A Recap Of One Hoya's Journey to Dayton

[FLHoya]

rockawayhoya said:

One of the more underrated moments of the trip. Around 9:30, we stopped over in some random town in Ohio to grab dinner, as the vast majority of us had skipped their regularly scheduled dinner time to celebrate. A few of us decided to cross the local highway on foot and head over to Arby's for dinner. I remember sitting down with CaHoya, both of us wolfing down our Beef and Cheddars as if we hadn't eaten for days. And we spoke for about 5-10 minutes, both of us in our raspy voices. Not about basketball, but just about life. It was just one Hoya talking to another. I think aside from the amazing basketball experiences during the weekend, another thing I will remember for the rest of my life was making new friends with people; people I probably never otherwise would have met if it weren't for Georgetown basketball. Hoya Basketball certainly brought the Georgetown community closer, and it's a great feeling that's really hard to describe.

I thought about maybe a half dozen ways to write an ending to this, and I couldn't find one that I felt would work. So, I have to admit that I can't take credit for this ending (it was CAHoya's idea and I thought it was pretty awesome and a fitting end to a perfect weekend).

The last song that everyone sang together before passing out on the bus that night on the way back to DC was "Sweetness," by Jimmy Eat World.

Hoya Saxa.

That's the stuff. Except for the part about Arby's food.

I always knew you were a sentamentalist when it came to the greater meaning of Hoya basketball, just like I am. ;D

I'll say what I've said a few times before. This season has been unbelievable fun for me. But as glad as I am I got to be a part of it, I'm even happier that all the friends I've met over the last few years in the student section got to experience this. This isn't about the Esherick-tortured fan stuff, either. It's about Arby's. Seriously. That kind of experience that you'll remember for years to come. That all those people on the bus in Dayton finally got to have this weekend.

Way to go, Generation Roy!

(P.S.: Wow. Jimmy Eat World, huh? Well, considering the source I guess. You know on the way to the airport to come back to DC today, I heard a Jimmy's Chicken Shack song on the radio. That was unexpected. And I still remember the first song I heard after the Burton game--Beautiful Day.)

[TBird41]

Rockaway, the cheer was "I said it's great...to be...a Georgetown Hoya"

My friend and I who were doing it learned it last year at the whore of sports bars when we stopped in during a late night game football game involving the Florida Gators and promptly stole the cheer from the Gators fans in attendance, who kept chanting "I said it's great...to be..a Florida Gator".

We didn't realize the irony until after we were done.

[FLHoya]

tbird41 said:

Rockaway, the cheer was "I said it's great...to be...a Georgetown Hoya"

My friend and I who were doing it learned it last year at the whore of sports bars when we stopped in during a late night game football game involving the Florida Gators and promptly stole the cheer from the Gators fans in attendance, who kept chanting "I said it's great...to be..a Florida Gator".

We didn't realize the irony until after we were done.

You know what the response cheer is that fans do when the Gators are about to lose, right?

"I said it...s-u-c-k-s...to be...a Florida Gator..."

Quite possibly the most intelligent thing to ever come out of Florida State University.

[RockawayHoya]

TBird, you're absolutely right. Let's just say that I'm MAD tired and my memory of every little detail this weekend has definitely gotten worse since 5PM. Totally didn't mean to sell the chant short. And yeah, I should've written about the irony concerning Florida, but I was just trying to get that thing done (I've been typing since 5PM!).

And yes, FL. I'm a totally sentimentalist. In my mind, I didn't graduate last May. I had done pretty much everything I wanted to at Georgetown during my four years... except experience the NCAA Tournament. In my mind, I graduated yesterday.

[hoyafinisher]

Just wanted to put a visual aid to why this was the best basketball weekend ever (at least for us '05 kids). This pic is the culmination of 5 years of waiting for us.

img76.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hkwin9am.jpg

(Slightly modified)

[TBird41]

rockawayhoya said:

TBird, you're absolutely right. Let's just say that I'm MAD tired and my memory of every little detail this weekend has definitely gotten worse since 5PM. Totally didn't mean to sell the chant short. And yeah, I should've written about the irony concerning Florida, but I was just trying to get that thing done (I've been typing since 5PM!).

And yes, FL. I'm a totally sentimentalist. In my mind, I didn't graduate last May. I had done pretty much everything I wanted to at Georgetown during my four years... except experience the NCAA Tournament. In my mind, I graduated yesterday.

Don't worry about it. That thing was long, but fantastic. Thanks for writing the recap.

