February 5, 2002

To be honest, The Citadel only has a true homecourt advantage one night a year.

On most nights when the Bulldogs play basketball in McAlister Field House, there is the usual crowd of less than 1,000 faithful fans. And as loyal as they are, their support always seems lost among the 5,000 seats that sit empty.

Unfortunately, that is just a fact of life for these players who have become accustomed to playing in relative obscurity.

But once a year, like swallows to Capistrano, the fans flock to this place to support their team. And that one night is when their archrival, the College of Charleston, comes across town to play in a Southern Conference matchup between these two old rivals.

Monday night was that one night for the Bulldogs. The place was packed and the fans were in full throat. And because this is such a rare occurrence, the Bulldogs knew they had to take full advantage.

PENDULUM SWINGS

If you only attend one college basketball game a year, it should be the College of Charleston at The Citadel.

Because this is as good as it gets in the Lowcountry.

With both schools just about a mile apart on the Charleston peninsula and both steeped in Southern history, they have a lot in common. And yet they are at opposite ends of the spectrum. The liberal arts party school vs. the military school.

Even when it comes to basketball, it hardly seems fair. The Cougars have reached dynasty status under legendary coach John Kresse, while the Bulldogs have always struggled to field a team that could measure up.

This year, however, the great pendulum swung their way.

On the court this night was the best Citadel team Pat Dennis has had in his 10 years as coach. On the other side was a Kresse team in transition, one that is still searching for its soul, and vulnerable.

Those two factors combined with a raucous crowd was enough to lift the underdog Bulldogs to a 60-58 victory.

MCALISTER MANIACS

While the College of Charleston has dominated this series over the years, it is always a special occasion when The Citadel can pull off one of these victories. It tends to keep everybody humble.

And if you weren't one of the 5,481 who jammed into this facility or one of those watching the game on cable television, consider this mental picture.

Imagine a few thousand cadets decked out in blue T-shirts that read "McAlister Maniacs." Then add the regulars and the ones who just got on the bandwagon. Then throw in all the Cougar fans who could get tickets and you have a place that was virtually vibrating.

Into that conglomeration, throw in a game that's close from the first whistle to the last and you've got the ingredients for a great game.

And the most telling moment came late in the game as the Bulldogs were nursing a small lead and the air was tense with anticipation.

That's when the Cougar fans, huddled in a corner, started chanting for their team. But it's also when the Bulldog fans, en masse, shouted them down, long and loud.

That's called homecourt advantage. A rare occurrence that only comes to McAlister Field House once a year.