Final Four Week Stories from the Hilltop

[Grandpa]

To all current GU students:

As an alumnus nearly 11 years removed from life at the Hilltop, I would love to hear anecdotes or stories from you, the current students, that could give us old-timer alums some flavor for what's going on in and around campus during this week leading up to the big Final Four weekend. The articles in the local newspapers can start to provide a general sense of the excitement and buzz in and around the school, but I would love to hear about the type of things that just won't get picked up by the local media (e.g., professors re-arranging project due-dates or exams; creative signs supporting the team around campus; impromptu chants started in the cafeteria, etc.). Figured it might also help to keep all such stories in one thread.

Thanks in advance for any contributions and LET'S GO HOYAS!!!

[westchesterhoya]

This isn't that exciting but the professor in my Monday night, once-a-week class has already cancelled next week if we win on Saturday. This is especially nice considering the class ends at 8 and wouldn't interfere with the game.

[Grandpa]

westchesterhoya said:

This isn't that exciting but the professor in my Monday night, once-a-week class has already cancelled next week if we win on Saturday. This is especially nice considering the class ends at 8 and wouldn't interfere with the game.

Thanks for breaking the ice Westchester - that's exactly the type of thing I was hoping to hear about - I'm not expecting that all of the anecdotes have to necessarily be all that exciting, humorous, or bizarre - just little snippets that can help us who are not on campus vicariously experience some of what you current students are experiencing. And not that it probably needs to be said, but I hope you all are enjoying and savoring this particularly special time to be a Hoya!

[NickSixers]

I think I'm in class with Westchester. Now I won't miss that class.
The best thing is the sense of community walking through campus. So many people wore their Georgetown gear yesterday, the diehards you see at all the games and people who might never have gone to a game.
I don't think I'll ever forget the scene at McDonough last night. I have tickets already, but went down to just see it. I kept seeing friends as I walked through the line. Seemed like so many people were there. The guys from the team were around for a long time.
This has been a truly special way to end my experience here. I'm glad I was here for it.

[TigerHoya]

The WaPo Metro section story today had some good anecdotes in it - one french prof let a class go yesterday to meet the team after a student got an email that they were about to get back, for example.

[theexorcist]

I'm hoping to do a much longer thing on the entire weekend ending on this, but enjoy this from an alum.

On Monday night, I went to dinner with a Hoya alum with whom I had watched the game. After, I just wanted to walk around G'town. Took in an a cappella concert on the steps of Healy Hall. The second a cappella group was a Stanford one, which I didn't know - I still bought a CD, ostensibly to support Georgetown, then found out this morning that the CD contains the song "Stacey's Mom". I consider this a sign.

Then walked to Leavey. The bookstore was closed, but Uncommon Grounds had lots of articles photocopied and placed around.

All around campus, more people were wearing Georgetown gear than I remember.

Then on to McDonough. I saw that there were people there. People! Camping out for Final Four tickets!

Enjoyed it for a little, then went to Village C to remember us celebrating after we beat Texas Tech in 1996 to make the Elite 8. Then called a friend from outside Dahlgren Chapel to tell him he should see it. He was keeping his fiancee company. In the ticket line.

Down to the ticket line (again). Reminisced about everything since our time at Georgetown. Talked with people ahead of us in line. Talked with freshmen behind us, one of whom had rushed the White House in socks (the best part - when the Secret Service said that people needed to calm down, someone said "We have the right to assemble!" Only Georgetown. We're such dorks). One of them was from Delaware (we're all around you). Told them about how people we hadn't heard from in ages emailed and called. Told them about the bad times and the good times. Two were from California, and wanted a UCLA-Hoyas final for bragging rights with friends. Gave them tips on BSing their way through a sociology essay test.

Jeff and Wallace walked by. People cheered. Patrick walked by. People cheered. Tyler walked by. People cheered.

The possibility of rain was discussed by all. The general consensus was that rain would be good, because people would leave the line and the chance of getting to the lower bowl was better.

I left about 12:30. As I walked back, I saw one of the rowhouses with a "G" in white and blue lights. The top part of the G occasionally flicked off to show a "U".

[medhoya10]

I am a med student and 06' college grad who has to say that this is the most exciting time I have ever had while on the hilltop. I was in the crowd that stormed M street on Sunday night and I have to say it was absolutely amazing, traffic stopped and everyone just cheering. This week has been pretty good so far, 100's of people camped out, people were literally carrying beds down to the line. The thing that is the most amazing is the feeling on campus, everyone is happy and half the conversations are about the game this weekend or about how clutch Wallace was with his shot. One other big thing is that everyone is a buzz with the hopes of winning the title. If we stormed M street for the Final Four what do we do when we win it all? Go HOYAS!!

