Yesterday was one of those days in BGSU history, and more specifically BGSU Basketball history, that I’m happy to have been around for. Unfortunately, I missed the games yesterday, wasn’t even in BG at all because of house hunting… but I FELT yesterday and the importance of it.

The gift from the Stroh family is insanely generous. $8M to BGSU… the majority of that earmarked for the new convocation center which will serve as the new home court for our basketball and volleyball programs. The next House that Roars. Kerm Stroh and his wife, Mary Lou and their entire family are great people. I’ve met many of them, consider some of them friends… and I have to say, I’m not at all surprised by this gift.

A few years ago, I was up in the press box area of Anderson Arena talking to Todd Walker before a basketball game. Kerm was up there and knew who I was. He started asking questions about what it costs to run ay-ziggy-zoomba.com and if there was any way he could help. He hinted at buying me a server if I wanted/needed it… I turned him down, but what a generous offer from a man I’d never met.

I started thinking yesterday, if I had $8 million dollars I could give away, what would I do with it? I’d do exactly what Kerm and the Stroh family have done. That’s what makes this so amazing… they’re US… They’re Falcon die-hards! I see them at all the games, home and away, that I get to. I’ve seen them there forever. They’re Falcon fans…

I truly think this gift came at the most opportune time. I think we’re on the cusp of something big here at BGSU with our mens basketball program. I don’t think this gift would have had the same impact had it been made a year ago. I think the program is in a completely different spot and moving in a completely different direction than it was 12 months ago. The status quo wasn’t working. Change brings more change and the snowball is now rolling down the hill at the golf course.
Something big is happening. Maybe not this season, but we’re on the verge. I’ve never been more excited to be a Falcon… I’ve been living and breathing BGSU Men’s Basketball for over 30 years now and I’ve never been more excited.

Thank you to the whole Stroh family and everyone in the administration at BGSU who worked to make this happen. Things are happening. I can feel it.