Thank You to the 2012/2013 La Salle Explorers

[crayzeeguy]

It's been one hell of an unexpected ride. We got everything we could have ever asked for and more out of this season.

After the loss to Butler in Brooklyn, many here thought we would be in the NIT. 2 weeks later and we were playing in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1955 after 3 NCAA Tournament wins. The memories, the team and the Southwest Philly Floater will live in Philly lore forever.

The school, the athletic department and basketball program will all benefit from this. La Salle Basketball is back on the map!

Thanks to the 2012-2013 La Salle Explorers!

[ltrain38]

Agree completely. And I'll say what I said on an earlier thread. People in Philly should make a point to show up and welcome these guys when they get home. Let them know how much this meant to us.

[SICguy84]

Yes, thank you all so much. A team of true gentlemen and scholars. Program and school will be grateful for decades into the future. The culture at La Salle University has been changed in profound ways.

I look forward to seeing many people sporting La Salle apparel down the shore this summer.....

[theneumann64]

This will be "The Sweet 16 team" for probably quite a while.

[thehawkisdead]

Don't cry because it's over. Cry because it happened.

That little Catholic school in Philadelphia, PA.

[20thandolney]

Awesome year. I'm really interested to see the impact that this has on our fan base for years to come. Hopefully we can translate this into an awesome home court advantage.

[angryal]

Every player, coach, and person associated with the La Salle basketball program should walk away from this season very proud. Everyone gave a starving fan base a year to celebrate, which we've needed for some time now.

After a well-deserved rest, these same people need to ensure that this season is utilized to bolster the program in its ability to recruit and strengthen the team for future seasons.

Thank you for everything and enjoy your off-season! We genuinely appreciate what you've accomplished this year.

See you next fall!

[MisterD]

Really was a tremendous season. Glad to see Galloway go out on about as much of a high as possible.

[Deleted]

Congratulations to the 2012-13 La Salle Explorers and the coaching staff for a fantastic season. Tough way to go out but it wasn't because a lack of effort. How can you not love the kids on this team. I know they must be feeling horrible right now but hopefully after the sting wears off, they will realize just how much they have done for the La Salle community. And they did it with class.

Special thanks go to Ramon Galloway. He brought a whole new attitude to the program, completely bought into G's philosophy, and everyone else followed. He will always be one of my favorite Explorers. Good luck to him as he gets his degree and starts his career in professional basketball. And thanks to Garvin Hunt for helping out giving the big guys someone to go up against in practice every day and being a great teammate.

[Gnocchi]

Amen.

[thehawkisdead]

Kjmac and gnocchi agree on something, publicly. Tonight is indeed a special night.

I love La Salle University.

[calsufan]

Just back from the game. It wasn't our night. I felt bad for Ramon. He walked off the court alone, absolutely crushed. But he has no reason to hang his head. No one on this team does. They revived a moribund program and gave all of us hard core fans hope.

This year was a special year and I'm going to savor it for years to come. Thank you G and thank you to the team. You guys were amazing.

[23won]

Well said KJ and Cal.

On top of that, I have a few things to add. Couldn't be more proud for our guys. They played like heros and represented us in true Philly style and with class. Kudos to G, Ramon, Garvin and the guys who will build on this for greater things next year. Senior guards are great tourney bets. But when you combine senior guards with 3 tourney wins, an emerging national beast PF, an Andrew Smith in the making center and a star cast including the world famous SW Philly floater, you have the makings for some serious future success.

Embrace it, enjoy it, and then get back at it with the passion because once you get the taste, and you go back at it for a bigger taste and succeed, it only gets sweeter.

Thanks for an amazing year!

[alwayslasalle1]

I was never so proud of a La Salle team as I was tonight. I was at the game and these guys never quit. Tenacious, determined, gritty. 17 points down and still defending. Such a fun group to watch.  The school had a great reception at the ESPN Sports Bar. Kudos to the Alumni Depart. Must have been 500 alums at the party. 

Class act by the team and coaches who came over to La Salle rooting section and mouthed a "Thank You"

Special night.  One item off my 'bucket list'

[calidelphia]

this is a truly uniting event for all of La salle's Alum, students, faculty and the entire Christian brother's system of schools. The ability of everyone on this board to be dignified and embrace the great play and character that this team portrayed is tremendous.
I will always remember how this team beat so many odds and was pieced together over the past 2 years, how each piece fell into place and how each player stepped up for each other when they needed to. In the end they proved themselves as one of the top schools in the country and Ramon will succeed on his goals in the future.

Its humbling to think, We may have a couple of great years ahead of us. Sam, DJP, Khalid, Tyreek, Jerrel, Steve, Tyron, Jermaine, OJ, Dunn, Rohan and stukes? next year. More size, still great speed, great perimeter D, improved inside defense / rebounding, and top shelf character. New faces with great skill sets and new leaders stepping up will be fun to watch.

This momentum could really help the school in its commitment to the program and ability to reach people. It;s clear from what has been said on these boards over the past 4 months that this team exemplified what we already knew. That La Salle shows many of us opportunities that we could work hard for and realize, and that success come from the virtues of teamwork, respect, humility and allegiance. It's an honor to be a proud La Sallian again.

Btw, May I suggest that some of us mention our good experience at the school outside of the forum as well? I think the easiest way to pay back this team and the school for our/ these successes, is to share our appreciation. Most people are learning about la salle for the first time on the local map reviews which aren't all favorable.

[glorydays]

I have a hard time putting this into persepctive and finding the right words. These guys have become my favorite La Salle team of all time. Yes, there were more talented teams but these guys and G gave me 8 days of joy. Thanks to the regulars on this board for the good, the bad, the ugly, the simple and the profound. (Please stop the cursing.)

