whatever they are. The players go crazy showing them back. It's so great and captures the whole run pretty magnificently.
Does anyone know whose kid that is?
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Post by thehawkisdead on Jun 7, 2013 9:31:47 GMT -5
It was mentioned at the banquet. I believe it was the child of someone on either the athletic training or academic support staff.
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Post by gymrat67 on Jun 7, 2013 12:37:09 GMT -5
La Salle Explorers 2012 - 13 NCAA Sweet Sixteen season highlights film :
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Post by coqui900 on Jun 7, 2013 14:26:12 GMT -5
La Salle/Nova. Forgot what a good game this was. This was one of the gutsiest victories we had all year. It was pre-Garland, too.
That final play to take the lead in OT should cease to avoid anymore "G Can't Coach" chatter from us, as if the Sweet 16 didn't already. What an incredibly smart play -- inbounds to Reek, pass-off to Zack in the post, Reek moves to the wing, Zack passes to DJ. DJ moves as if he's going to hand-off to Reek who goes backdoor catching the defender napping.
What I also love -- Sam's in the corner so his defender has to guard him. Ramon starts off down low and sags back once DJ gets the ball. That clears the lane so there's no one to protect the rim.
Just really pretty basketball right there.
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Post by theneumann64 on Jun 7, 2013 20:54:34 GMT -5
Another great one, except for Speedy wearing his St. Joe's stuff.
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Post by coqui900 on Jun 7, 2013 22:17:30 GMT -5
Sorry to hog this thread today. But this is my favorite live sporting event in my life. And that includes a Phils playoff game in 2008, the first game in NYC after 9/11 and the Phils game where we killed Osama. And also the time we lost to Towson.
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Post by durenduren on Jun 8, 2013 1:13:29 GMT -5
holy crap. that Speedy piece was pretty awesome. thanks for posting that Neumann.
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Post by SICguy84 on Jun 8, 2013 16:43:57 GMT -5
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Post by thehawkisdead on Jun 12, 2013 10:05:53 GMT -5
I was at a local auto body shop in Brooklyn yesterday, and was wearing a La Salle t-shirt. Another guy waiting for his car pointed at my shirt and said, 'La Salle in Philly?' 'Yes, do you know it?' 'Yes, their coach did a hell of a job this year!'
I wear LS shirts all the time, and have for years, and that's the first time someone ever said something.
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