Love Rollercoaster
The ‘13-’14 VCU Ram Ride
Looking back at the VCU MBB ride/year that was
In a year that was as anticipated, wild and fun as any high end, game changing, breakneck, thrilling, category 5 roller coaster in the world, which also naturally personified the inherent twists and turns of ups and downs of such a ride, there was a beginning, end and all the HAVOC in between.
Unparalleled excitement paired with uneasiness of the unbridled speed & unknown ‘next’ is a great analogy to use for the 2013-2014 VCU MBB season.
From the opening anticipated accent of the pre-season, full of high expectations & rankings, to the absolute full halt crash ending that left us a bit lost in sunny Southern California. And if you did hold on for the full ride you felt and/or recall feeling two main things as you walked away, among a myriad of others; 1 — you probably felt like something was missing, that we didn’t ever really come to that slowly rolling, applause ridden, constant grin inducing, euphoric stop of most great rides. 2 — you probably felt, much like we did, that you instead were dropped off in mid cork screw without your seat belt fully fastened, screaming your lungs out as you smacked the pavement. Thankfully these wounds are healed by perspective and eventually the feelings subside, to varying degrees.
But as we look forward, after stumbling around for a few months in other parts of the park, we are able to heal up and look back to a season that will undoubtedly lure us back to the same ride, screaming for more. And as we stand in the long line again we will go over the highlights of the last ride, allowing you to add your 2¢!
ADD YOUR MEMORIES by clicking the “+” conversation box to the right or tweet us @vcupodcast at the bottom or the old fashioned way, shoot us an email vcupodcast@gmail.com
10. The Tre Take Over-time vs. LaSalle Matchup
VCU stormed out and LaSalle answered with a flood of their own. The seniors (Rob & Ju) were key throughout & at the very end to bring the double overtime road win to a exhausting conclusion, but the way Treveon Graham put the team on board the freight and steamed down the tracks to tie it at the end of regulation was nothing less than jaw dropping! 34pts. 12rbs. enough said!
9. The Melvin descended on the Coliseum & an old Metro Conference foe
Already vanquishing 2 in-state teams, the Rams looked to go 3 for 3 against VT but Melvin Johnson got a little carried away in the ‘Concrete Jungle’ this night and went 3 for 3 for 3 for 3 for 3 for 3 for 3 for 3, sparking a CAA tourney reminiscent 31–0 first half run en-route to, well, a satisfying route as well as a season best 27pts! Almost assuring another rematch not taking place for another 20 years.
8. The Ol’ Fashioned Tip-Dunk (Sledgehammer)
Providing the most memorable highlight of the big man’s short VCU career, Terrance delivered probably the most electrifying spectacle to be witnessed by a Duke since ‘The Dagger’! Relive the moment below, put together by yours truly from @VCUAthletics footage and sounds compliments of P.O.D.
7. Triple Acting Raid
No body likes spiders. Though they can be dangerous if not payed attention to, but if payed the proper attention they are creatures easily squashed and vanquished when using even the slightest intentional force. The Rams of VCU were presented the opportunity not once, not twice, but three times using the potent key ingredient of HAVOC, so much so that it regretibly and unintentionally caused the early exit of a couple of the clutter, and almost led to them being Rick Rolled!
6. Breaking Billiken(s)
Wikipedia defines a Billiken as ‘The God of Things As They Ought to Be’. Things were definitely restored back to ‘as they ought to be’ after the mythical creatures from west of the Mississippi visited the Stu. This top 10 moment was near and dear to those of #HavocOnTheHighway #RamsOnTheRoad travelers after a tough loss some 12 hours away as well as a frigid night spent out in Shakaville the night before.
5. ‘That Animal’ goes undefeated
Not only did the house that ‘Havoc’ built get a loving nick-name last season, it also accomplished a feat that hadn’t happened since the year after Woodstock happened!
HONORABLE MENTION(s): A) Ending the season with 50 straight sell-outs but that streak will be quite possibly be extended! B) Two words; SPACE KITTEN C) The frozen tundra of Shakaville
4. The Man of ‘Steal’
In what is probably the most spectacular highlight play late in a game that was out of reach, EVER, in any sport, ‘Superman’ showed up and flew into action. The over used, annoying ‘roll the ball in to save time’ move was utilized by our new old foe George Mason. Someone had not informed them that Briante Weber was still on the floor. All of which led to the creation of this great bit of fan art.
3. Records were made to be (stolen) broken
It is only proper to trump Brifense with more Brifense. In the post game presser Briante Weber said that he knew how many he had to go. On the court it was confirmed, as he held up fingers counting down the amount of steals left as he got closer to making history VCU in the first 5 minutes of the game. Not only did he break the school career record a year early, but by the end of the year he smashed his own single season record. Next up is NCAA history for a spot on next years top 10 moments of the 2014–15 season.
2. A Clean (Va) Sweep
What do UVA, ODU, VT, GMU, & ur have in common? In deed, they all bravely stepped up to the challenge of riding the aforementioned ‘Havoc’ roller coaster. In defeat, they all felt the sting of the Ram broom that swept the great commonwealth of Virginia. A checklist was subsequently made via the great @VCUPav
1. The Broadsword
To begin the Havoc sweeping the Commonwealth of Virginia this hands down top spot moment had a swashbuckling #RamNation taking a very anticipate mini-road trip up interstate 64, with the foliage a little past peek the #RowdyRams brought their own excitement and explosions of color on and off the court all of which ended with an orange object falling to the ground, and through a cylinder with 1.1 left on the clock and at least half of those in attendance in jubilation and the other in shock that it was all over and Treveon Graham was cemented as the crazed El Capitan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjzQqGXi-F4
VCU Athletics recap in a video mash-up
