<P><B>Oct. 14, 2005</B><p>
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The basketball season kicked off at the University of Dayton Friday night when the Flyer men's and women's teams were introduced at Flyer Madness. It was the final event of what was billed as "A Night With the Flyers," which began with the UD volleyball team beating Duquesne in four games and was followed by the women's soccer team tying Richmond at 7:30 p.m.
<P>The basketball portion of the evening had a distinct retro feel, and the Flyers and the Flyer Faithful were taken back to the 1970's for the "Flyer Madness Disco Ball." Members of both teams were introduced in costume by emcee Larry Hansgen, the Voice of the Flyers on WHIO Radio. After the introductions, women's head coach <A HREF="http://daytonflyers.collegesports.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/jabir_jim00.html" >Jim Jabir</a> (who came to the party dressed as James Brown) and men's head coach <A HREF="http://daytonflyers.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/gregory_brian00.html" >Brian Gregory</a> (who brought memories of John Travolta's character Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever) addressed the estimated crowd of 2,700 in the Frericks Center.
<P>While the coaches kept the Flyer fans fired up, the players on both teams changed into more familiar clothing - their basketball gear. The Flyer men and women returned to the court, warmed up, and then the women competed in a three-point contest and the men held a slam dunk contest. Senior guard <A HREF="http://daytonflyers.collegesports.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/dewitt_lyndsey00.html" >Lyndsey DeWitt</a> won the women's 3-pt. contest, and sophomore guard <A HREF="http://daytonflyers.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/roberts_brian00.html" >Brian Roberts</a> edged last year's winner, <A HREF="http://daytonflyers.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/scott_monty00.html" >Monty Scott</a>, in the slam dunk contest.
<P>"We always have a great time at Flyer Madness, and that's because the students come out and really get into it," Gregory said. "We appreciate them coming out. The players on both teams work extra hard because they understand that all of us -- the players, the coaches and the fans - are part of a great basketball tradition at a great University."
<P>"Our fans are the best fans, and we want them to be a part of our success," Jabir said. "We look to continue the momentum we are bringing into this season, and our fans make a big difference for us. A night like tonight shows that we have a great college basketball atmosphere here at UD."
<P>Both the UD men's and women's teams will practice behind closed doors Saturday. The men's team's next public event is the intrasquad Red and Blue Game, which will be held Saturday, October 22 from 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon at the University of Dayton Arena before the Dayton-Valparaiso football game. In the hour between the basketball scrimmage's end and the football game's start, the Time Warner Flight Deck in the Arena will be open for fans to enjoy a light lunch and follow the day's early football games on TV. |
