Nearly 12 hours removed, from maybe the most singular moment in recent Grizzly basketball memory, it is time to reflect on what has occurred.
1. Most of us realized at half that AJ or Tink or someone needed to get a fire lit under the team. Really I believe it was Selvig not AJ that truly started to bring the team back. The glimpses that he (Selvig) has show this year really do point to something very special about the kid. His dunk, the steal and reversal layup are truly beautiful things to watch. I don't know what this means for his future, but he has special skills that do not come around our level too often.
2. It is a great day to be a Grizzly. Walking around work, and several students and numerous teachers pointed out the game and what they had heard. While we always know it is a great day to be a Grizzly, this day ranks right up there with other moments in the past. Lead on Sportscenter, Andy Katz references, 1,000's of twitter posts and facebook updates, Mike and Mike in the morning and numerous other websites. While last years SDSU game was epic as well, there just was a far different feeling to this. The rest of the world was watching with us too.
3. 34-25. As a high school coach, I have watched high school kids singularly take over games. I really haven't seen a Grizzly let alone someone not name Bird or Jordan take over a game like AJ did. We have known really how special of a player he is, but I don't think any of us really knew what he was capable of until last night. We might have been spectacle to maybe the best two year run in Grizzly history. I know it isn't over yet, but it sure makes a guy reflect on what he has seen over the past two years.
4. 21. Enough said. To paraphrase some ESPN catch phrases here: You couldn't stop Anthony Johnson, you could only hope to contain him. He is king of all the land, bring him your finest meats and cheeses.
5. Grizzly fandom is a fickle environment. Last nights game was in a microchasm of what it has been to be a Grizzly basketball fan over the past few years. Mediocre results, blow out loses, early exits from conference tournies. Losses to MSU by painful margins. Griz fans leaving at half time. Being a fan, means dealing with the fact we watch 20 something year old kids play a game at a level most of us haven't played. I have always believed this, if you hang around long enough you are bound to see something special. This is the moment for those die hard egriz basketball posters to stand up and shout. So please stand up and be counted. You are to be comended for your support of a program. Those who have supported the players, coaches over the past months through some tough stuff, this is at a miniumum your time to make those naysayers eat a little crow.
Enjoy the win all, because we don't get to see these types of games very often. Take it all in, because nights like last night always go down smooth. It is a great day to be a Grizzly.
1. Most of us realized at half that AJ or Tink or someone needed to get a fire lit under the team. Really I believe it was Selvig not AJ that truly started to bring the team back. The glimpses that he (Selvig) has show this year really do point to something very special about the kid. His dunk, the steal and reversal layup are truly beautiful things to watch. I don't know what this means for his future, but he has special skills that do not come around our level too often.
2. It is a great day to be a Grizzly. Walking around work, and several students and numerous teachers pointed out the game and what they had heard. While we always know it is a great day to be a Grizzly, this day ranks right up there with other moments in the past. Lead on Sportscenter, Andy Katz references, 1,000's of twitter posts and facebook updates, Mike and Mike in the morning and numerous other websites. While last years SDSU game was epic as well, there just was a far different feeling to this. The rest of the world was watching with us too.
3. 34-25. As a high school coach, I have watched high school kids singularly take over games. I really haven't seen a Grizzly let alone someone not name Bird or Jordan take over a game like AJ did. We have known really how special of a player he is, but I don't think any of us really knew what he was capable of until last night. We might have been spectacle to maybe the best two year run in Grizzly history. I know it isn't over yet, but it sure makes a guy reflect on what he has seen over the past two years.
4. 21. Enough said. To paraphrase some ESPN catch phrases here: You couldn't stop Anthony Johnson, you could only hope to contain him. He is king of all the land, bring him your finest meats and cheeses.
5. Grizzly fandom is a fickle environment. Last nights game was in a microchasm of what it has been to be a Grizzly basketball fan over the past few years. Mediocre results, blow out loses, early exits from conference tournies. Losses to MSU by painful margins. Griz fans leaving at half time. Being a fan, means dealing with the fact we watch 20 something year old kids play a game at a level most of us haven't played. I have always believed this, if you hang around long enough you are bound to see something special. This is the moment for those die hard egriz basketball posters to stand up and shout. So please stand up and be counted. You are to be comended for your support of a program. Those who have supported the players, coaches over the past months through some tough stuff, this is at a miniumum your time to make those naysayers eat a little crow.
Enjoy the win all, because we don't get to see these types of games very often. Take it all in, because nights like last night always go down smooth. It is a great day to be a Grizzly.