My wife won't be waking up for another 90 minutes. I look forward to telling her that I am going to the Paradise Jam. It can't come soon enough. ( I will buy Gnocchi and kjmac a few drinks.)

[las71]

There are no words to adequately describe how proud I am of this team. They represented all of us on the national stage with pride, enthusiasm and their love for La Salle, Coach G and each other was the greatest advertisement for what we all believe La Salle is than anything I can ever remember. Regardless of what happens in the future this team will always be special to the university.

[explorer88]

I loved every second of this ride.

Thanks to the players, G, and everyone here whom I had the chance to share my passion with.

Time to reflect, give thanks, and prepare for next year.

It has been very fun.

[collegehall]

Thanks to the team and coach G for bringing spirit and class back to our basketball program. Special thanks to Ramon for bringing an energy and figth that has not been seen at 20th and Onley in a long time.

[jjw23]

LaSalle had one heck of a season. Watching them play this year and everything they have accomplished on the court, has made them my second favorite team in the A-10, behind my Minutemen . I can honestly say I'll be rooting for them in every game, except when they play my team .

[big5vet]

I'd like to add my CONGRATULATIONS to each and every person associated with the program who helped make this dream season a reality. The players demonstrated the greatest example of "we have each others back" commitment that I've ever witnessed. It was just so apparent how they stuck together both on and off the court, in good times and during tough times. I've very proudly worn my blue and gold rugy shirt and my La Salle cap for the last ten days almost everywhere I've gone. To "G" and his staff thank you for your determination and perseverance in making La Salle basketball so meaningful and joyful.

[big5vet]

I'd like to add my CONGRATULATIONS to each and every person associated with the program who helped make this dream season a reality. The players demonstrated the greatest example of "we have each others back" commitment that I've ever witnessed. It was just so apparent how they stuck together both on and off the court, in good times and during tough times. I've very proudly worn my blue and gold rugy shirt and my La Salle cap for the last ten days almost everywhere I've gone. To "G" and his staff thank you for your determination and perseverance in making La Salle basketball so meaningful and joyful.

[talkinbball]

Thanks to G and this team for giving us a season we will not forget.

[jellybean]

Mar 28, 2013 23:50:29 GMT -5 thehawkisdead said:

Don't cry because it's over. Cry because it happened.

That little Catholic school in Philadelphia, PA.

Excellent summation that's the way I feel. Had a few tears these past 10-11 days. Tears of Pride.

Great season. Congrats to all- The school(administation, teachers and employees), players, students, alums and fans we picked up along the way. The future looks bright. Not long ago we wondered if we had a future.

Good Luck to Ramone and Garvin. Thanks for giving us a lifetime of great memories and restoring pride at La Salle.

[Gnocchi]

“I want to thank every student, every staff member, everybody from the janitors to everybody who helped out at La Salle,” Galloway said. “Without them, there wouldn’t be a La Salle. You’ve got to have people who come and help out. It means a lot to us. I want to thank everybody in the La Salle community. They were proud of us and we were proud of them.”

www.csnphilly.com/ncaa/la-salles-dream-season-comes-end-sweet-16

And thanks to the key player in helping make a Sweet 16 run a reality.

Best Philly swap since Wise for Carlton -- Murray for Ramon Galloway.

[coqui900]

Mar 29, 2013 9:54:16 GMT -5 Gnocchi said:

“I want to thank every student, every staff member, everybody from the janitors to everybody who helped out at La Salle,” Galloway said. “Without them, there wouldn’t be a La Salle. You’ve got to have people who come and help out. It means a lot to us. I want to thank everybody in the La Salle community. They were proud of us and we were proud of them.”

www.csnphilly.com/ncaa/la-salles-dream-season-comes-end-sweet-16

And thanks to the key player in helping make a Sweet 16 run a reality.

Best Philly swap since Wise for Carlton -- Murray for Ramon Galloway.

He's a great person who also happens to be very good at basketball. He really gets it by thanking everyone like that. He's the perfect example of what I always thought La Salle was and hope it will always be.

We are incredibly lucky to have had him in the program. None of the watch parties and banners and fun and the new energy of the school happens without him.

[SICguy84]

I hope this summer, the school puts together a nice documentary DVD about the 2012-2013 Explorers. Highlights, interviews, etc, have it available for purchase at Homecoming 2013.


Also I like this quote from Lou Tilley in the web video, 'Chasing Cinderella: La Salle, a Philly tale.'

"Most Philadelphians had kinda forgotten about La Salle, but they were still here. It was almost as if Drexel had stepped in and taken the fifth place in what we used to call the Big 5. It was almost as if they were trying to ease La Salle out the back door, NOT ANY MORE."

[broadstbeat]

This was an awesome season and very exciting. The players have nothing to hang their heads about, and this season will be talked about for years to come. It's a shame they just could not make up for the lack of size as Wichita State out-rebounded them 44-23. Really hoping Giannini doesn't get lured away by a bigger school after this years success, because with him this program has an extremely bright future.

La Salle's Remarkable Season Comes to an End: broadstbeat.blogspot.com/2013/03/la-salles-remarkable-season-comes-to-end.html

[belfieldhappyhour]

Great season by a great group of guys. Wishing Garvin and Ramon all the best in their future endeavors. Ramon did get over 1000 points in 2 years at La Salle, but the NIT and NCAA berths he helped lead this team to mean even more.

Almost wish this board would shut down after today, and get re-activated in October. Let the great feelings last as long as possible.

Congrats to the team, coaches and staff on an outstanding year. Stay hungry, stay humble.

[crayzeeguy]

What G wrote in the white board post game. Makes me tear up a bit.

"A great season ends
Life goes on
Love goes on
Family goes on"