Grady Gallagher | Blogger

Sup Beavs?

Whew… it’s nearly Friday, which means it’s almost Saturday, which means it’s time for Iowa Hawkeye football! Yeah, right. The only way you’d be excited to watch one of their games is if A.) you’re a fan of check down passes and punting or B.) watching paint dry is one of your top hobbies. Other than that I can’t think of a more frustrating thing to do on a Saturday afternoon… yet I do it EVERY SINGLE SATURDAY AFTERNOON. One day, I’ll learn.

So, Tuesday marked one month until basketball practice starts. Crazy. Crazy good, but still crazy. So, one thing the BV teams do each year is create a poster with the captains, seniors, or letter winners that lists the schedule and can be displayed all over beautiful Storm Lake in businesses, gardens, and fan’s homes. The poster also includes a theme or “slogan” for the upcoming season. Coach VH has put the seniors in charge of creating this year’s slogan. I’m not sure if this is supposed to be top secret but I say we let the people decide, right? Give me liberty or give me death, right?

So here are some ideas I have for this year’s poster. You choose the one you like. If you don’t like any, then just remember the poster from last year with Brett’s patented look of “I’m really tired and I’m not quite sure why we’re all staring at this short, peppy person with a small telescope,” and choose one. (Grady, he was concussed, be nice. I know, I’m just kidding big guy )

Here we go.

COACH’S IDEA: VH proposed that this year’s slogan is “BVU Basketball – Taking the road less traveled.” He wants the photo of us in our jerseys to be taken on a back road somewhere near Alta. I think the idea is solid with the “road less traveled” serving a dual purpose that our team wants to go where no BVU Bball team has gone before. I get it. I like it. I can dig it.

GG’s SPIN ON COACH’s IDEA: Keep the road less traveled idea. Keep our team in our jerseys in a deserted place idea. Ditch the back road somewhere near Alta idea. If we’re going somewhere less traveled let’s make it the Sahara Desert or the Arctic Circle. I want to drive the point home that our team has gone (quite literally) to the ends of the Earth to go where no BVU Bball team (quite literally) has ever gone before. If Greg weren’t on the team, we could take the picture in Liberty Hall and REALLY drive the point home. (Hope your hamstring’s better, Greg.)

GG IDEA #1: “BEAVER BASKETBALL- ALL BUSINESS”
I seriously love this idea. Every player is dressed up in a legit suit and tie (the JT effect) and are sitting in like old middle school desks while looking at a chalkboard. Some of the players are intently listening, others are taking notes on paper, and one player is staring at their conference championship watch. Coach VH is standing at the front of the classroom, pointing at the chalk board, piece of chalk in hand, diagraming a set. (The chalk board is the key piece here) Seriously though, how cool would this be? My favorite parts of this poster would be 1.) sav wearing a suit coat 2.) 6’ 11” Nick Wuebker in the front row, literally wedged into his middle school-sized desk and 3.) it’d be funny to see how some of the guys would pretend to be attentive to what VH is drawing up and 4.) VH being included in the poster. Secretly, I know he’s just been dying inside for his players to finally include him in the poster. He’s been waiting on his moment. This is by far my favorite idea.

GG IDEA #2: “BVU Basketball – Dinner is Served”
In this photo, we are all seated around one of those old, fancy, super-long dinner tables. The room is dimly lit and there’s a fire place in the background. The room is surrounded by leather-bound books. The camera shoots from one end of the table to the other while the Bball players line both sides. At the other end of the table is a waiter. The waiter is beginning to open one of those fancy silver dome and platters while all the players are watching intensely. You picking up what I’m putting down? There are some fun elements to play with in this one. First, who is the waiter? VH? Coach Millea? Some random IIAC referee? President Moore? John Stamos? Second, what is on the platter? A Wilson basketball? A conference championship ring? A 30 oz half-cut sirloin? Or a map that has a star labeled “Salem, VA” where the DIII Final Four is located? All great options. This slogan also serves a double meaning as I’m wondering if Professor Hardt has ever used the line, “Well honey, I’m going out for dinner.” She then asks him where he’s going and he responds, “Beaver basketball, dinner is served!” and slams the door.

GG IDEA #3: “Beaver Basketball or And 1 Mix Tape?”
In this poster, each person would be doing one of their signature moves in separate cut outs. (For example, Cole-dunking, me-not dunking, T Kast-drinking a cup of coffee) This would recapture the spirit of And 1 street ball from back in the day (or present day ESPN Classic). All of the cut outs are pasted on one picture with a cool background with like spotlights or fireworks. Although, the center of the poster is the Beaver Basketball announcer guy in a picture of him, microphone in hand, and a speaking bubble that reads “OOHHHHHH BABYYYYYYY!!!” This one’s the dark horse.
So now the choice is yours. And remember, if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

Thanks for the read folks!

Graphic by Aaron Burns