[Madgesdiq]

rockawayhoya said:

I've been typing for about 7 hours today, so I won't post about Ba'hai or Ben Jacobsen. But, in all seriousness, I could probably write about another 10 paragraphs about this weekend if I really wanted to.

Great stuff. Can I request the Ben Jacobsen story?

[LCPolo18]

madgesdiq said:

Great stuff. Can I request the Ben Jacobsen story?

Rockaway already talked about it near the end of his "Friday" post. Pretty hilarious stuff. I can't wait to see the picture of all of us with Ben.

[RockawayHoya]

madgesdiq said:

rockawayhoya said:

I've been typing for about 7 hours today, so I won't post about Ba'hai or Ben Jacobsen. But, in all seriousness, I could probably write about another 10 paragraphs about this weekend if I really wanted to.

Great stuff. Can I request the Ben Jacobsen story?

Madge, I'm an idiot. HoyaBliu's right, I already posted the Jacobsen story (under Friday). There isn't much more there, except that he was a pretty chill guy and definitely not your stereotypical pompous athlete. It was weird, because we definitely saw the Northern Iowa buses parked at a hotel somewhere in downtown Dayton (in fact, down the street from the Cold Beers and Cheeseburgers bar), so I assumed that UNI fans and players were making a mass exodus back west shortly after the game. But Jacobsen and a few of his teammates were definitely at the bar. We probably wouldn't have recognized them had they not been wearing their UNI gear.

I've posted the Jacobsen pic (along with my entire photo album from the weekend) on Facebook. Follow this link: georgetown.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30322228&id=1401196

Also, if someone has already started a host site for anyone to upload pics from the weekend onto, please let me know and I'd be happy to post them.

[Madgesdiq]

I'm the idiot. I completely missed it my first read through. Good stuff.

[SirSaxa]

Rockaway,

You did a GREAT job of conveying the experience of being with a wild-ass bunch of students enjoying one of the highlights of their time at GU!! WOW!

I have been traveling for a couple days and only now had a chance to sit and read your stories. You provided the "color" that makes a great sporting event even more tangible and memorable. There is no way that TV coverage can possibly convey... not just the deeper feeling in the building, but the adventures one has throughout the weekend. But one thing that DID come across on TV -- we could CLEARLY hear the HOYA chants at times. At a virtual HOME game for OSU?!?!?! THAT WAS AWESOME -- great job by all of you who were there!

Finally, the best thing in your entire terrific write-up was this:

I think aside from the amazing basketball experiences during the weekend, another thing I will remember for the rest of my life was making new friends with people; people I probably never otherwise would have met if it weren't for Georgetown basketball. Hoya Basketball certainly brought the Georgetown community closer, and it's a great feeling that's really hard to describe.

Very insightful and true. Hoya Hoops has always been a key part of the Georgetown experience. Thank God -- and the Thompson family -- for bringing it back. As one who has -- via Hoya Hoops -- made, retained and valued the lifelong friends you describe, and who continues to meet more Hoya fans of all ages, I can confirm the truth of your comment.

Finally, DFW -- once again I am reminded of the value of this board you created! Thanks!

[EasyEd]

Rockaway - sounds like a weekend all Hoyas would have enjoyed. What a memory bank you now have. Thanks for letting us in on the whole weekend.

[Elvado]

Ditto on the thanks to DFW, who has experienced, first hand, on a crappy air mattress, what it means to see the Hoyas win it all. His board, and it is truly his, keeps a little bit of college alive for me each and every day.

Thanks.

[dTRAIN]

Let me chime in.

Great recap Rockaway. Makes me really regret not having seen an NCAA game of ours in person yet.

And THANKS to DFW. I know I am one of the folks that has gotten on him a lot this year, but the way this board has increased my enjoyment of Hoya Hoops is immeasurable (much to my employers chagrin). Your Sunday night front page write up was fantastic.

dTRAIN

[hoyafinisher]

rockawayhoya said:

FRIDAY

At some point in the night, HoyaBliu told me that Ben Jacobsen, UNI's star player, almost mistakenly took his Corona at the bar. After apologizing, he agreed to take a picture with our group (extremly awkward, considering we had just beaten them earlier in the afternoon).

For all you pre-Facebook or anti-Facebook people, here is a non-Facebook hosted version of the Ben Jacobsen pic. Its HoyaBliu, H2OyaPolo, and RockawayHoya, and a girl from the band.

img452.imageshack.us/my.php?image=benjacobson0vh.jpg

[hoyarooter]

Beautiful job, Rockaway. Really great stuff.

