Do you remember where you were when you heard the Eagles made the Sweet Sixteen?
Last night, FGCU won its game against Fairleigh Dickinson and qualified for the NCAA tournament. We’re officially in the top 64 teams now. It’s time to bring back the Dunk City brand as we head to Raleigh, North Carolina for what promises to be an exciting match against the Tar Heels.
Turning on my TV this morning, I heard commentators speculating about whether a No. 16-seeded team can beat a No. 1 seed. FGCU and coach Joe Dooley’s names came up as possible candidates for that historic distinction. If we are lucky enough to see this happen, Dunk City may be exploding on campus later this week, bigger and better than ever before.
No matter what happens tomorrow night, the Eagles have flown with distinction this season. We’ve had the most exciting Atlantic Sun Conference run ever — starting in fourth place in our conference and landing up winning the whole tournament. We’ve been showcased on national TV. And, now, we’re the subject of debate in sports circles about whether or not we’ll break the 0-124 record of No. 16 teams in the conference. What could be more exciting?
Three years after the 2013 debut, Dunk City has a brand that flies higher and further than an eagle. It began with a dunk in March 2013 and continued long after the last buzzer in Dallas. And, we’re all part of it — students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff and fans.
Tomorrow night, the Eagles will play their second game in the NCAA conference for the first time in three years. No matter what happens in Raleigh, we’ve had an amazing year in Southwest Florida. From our Wind Orchestra playing at Carnegie Hall to the FGCU swimmers who will compete at the Olympics, the spirit of the Eagle flies further than ever before. As the classic underdogs, FGCU carries the Dunk City brand to basketball lovers around the world. Go Eagles!
Sincerely,
Sue Henshon