By Nate West
Assistant News Editor
Just when you thought all the hype was over and all the excitement had drawn to a close, St. Bonaventure basketball has one last surprise.
This time, it’s not a tournament bid or a conference championship. It’s a book.
“A Legacy Defined,” which will celebrate the success of the men’s and women’s basketball teams through pictures and behind-the-scenes memoirs.
Jason MacBain, assistant sports information director and one of the contributing writers for the book, said he thinks the book will be very successful at capturing the value of the teams – not only to the university, but to fans everywhere.
“If it doesn’t, then we’ve failed at our mission, but I don’t think anyone will be disappointed,” MacBain said. “Working with the timeframe that we had (the book is supposed to be available for purchase by graduation), I think it’s a tremendous piece at a respectable price that many people will be exceptionally proud of.”
“A Legacy Defined” costs $19.95, plus an additional $4.95 if shipping is required.
Dallas Miller, sports information director and another contributing writer, said he jumped at the opportunity to be a part of “A Legacy Defined.”
“I think it was a really cool opportunity,” Miller said. “It’s important that we commemorate the basketball teams the right way.”
The book will be 128 pages long and will feature photography from Olean native Craig Melvin, photographer for the Bonnies and the Buffalo Bills. All proceeds will benefit the Bonaventure Athletic Fund.
Miller said the idea of making a book for the teams had been discussed on and off by several people, but he credited Tom Missel, director of media relations and marketing, for making the book happen. Missel was unavailable for comment at press time.
The book is loosely based on the University of Alabama’s book the school published after winning the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) national title this year.
MacBain said the book will help keep interest in the basketball programs positive and in large amounts over the years to come.
Miller agreed.
“It’s going to be hard not to,” Miller said. “I think people are so excited about basketball now with the way that the two runs came together. I think that people are going to be excited about (Bonaventure) basketball for a long time.”
The book will be published by the university’s Franciscan Institute Publications. Pre-orders can be placed at sbu.edu/legacydefined.
“This book captures what this university and these programs went through in the month of March,” Miller said. “And it may not ever happen again.”
westtnl11@bonaventure.edu
