Final 30 seconds of dayton flyers win over rhode island 2 10 2017
The Dayton Flyers are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Dayton of Dayton, Ohio. All Flyers intercollegiate sports teams participate at the NCAA Division I level. The football team competes in the Division I FCS non-scholarship Pioneer Football League, and women's golf plays in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, while all other sports compete in the non-football Atlantic 10 Conference.
The name is a reference and homage to Daytonians Orville and Wilbur Wright who pioneered heavier than air flight. Orville and Wilbur Wright designed the Wright Flyer I and fabricated many of its components, including the propellers and engine, at their bicycle shop in Dayton. The Wright Flyer I was the first powered aircraft to achieve sustained, controlled flight.
Teams
A member of the Atlantic 10 Conference, the University of Dayton sponsors teams in seven men's and ten women's NCAA sanctioned sports:
* = The football team competes as a member of the Pioneer Football League, a non-scholarship Division I (FCS) league.
University of Dayton athletic teams enjoy considerable support from an energized fan base. The men's basketball team is perennially among the top 25 programs nationally in attendance. The student fan base is known as the "Red Scare" and provides support for the Flyers from behind the east goal during basketball games.
Rivalries
The Flyers' traditional rivals in most sports are regional schools such as Xavier, Cincinnati, and Miami University. Dayton and Xavier vie for possession of the Blackburn/McCafferty Trophy during regular season men's basketball games. Other historical rivals of note include Butler University, Duquesne University, University of Detroit, Marquette University, DePaul University, Temple University, and the University of Notre Dame. The latter three schools formed an informal basketball league with Dayton during the 1970s and 1980s, prior to formal league association for each school. The Gem City Jam, an annual game with crosstown rival Wright State University, is currently suspended.
Men's basketball
On an ESPN all-time ranking of NCAA basketball programs the University of Dayton placed No. 48 overall. Dayton recently won the 2010 NIT championship. In March 2014, Dayton upset state-favorite Ohio State, and the #3 seed Syracuse Orange in the NCAA Tournament with close victories. The Flyers then beat Stanford to reach the Elite Eight where they played the overall #1 seed Florida. They lost 62-52.
Mascot
Rudy Flyer is the mascot of the Dayton Flyers. He is dressed in early pilots attire including a scarf and goggles. Each year two or three students share the responsibility of wearing the Rudy suit.
Notable student–athletes
Don Meineke (1952) – former NBA player of the Fort Wayne Pistons, Rochester Royals, and Cincinnati Royals. He was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1952–53.
Jim Paxson, Sr. (1956) – former NBA player of the Minneapolis Lakers and Cincinnati Royals
Jim Katcavage (1956) – former NFL defensive lineman who played for the New York Giants. His 96.5 career sacks is tied with Michael Strahan for second most in Giant's team history.
Bucky Bockhorn (1958) – former NBA player of the Cincinnati Royals
Emil Karas (1959) – former NFL and AFL linebacker who played for the Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers
Garry Roggenburk (1962) – Played baseball and basketball at UD. He was the Captain of the 1962 NIT Champion Flyers team that finished 24-6. He played Major League Baseball for Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox .
Harold Schoen (1963) – Dr. Schoen played on the 1962 NIT Champion Flyers team that finished 24-6. He is a professor of Mathematics and Education at the University of Iowa.
Craig Stammen (2005) – Major League Baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals.
Dasan Robinson (2006) – former defender for the Chicago Fire in the MLS.
Isaac Kissi (2010) – Forward for Rochester Rhinos in the USL Pro.
Chris Wright (2011) – Professional Basketball Player formally playing with the Golden State Warriors of the NBA, now with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League
