ESPN Calls it "Mayhem in December"

If you missed last night's ESPNU airing of the men's basketball match up between the undefeated and young Butler Bulldogs against the No. 1 pre-season Horizon League favorites, the Cleveland State Vikings, then I hope you maybe saw the highlights on ESPN's SportsCenter's Top-10 plays.

And if you missed that then maybe you heard Joe Gentry and Nick Gardner on WXNT 1430 AM, or perhaps you caught the game online at the Horizon League Network. And if none of that happened, then I need you to get out from under that rock in which you are living, change up your priorities and get behind the Dawgs!

Wow! What a game last night. It was brutal and undeniably ugly. There were more fumbles, miscues and missed shots than anyone would care to admit. However, what shown brightly from the Butler squad throughout the entire game was a positive attitude, perseverance, tenacity and a refusal to quit. Those boys just didn't have it in them to roll over and play dead when the going got tough. They just found a way, ugly or not, to get the job done.

That job manifested itself in two big three point baskets by sophomores Shawn Vanzant and Zach Hahn. The latter at the buzzer to win the game. If there was ever grace under pressure, that was it. Check it out...



But it wasn't just Vanzant and Hahn that made it happen. It was a total team effort. From the coaching staff, through the players and all the way to the bus driver, the whole thing just came together and worked. They all stayed positive, knew their job, followed through. Take for instance freshman and "Roly Poly Puppies" reader (317-275-4444) Gordon Hayward...the kid had 8 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks. Solid and darn near unnoticed...just another day at the office.

Now the Bulldogs are 6-0 heading further east across Ohio to take on conference foe, Youngstown State on Saturday. I suggest you get your radio or computer fired up to take in that game. For more info on the Butler Bulldogs, might I suggest you take a look at the Indianapolis Star's David Woods and his great coverage: http://www.indystar.com/section/SPORTS0605

Can you tell I'm pumped up?! This is one happy Butler Bulldog!

Go Dawgs!

Blue II

P.S. On a more somber note, our condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to Shawn Vanzant, who's grandmother recently passed away. Your Butler family is here for you, Shawn.

Game Day Illustrated

The Butler Bulldogs took down Horizon League conference foe, Cleveland State, on Saturday afternoon by the score of 51-46. It appeared that a lot of you took my advice and came to Hinkle Fieldhouse for the game. There was a crowd of more than 8,000, which included those participating in Alumni Day, so thanks for coming out.

I thought I might provide a quick recap of the game via pictures and captions. Here it goes...

Pre-game nap with my squeaky cow

Packed house for Alumni Day

Coach Stevens speaks at Alumni Day

I ran into my buddy, Julian Phillips, son of my vet, Dr. Phillips, at Alumni Day too.

After my appearances in the West Gym for Alumni Day and Bulldog Club/OBS Donor Hospitality, I went ahead and made my way over to see the cheerleaders to give them a little pre-game pep talk.

After that, it was game time where I do my usual starting lineup routine, and stop by the Dawg Pound for the big bone. But you've all seen that before, so here's a shot during a break in the game...nothing better than a big crowd at Hinkle Fieldhouse on a Saturday afternoon with the sun shining through the rafters.

Best seat in the house!

A little post-game fun on the court with the kids

After all of that, it's back home to rest...and another day at the office is in the books for this dog.

Okay, so there's a lot of other stuff that goes on that wasn't captured, but these were the pics that my dad had time to snap, so they'll have to do. I hope you enjoyed it.

Blue II

P.S. Keep an eye on those NCAA men's basketball rankings on Monday. In the AP Poll, Butler is ranked 9th. On Saturday, No. 7 Stanford, No. 8 Georgetown and No. 10 Michigan State all went down in defeat. We could see a new highest ranking for the Butler men's basketball program...stay tuned!

A Purple Valentine's Day

Well, another Valentine's Day has come and gone, but I must say, I think this has been the best Valentine's Day I've exeperienced in my young life. After all, the Butler Bulldogs defeated the Penguins of Youngstown State at Hinkle Fieldhouse last night to the tune of 89-73. A Butler game sounds like a perfect date to me!

However, it wasn't just the game, but what went on at the game that made this a great V-Day...and it all revolved around the color purple.

Of course, I know that the traditional Valentines colors are red and pink, but we took those colors, added a little Butler blue and made purple the color of the day in honor of Relay for Life's "Kiss Cancer Goodbye" campaign, which is intended to raise cancer awareness amongst the Butler community, as well as bring in funds for the American Cancer Society.

Purple shirts were sold, the students participated in events, and the "day of love" took even more meaning: fighting the cancer that affects the ones we love. I even did my part and wore a shirt to support the cause. That's me and one of my HRC buddies, Hannah Muehlbauer, sporting our purple.


Other than that, it was a standard V-Day. My dad served my mom breakfast in bed (Frosted Flakes) while I slept. Then I woke up to give mom her gift...a bulldog picture frame with dad and I in it, for her desk at work. I got it for her because she can't take me to work everyday like dad gets to, so I wanted her to have something to remember me by when she's there.

She's a physical therapist at St. Vincent's Hospital, which means she's rarely at her desk, but it's the thought that counts. Having a mom as a physical therapist is good, because sometimes those massage techniques she learned in school work their way into my backside.

I didnt' get my dad anything, because who gets their dad stuff on V-Day? It's pretty much Mother's Day part 2.

Other than that, it was business as usual for the day. Eat, sleep, bark, growl, yawn, back to sleep, then off to the basketball game.

Today, it's pretty much all rest for me so I can gear back up for tomorrow's game versus Cleveland State as well as the annual Alumni Day festivities. I can't wait...I love game days!

I hope to see you in Hinkle Fieldhouse for the big game tomorrow!

Much Love,

Blue II

P.S. The Bulldogs of Butler University send their prayers and support to the students, faculty, staff and members of the Northern Illinois University community.