Dunk City 10 years later: Putting FGCU on the map

Ten years ago, Southwest Florida had FGCU fever.

Dunk City put the madness in March and brought that madness to Southwest Florida with our community going all in on FGCU Men’s Basketball.

No matter where you went, you could hear the cheers from fans of all ages, packed in bars, celebrating history as the FGCU men’s basketball team became the first 15 seed to advance to the Sweet 16.

And for those who witnessed the dunks in person, it was sheer March Madness.

“It’s just like a collage of memories,” said Tim McDonald, an FGCU season ticket holder.

“We were really the darling of Philadelphia for those two days for those two games,” said Dr. Wilson Bradsahw, FGCU president emeritus.

“When we got there, no one knew who FGCU was. When we were leaving some of the fans wanted to buy my sweater,” said Adam Vaniska, an FGCU grad.

Tim and Joan McDonald are loyal season ticket holders ever before Dunk City was cool.

“By the end of the night, the whole arena was FGCU Dunk City fans. That was unbelievable,” Joan said.

“Just a couple years before that even first year or so they went division I, the girls really emptied out after the girls’ game. You’d be sitting there alone. Almost had your pick of seats,” Tim said.

They joined the Eagles on their journey from Philadelphia to Dallas on the plane at the hotel. That run was a new experience for everyone.

“We’re down there in the lobby and the cheerleaders they’re there reading the book the NCAA gave them on how they have to behave. And they couldn’t believe they could only run the flags half the court,” Joan said.

And there was a lot to cheer for with so many highlights. They had to be memorialized in song.

Everyone wanted a piece of FGCU, whether it was lining up at the bookstore for merchandise or rushing the players for a photo or autograph like they were rock stars.

“We completely sold out of merchandise in a blink,” Bradshaw said. “I really believe that if the shelves at the bookstore weren’t bolted down we could’ve sold those as well.”

FGCU Athletic Director Ken Kavanagh remembers the time well.

“Sherwood got into the stands he went down to see his family. And he got so besieged with fans for autographs that they were lining all the way back up. And one of the ushers said politely can you go into the hallway because people can’t watch the second game,” Kavanagh said.

Former FGCU forward Bernard Thompson said players needed security to get to classes.

“Just riding around cause we were walking for 10 minutes but we were really getting stopped being late for class,” Thompson said.

That run created a passion for this team in Southwest Florida.

“It’s helped build a program at gulf coast and have more fan support—people who care about the program,” said Brett Comer, former FGCU point guard.

For Bryan Lewis, it was the first time he got interested in the FGCU basketball program.

“I’ve been visiting them at the most of the road games in Northeast Florida ever since,” Lewis said.

“It was like we all did it together versus individually and just to feel the love from the university and the city of Fort Myers and surrounding area of Southwest Florida it made it all the more special,” said Andy Enfield, former FGCU head coach.