Now, I know that many of you out there harbor some resentment at the fact that a portion of your tuition supports SIUC athletics. While I agree that the current system may be in need of some reform, our athletic program has some great benefits that far outweigh its actual cost per student.

One of those benefits? Another exciting season of SIUC basketball is right around the corner!

There is something intrinsically motivating about seeing your college basketball team live. The crowd, the band and the cheerleaders all help to give you an experience that rivals anything you can get through a television screen. It’s the people around you. It’s the players on the court. It’s the fact that you’re there witnessing this little piece of magnificent history while the rest of the world lies in solemn darkness.

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I’ve been attending SIUC home games since the beginning of the 1992-1993 season. I have been rewarded for my efforts by seeing SIUC make it to the NCAA tournament three times since. I watched with awe as Shane Hawkins went gonzo on Syracuse from downtown. I cheered wildly as SIUC took the opening tip from Duke University and fed Ashraf Amaya for the dunk heard round the world. I rushed the court with 7,000 other fans while high from a Chris Carr buzzer-beater that downed the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes.

This season is going to be good. We’ve got a big frontcourt, a big backcourt and a guy named Rashad Tucker who has real talent. Take the time to discover an activity usually reserved for those in the big city NCAA Division I basketball. Don’t forget about the importance of supporting your fighting Salukis. See you at the games.