Dunn's Decrees

Last weekend, I had the good fortune to serve as lead commentator for Santa Clara’s road game at Gonzaga in Spokane, WA. The student section there, otherwise known as “The Kennel,” is one of the most revered fan bases because they consistently have high energy even prior to gametime.

45 minutes before tipoff, the students were already packed into the student section for……Santa Clara. The Santa Clara Broncos. Now, I love my school as much as anyone, but we are not some big-name brand that draws opposing students en masse when we visit.

But the Kennel is different. They show up for anyone. The Broncos were no exception. At various points during the game, I could barely hear myself on my headset, a testament to the environment their school pride creates. There was no let-up, especially as the Bulldogs took charge in the second half.

Basketball is a game of runs. Santa Clara tried to avoid the Zags’ onslaught with a series of timeouts, having used them all with 12 minutes left in the game. Even if the Broncos completed a double-digit point comeback, they barely had any opportunities to stop the clock and draw up a play they liked. Head Coach Herb Sendek tried his best to keep the lid on the Kennel, but the Bulldogs broke out of their cage for a lead they would not relinquish.

At no point did I expect to leave the McCarthy Athletic Center with a win. Santa Clara put up a fight and more, taking a five-point lead late in the first half, and were only down six points at halftime. But like many teams before them, they succumbed to the environment in front of them. After all, the Broncos have not won in Spokane since 2007. 

Once it was all said and done, Gonzaga won 94-81. The Broncos covered the spread. Other than the lack of defense, there wasn’t anything that made my blood boil. The Bulldogs were simply better. I got starry-eyed at the noise, pandemonium and unison that the crowd proudly displayed all night, hoping Santa Clara could one day get there.

Even as I surprisingly ran into some of the basketball team’s managers on the flight home (shoutout Jack and Gavin), there was nothing to discuss but our shock at the gymnasium we had walked into the prior night. 

At some point, I’ll understand the gravity of what I did last week. It’s rare for student reporters to make this trip. I felt fulfilled and then some as I closed out my tenure as a Bronco. But that’s for another time. I’m just glad I came out of the Kennel in one piece and with my voice intact.