A basketball game between Wright State and Florida is interestingenough for Raiders fans, given a chance to see how the team stacksup against the powerful Gators.
That will happen on Monday when WSU faces Florida in Tampa, Fla.The game takes on an even greater interest when you consider thepersonal history between the families of Florida coach Billy Donovanand Wright State coach Billy Donlon, discussed in a story printed inthis morning's Dayton Daily News.
Sports contests create plenty of drama on their own, but thingscan easily become more compelling when unique relationships areintroduced. They can be relationships between coaches, players,parents and schools. It adds to the big-picture interest in thesegames.
Think about games you've watched in which one of the players is ason or daughter of another famous athlete. Or when the opposingcoaches used to be peers on the same staff. Those kinds ofsituations draw even more curiosity about what will happen becauseof the memories they stir about the past.
Both Donovan and Donlon clearly enjoyed discussing their personalpast in the weeks leading up to this WSU-Florida game, because ashard as they want to compete, the game only lasts for two hours.What they have personally will last much longer.
It will make things more fun for the coaches, and it willincrease the interest for the observers compelled to watch.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.
