A snippet from the opening:
...Rice walked onto the court for Boise State's season-opening exhibition game against UC-Colorado Springs three years ago and discovered that cavernous 12,500-seat Taco Bell Arena was nearly empty. The announced crowd that night was 1,599, but Rice doubts there were even half that many fans in attendance.There's just so many things to comment on.
"You could hear crickets," Rice said. "You could have fired a cannon in there and you wouldn't have hit anybody. I have three sons, and one of my sons said to me, 'Oh dad, there's nobody here.' I told him, 'Just hang in there. We're going to get it going. We'll have an amazing fan base.'"
SJSU fans have literally gone to their graves waiting for a successful Spartan basketball program (notice the use of the word program and not season although when was the last one there?)
Those still remaining are wary of getting hopes up because such has been dashed and crushed so many times. Once, twice, thrice burned...
It's understandable.
It's reasonable.
Plus, Boise didn't have the spectre of Cal and Stanford plus a plethora of professional teams casting any 'competitiors' into the shadows.
But yet, I still believe SJSU hoops can become a successful program, meaning one that commands attention for more than a floor design plus national respect. No, making it to the Final Four is not part of the dream -- let's be real.
A larger recruiting budget has opened up territory, and thus talents, previously unavailable.
An assistant coaching staff, one that has an aptitude and respect previously off limits due to salary offerings, is in place.
We have a head coach who sees defeat as unacceptable.
The most honest way to put matters now is that San Jose State University men's basketball has a chance, unlike ever before.
No comments:
Post a Comment