PILOTS RANKED #25!!!

VillaGorilla wrote:I've done nothing but smile all day since I checked the rankings this morning. I've been going to games regularly since before I can remember (over twenty years) and all those hard years of bitter disappointment make this recognition of our ascent into relevancy all the more sweet. I can't wait to see our nationally ranked team take the floor on Wednesday. Awesome!

I'd love to see a video of the crowd response when UP is announced at that game as the "nationally ranked Pilots." I hope Chiles is packed!!

Half a century is a long time to wait.

especially if you are less than 50 years old

It looks like we lost to DePaul in the tourney in 1959 according to wikipedia...12 years before I was conceived.

Stonehouse wrote: As excited as I am, I had to take a moment and think about what a journey it's been... so many disappointments, seemingly endless years of futility, and now we are truly among the best. What a wonderful accomplishment for the staff and the team... I am so proud of them and what they have done on The Bluff. Words can't really describe the mix of emotions I'm feeling right now... what a wonderful day to be a Pilot fan.

Like Stonehouse, I've been with this team since the last time it went to the Dance. I was only 14 at the time but I still remember how cool it felt. I've watched a lot of games over the years, some good, some bad, but I always kept following the Pilots. Switching teams because one is not doing so well is not how I operate.

And now this happens. It's a happy coincidence I discovered the Mid-Majority blog through a post here this weekend because there is some outstanding writing there, this essay included:

In matters of life, love, or money, no yield is ever guaranteed. But with spectator sports, you get out what you put in, and that's bankable truth. The amount of time you spend on the thrillcoaster will parallel the size of your payoff. It'll determine the depth of your feeling. And isn't that why we do this, for the feeling?

What a great ride it's been so far, and I think it's only going to get better.

Stonehouse wrote:In the AP Poll:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings

AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!!

As excited as I am, I had to take a moment and think about what a journey it's been... so many disappointments, seemingly endless years of futility, and now we are truly among the best. What a wonderful accomplishment for the staff and the team... I am so proud of them and what they have done on The Bluff. Words can't really describe the mix of emotions I'm feeling right now... what a wonderful day to be a Pilot fan.

10 years ago today...

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings/_/week/4/year/2010/seasontype/2

And here we are hoping to squeak into the Mid Major Top 25 at some point! (Hey, the Pilots got 1 vote this week in that poll)