Feb. 23, 2007

The rivalry between the Dayton Flyers and Xavier Musketeers is one of the best in the nation. From its long-term intensity to memorable moments and nail-biting games, nothing beats the passion shared between the Flyers and Musketeers.

Earlier this week, DaytonFlyers.com asked the Flyer Faithful to submit some of their favorite stories from this historic rivalry.

Here are some of the responses.

"It was my first college basketball experience. I was a freshman and a member of the Red Scare, and as such had taken up residence in the student section. Xavier was ranked 12th in the nation, maybe unbeaten. The game was televised by ESPN2, which was more rare then than it is even now. Needless to say the Flyers won and we rushed the court. What a feeling. I was hooked on Flyer hoops from that point forward. I got involved with Athletics Communication and didn't miss but a handful of games my sophomore through senior years. I NEVER missed a UD/XU game at the Arena or the Cincinnati Gardens!"
--Joe Pott, 1996-97 season
St. Louis, MO

"Dayton ended up winning something like 12 straight games in the '89-'90 season, and they had to beat Xavier twice in a week to get a tourney bid. That was awesome enough. However, nothing compares to the aftermath. Because UD beat Xavier, we played the Illinois Fighting Illini in the first round of the NCAA tournament. After we beat Illinois, I called my girlfriend, who went to Syracuse (they lost). She couldn't believe how loud it was. Her response: "Your dorm is going nuts." I was living in Stuart at the time. I replied that I was probably the only one left in the dorm. I had a Chemistry test the next morning. Here's the irony: what she heard was everyone partying on the 200 block of Kiefaber, and my window was closed.

P.S.: I took my test the next morning, but I made sure to do mudslides with everyone on Kiefaber after I got off the phone."
--Charles Rogers, 1990
Philadelphia, PA

"The Dayton/Xavier game I remember the most was the 2003 game. The Flyers were having a tremendous year and on Feburary 23, 2003 the team from the south came up to the Dungeon. The game was extraordinary and the teams were going back and fourth. Late in the second half Frank Iguodala stole the ball and put in a monsterous jam that blew the roof off of the arena. The Flyers lost that game but it was my most favorite game because of that one play."
--Ricky Yeager, 2003
Dayton, OH

"Has to be the Midwestern Collegiate Conference final which UD won and Negele Knight dominated."
--Ryan Hochwalt, 1990
Englewood, OH

"I was working at the UD/XU basketball home game last year and I remember it being incredibly exciting. I was near the student section and as the game was in its final minutes and UD was in the lead, I could hear students planning to rush the court. They never made it onto the court, but after we won the game one of the players jumped onto the press table in front of the student section and the fans went wild. Working that game was a great experience, but I wasn't supposed to cheer for the Flyers, which made it incredibly difficult!"
--Katie Holland, 2006
Louisville, KY