Celebrating a bright new era

We've come through a dark time recently but I think we’re finally starting to see some light ahead.
I wanted to say something earlier, but I needed to be sure. After what happened earlier this week I finally am.
We have emerged from an era that began with no small controversy but with also a few rays of hope. Despite all we had been through in those early days most were happy to put the disputes behind us and look to the future.
Over the years, though, things only got worse. And in the increasingly dark times even the rare bright spots — those small victories — seemed all the more hollow when the defeats that followed continued to mount. Even in times of success there were many who wanted our frequently bumbling leader deposed.
Now, though, the regime has finally changed. We once again have optimism. We have hope.
As you can tell I'm pretty excited about year two of the Tubby Smith era of Golden Gopher basketball, which officially tipped off Monday with an exhibition game against basketball power St. Cloud State.
Did you think I was talking about something else?
Granted, the Tubby Smith era in Minnesota officially began last year. But I think most fans needed a year to get over the tenure of former coach Dan Monson, whose time in Minnesota tested the faith of even the most faithful.
Besides, Tubby has his first recruiting class in town. And what a class it is. He’s got the son of a former NBA star, a new point guard who was almost good enough to make the Olympic team in basketball-crazy Canada and South Dakota center Colton Iverson, who neatly fills the Big White Guy void created by the departure of Spencer Tollackson.
How’s that for diversity?
And sure, maybe an eight-point win over the Huskies isn’t the most encouraging beginning for this new era. I’m not sure St. Cloud State even has a separate basketball team. They might just use hockey players who weren’t good enough to make the varsity team.
Still, it’s a start.
Maybe it’s a small thing. Tubby Smith won’t drag this country out of its recession. His brand of hard-nosed defense cannot heal our economy — unless maybe he can assign Al Nolen to defend the country’s banks against their own decision making. But he’s made it possible for lifelong Gopher basketball fans to go to games without that lingering feeling of dread that hung over Williams Arena for so many years. His message of distributing the basketball and lifting up your teammates has made us believe again.
Can this team make it back to the NCAA Tournament this year? I don’t know. Can it compete in the Big Ten Conference? We’ll have to wait and see. But can we fans be excited to follow this team in the years to come?
Yes, we can.