Just the Beginning...

Last night the Leatherneck basketball season officially came to an end with a tough 80-59 loss to Oregon State in the opening round of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI).  This was the first appearance in the postseason for the men's team since becoming a division 1 program.  WIU did not have much going their way to start off that game.  They were down three players (one man quit, the other two were suspended).  One of those guys was an everyday starter, Tommie Tyler, who had a monster game against SDSU last week.  Then throw in the fact that Terell Parks got in foul trouble and it was going to be very tough for them to win last night.  Even with all that diversity, these guys went out and played their hearts out.  They should walk with their heads held high.

Despite the disappointment this season ended with, this team has come so far in the past year.  Last season they won just seven games and were barley even a blip on the radar in this conference.  Fast forward a year and they were just two points from shocking the nation and going to their first ever NCAA Tournament.  That loss in the Summit League Championship game was heartbreaking even for me, there's no doubting it.  I've been through tough losses like that and I know how much it hurts.  The simple fact that they were there means so much.  Just thinking about the journey they went through to get to that stage gives me chills.  That win over Oral Roberts in the semi-finals was amazing, and I know it's something I won't soon forget.

The way that 2011-2012 ended will be tough to take, but the run they made to get to this point is just the beginning.  The appearance in the CBI was great, but it's just the beginning.  The truly great moments for this team are yet to come, you can quote me on that.  When people look back at when it all got started for Western Illinois basketball, they'll point to this season and say, "That's the season.  That's when it all began and those are the guys who turned this program around."  These guys have come so far and have so much to be proud of and one day they'll look back at these days and smile, because they'll realize that what they did was truly special.

I will NEVER forget the journey I went on with this team.  It fills me with so much pride to have been associated with them and followed them this season.  I knew that they could make some noise this year, but even with all my optimism, I could not have predicted what they would accomplish this year.  This has truly been one of the greatest experiences of my life and the memories I built with these Leathernecks will stay with me for the rest of my life.  I knew I would care about this team but I did not ever realize that by the end of the season I would end up calling them arguably my favorite team (I don't think I'll ever be able to really pick any team over Da Bears!).  I have always been a proud Leatherneck, but this team has brought me a new definition of pride. 

To all the players and coaches of this team, from the bottom of this Leathernecks heart, thank you SO much for allowing me to be a part of this season.  It has been something I will not ever forget.

To any students reading this that did not attend home games this year, PLEASE make it an effort to pack Western Hall next season and give this team the home court advantage that they have earned and deserve.  I promise you, you will not be disappointed.

I'll end this blog with one of my absolute favorite things to say, something I believe with all my heart, and something Leathernecks all over should also believe if they don't already, because it's really not a matter of winning or losing.  No matter what, everyday I wake up and think to myself...it's always a great day to be a LEATHERNECK!