Most basketball teams expect an away game to be a real test. Not only does the team have to deal with travel and missing classes, but the athletes must adjust to a different atmosphere. The host school may be known for their unruly fans or the harsh environment of the arena. All in all, a visiting school has a lot to handle in trying their best to win the game.

However, thanks to UD and the Office of Alumni Relations, the Flyers are fortunate enough to have fans and support even when they play out of the Dayton area.

In addition to bringing in fans for home games, the regional program coordinators of UD Alumni Relations work hard to organize past Flyers to come together in all parts of the country to support the red and blue. No matter where the men's basketball team has a game, it is usually true that the Flyer Faithful will be watching and supporting their players.

The strength of the UD alumni is present wherever the Flyers are.

'It's not very hard to get alumni to go to games,' Program Coordinator Mary Butts said.

Flyer fans are willing to travel all over the country, as seen in 2003 when the men played in the Maui Invitational in Hawaii. According to Butts, many alumni made the trip to the warmer climate to support the team.

This season has been no different. As UD has played some tough opponents and impressed many with their 11-3 overall record, the alumni and student support has also shined brightly.

The alumni relations office is usually given a certain number of tickets when the team goes to an away game. When Dayton traveled to Pittsburgh to play the Panthers in December, only 60 tickets were available as it is hard even for a Pitt fan to get into a game.

However, the lack of available tickets did not stop the UD fans, as over 100 supporters came to the pre-game festivities arranged by the regional program coordinators and fans where able to get tickets from other avenues. The Flyer red was definitely present among the 12,508 people in attendance.

'I was completely amazed to see the amount of UD support at the Pitt game,' senior Laura McDonald said. 'I went with my dad, because I live in Pittsburgh, only expecting to see a few red shirts in the crowd. I wound up seeing a sea of red and blue pride and at least 15 people I knew.'

A similar situation occurred when the Flyers traveled to Chapel Hill, N.C., to play the Tarheels at the end of December. Alumni relations was only given 100 tickets for the game, but according to Butts more than 300 alumni made the trip.

'We have such huge Flyer fans that they will go anywhere,' she confirmed.

There have been few times where the tickets given to UD for away games have not been completely sold out. Butts could only point out a game at Saint Louis University as an example.

'It fell on Ash Wednesday,' she said as the main reason the office did not sell the allotted amount.

All the alumni across the country are split up into chapters, with each major city usually having a chapter. It is through these chapters that the alumni have the opportunity to purchase tickets for the games.

According to Butts, once it is known that a chapter or alumni have tickets, a sort of 'alumni-chain' develops as past UD students call the chapter or alumni relations office to find a way into the game.

Support for the red and blue may not always be in the arena where the team is playing. Game watches will occur in chapter cities where alumni will get together at a certain restaurant or other establishment to root on the Flyers. In cities like Chicago and Cincinnati these get togethers are regular activities.

With the alumni relations office stationed here in Dayton, it may seem like it would be difficult to work with alumni from farther away. However, when the Flyers went to southern California to play Pepperdine, nearly 100 people came to the game.

The fan base for UD is not just seen at the basketball games. The regional program coordinators also work to bring fans to the volleyball, soccer, and football games.

When the football team goes to San Diego every other year, a Surf and Turf event is a heavily attended activity. The three-day event involves a dinner Friday night, the game Saturday, and a mass Sunday. Saturday morning, there is also a golf tournament dedicated to an alumnus who was a large part of starting the weekend celebration. Thanks to the support of the alumni, more than $10,000 has been raised for an on-campus scholarship in the name of the alumnus.

UD alumni also come together for other activities, in addition to athletics. Most recently, Christmas off Campus took place in more than 30 cities including Cincinnati, Chicago, Boston, Houston, and even all the way across the world in Yangon, Myanmar. At these events alumni embraced the magic of Christmas on Campus that took place when they were in school and went to hospitals, churches, schools, nursing homes and many other places within the different communities.

Alumni also help with future Dayton Flyers, as new student picnics occur each summer across the country. At these events, alumni have the chance to answer questions, give advice, and get the incoming freshman excited about UD.

'Any event where alumni feel like they did when they were on campus, they are willing to take part in,' Butts said.

The participation and support of alumni in all the events planned truly embodies the aspect of community at UD. Alumni show their support because of how grateful they are of the school.

'Even though I live all the way down in Florida, I still keep in touch with some of my professors and visit them when I come home and I always feel so supported and encouraged by them in everything I'm doing now,' 2005 graduate Ruth Hinde said.

Through the hard work of the regional program coordinators and the dedicated UD alumni, Flyers all across the country have the ability to still feel like they are a part of the UD community. It seems that being a UD alumnus or alumna is almost as fun as being a current student.