[theEDGEfactor]

rockaway- just love it had goosebumps up the spine with those stories and even tho i was there i am in desperate need in getting into gtown next year cuz i want to experience what happened that day for my 4 years... but ya i did go the game met YB before the game had a 10min pregame talk about the game and then went in... was hoping i wouldnt be around any OSU fans... wow that really sucked seeing every1 lining up next to me. beginning of the gmu game... no1 was really into it as every1 around me was OSU except 6 men in front of me who were unc fans who absolutely didnt cheer at all. by the 2nd half the osu fans were really getting into it and cheering for gmu, by the end of the buzzer, the unc fans were left standing in amazement, hands on there heads and mouths left wide open. they had just saw there defending champs go down to gmu before the sweet 16. so then our game started and right when the hoyas came out i stood up with 25 mins left on the warm up clock. I no thinking was expecting for others to stand up with me and as i started clapping and yelling no1 was with me... i heard the 'GEORGETOWN stinks' from behind me... had to turn back and i saw a 60 year old OSU fan there looking at me. I didnt want to say anything mean and i said we got here so far, lets just see how your boys stack up to ours. He didnt say anything so I turned around and kept clapping. Two minutes later osu comes out and i pretty much get killed...every1 is on there feet and i am forced to sit down-i couldnt beat the 3,000 standing around me in there RED. So as the game went on, i yelled ROY, ROY, ROY and the osu fans got annoyed and yelled shutup. Halftime came and the OSU fans were annoyed at the game while the only hoya fan in the section remained smiling but still worrying-would another syracuse game happen again i kept thinking. Then osu came out strong at the beginning of the 2nd half and the total RED ARMY stood up again and the place turned into ohio states version of cameron indoor-it was a homegame i learned there and it was gonna be hard. But we answered back and then Jeff got into the grove. He made the 3 and then the layup. Five rows in front of me, i overhear an annoyed osu fan say under his breath, who the hell is this guy?... Smile was brought to my face loving the remark. Then the gameopened up and I couldnt believe it, we were going to the sweet 16. So with 2 mins left the place was starting to empty out and the same fan who yelled that we sucked walked down the stairs past my seat and i yelled in remark... where are you going?? He gave me the po'd face and not backing down, i gave the OH YEAH... (pointing to the scoreboard) your down 15, better luck next year... He was left gasping for air and he left. As the buzzer went off I was left alone again clapping and cheering and going along with the chants by hoya blue from the top section... HOYA-SAXA, WE ARE--GEORGETOWN..., JT3..JT3..JT3, and then as I came down the stairs almost near the court, it got to me as the hoya blue chant started, --SWEET SIXTEEN...SWEET SIXTEEN...SWEET SIXTEEN...- as i walked out of the building and getting into my car, the osu fans were in a state of disbelief wwhile the gmu fans gave my the high five and we wished good luck to each other and parted. Got home at 12am but i think this day made the lives of some hoya fans. Even tho I am a young hoya, i felt the success early, and as i grew felt the negative success and thot maybe it would be like this for a long time... but JT3 came and made our past 2 years and has made up for the past 5 years... that was then... THIS IS NOW... the future is bright but most importantly is friday and ON...what a day sunday, march 19, 2006 was...it may live in infamy for all gtown fans.

[HoyaSC]

tbird41 said:

Rockaway, the cheer was "I said it's great...to be...a Georgetown Hoya"

My friend and I who were doing it learned it last year at the whore of sports bars when we stopped in during a late night game football game involving the Florida Gators and promptly stole the cheer from the Gators fans in attendance, who kept chanting "I said it's great...to be..a Florida Gator".

We didn't realize the irony until after we were done.

This is a big SEC football cheer. I've heard it in Sanford and Neyland stadiums. No clue where it started, but I bet the Gators, Vols, and Dawgs sure would argue about it....

[Nevada Hoya]

Thanks, Rockaway and others for sharing your impressions and memories with us. Great writeups and pictures. We deserve to win it all with this spirit.

GO HOYAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[HoyaSinceBirth]

"(how awesome is it to have your birthday during the Hoyas' NCAA run?)"
Since I also had my birthday on the same day as that band member and i was also in dayton for the games I can say that this sweet 16 run was the best present ever. Too bad it was only my 19th birthday but still plenty of fun and drinks were had.