By Larren Hansgen

WHIO Radio

The following for University of Dayton basketball has been as much a part of the program’s success as anything that’s happened on the court.

From the days of filling trains to New York for the NIT to filling seats at UD Arena, the Flyer Faithful have stood by their team no matter what. This support has manifested itself in the financial resources not only to run the basketball program but to support the entire athletic department and make possible the championship seasons enjoyed by football, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball and baseball.

While you can put a measureable dollar figure on what fans have done and continue to do, an intangible impact has emerged as the Flyers look to take the next step. Dayton recently competed in the Charleston Classic, playing a Pac-12 team (Colorado) and ACC school (Boston College) and a member of the SEC (Auburn). Scheduling games like that is difficult for Dayton because of teams’ reluctance to play a return game at UD Arena. Yet these contests can take place on neutral courts, thanks to the same fans that make a trip to Dayton so daunting.

UD sold 1,000 tickets to its fans for the Charleston Classic, which outside of the host College of Charleston was the most by any of the participating schools. St. John’s was next with 200. It was a similar scenario last year at the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla., where I overheard an ESPN executive tell a UD athletic administrator, “You are welcome to any of our events. Just let us know which ones you want.”

So the Flyers are slated for the Maui Invitational next fall, joining a field that includes Syracuse, Gonzaga, and Arkansas. After that it’s back to Puerto Rico, and then Orlando again. Flyer Faithful, you have done your part. Now it’s up to the guys in the short pants to take advantage of the opportunity.