[The Stig]

Taken from my posts in the Ticket Info & Discussion topic:

About 11:30 last night:
Right now there are about 400 students camped outside McDonough. Every student has a voucher with their place in line on it, and the Athletic Department people are going through the line at random intervals to make sure everybody stays. I haven't heard any complaints about the system, and everybody seems happy with the way things are going. There are over 1000 student tickets, so we should come close to accomodating all the demand (in sharp contrast with the BET and East Rutherford). The real prize is that the first 300 people in line get lower-level tickets. Ticket sales start tomorrow at 9:00 am, and non-season ticket holders get any remaining tickets at 2:00 pm.

As far as I can tell nobody has any idea of how they're going to get to Atlanta or where they're going to stay, but nobody seems too worried about that right now.

Overall it's just a great atmosphere. A beautiful night, lots of Hoya fans, plenty of tickets to go around (for now), good organization, and to cap it off Jeff, Tyler, Jon, Jessie, and Tay were hanging out with the fans when I was there. Lots of happy Hoyas!

About 2:00 am last night:
You can't keep that many basketball players in that close of proximity to that many basketball hoops before the inevitable happens. Ewing joined his buddies (and they're clearly buddies - just by watching them you can tell it's a really close-knit group), and before long basketballs were flying. When I got back they were taking turns shooting from about half-court distance, with most of the mob of students lining the shooting lane. It shouldn't come as a shock that Jessie was on fire (he even drained one facing backwards).

Of course, Ewing had to throw in a few dunks, but obviously getting hurt while horsing around in the parking lot at 1:30 am wouldn't go over too well with JTIII, so he didn't do too many. However, apparently Patrick Ewing Jr. gets very uncomfortable when around an open basket that isn't being dunked on, so he and Jessie started hoisting students up to let them dunk it. For some reason I just can't see Greg Oden doing that.

All the while Jeff, Jon, Tyler, and Tay were mingling around with the students, treating kids they'd probably never met like their best friends and posing for pictures with anybody who asked. The players seemed to be really enjoying themselves, and it was just great to see them as normal guys horsing around with each other and having fun. Smiles were to be found on every face I could see, and overall it was just an amazing atmosphere. I just can't see any other Final Four team's players out having fun with hundreds of their student fans at 2am the week before the biggest game of their lives. Our guys are something special.

Regardless of the results on the court this weekend, I'm firmly convinced that on so many levels, we have the best basketball team in the country right here at Georgetown.

[hoyagirl]

I don't want just to repeat what has already been written, but the scene at McDonough for the last 24 hours has been amazing. My friends and I showed up around 1 yesterday afternoon and so were able to get our tickets quickly this morning. I (almost) wasn't ready to leave when we did.

Everyone was meeting the people camping around them, listening to music, playing games... Around nine last night, someone realized that Towne Liquor delivers. I don't know if anyone actually called an order in, but the booze was flowing freely the rest of the night.

When Patrick, Jesse, Jeff, Jon and the rest of the players came out and started shooting and talking to everyone, I couldn't help but think about how lucky we are to have a team that is so friendly and accessible. I think an extra hundred or so people showed up when their friends called them to come and watch the show. It was nice to know the team values its fans.

And then this morning, when we all woke up it was kinda freezing, but the line moved quickly and I think a ton of people got lower level tickets that didn't expect it, since some people left during the night.

Overall, an amazing night. When can we do it again?

[lichoya68]

THOMPSONVILLE IS GREAT JT3 AND THE TEAM GREAT.. ITS A SPECIAL TIME ESPECIALLY FOR YOU SENIORS LIVE EVERY MOMENT THIS IS A UNIQUE TIME YOULL REMEMBER FOREVER.. I ALMOST WAS NOT GOING TO ATLANTA AND MY WIFE CONVINCED ME TO GO WITH MY SON WHOIS A HOYA SENIOR SPECIAL TIME FOLKS YOU DONT REALIZE HOW SPECIAL THIS IS AND WONT TO YOU HAVE SOME TIME TO LOOK BACK GO HOYAS BEAT THE BUCKS AND EAT THE BANANNA

[sead43]

hate to repeat but there has been just an unbelievable feeling on campus since i got back from the game sunday night. it really seems like EVERYONE is talking about it, everyone's excited, everyone's happy. more georgetown gear, by far, was worn on campus on monday than i've ever seen. the experience of this season has brought the campus community together and made it closer in ways that are just simply incredible. makes you appreciate how beneficial investing in a sports program like this can be to the entire university community, in so many ways...

some specific anecdotes...

-there is now a giant blue and gray balloon arch at the entrance to the dining hall. though i suspected why it was there, i wanted to confirm my suspicions, and so i asked the leo’s staff member who swipes our gocards why it was there.

me: “what are the balloons for?”
her: "i can't believe you just asked me that!"
me: "final four?"
her: “YEESS!!”
me: “wow, cool, that was really nice of them.”
her: “yea, it was.”

I could tell she was not only excited about the wins, but also just happy to be a part of the experience and proud that they were displaying that small but meaningful symbol of support and shared celebration for us.

-all 4 of my professors who I’ve had so far this week have said something about georgetown basketball. one did an analysis of the math involved in the ncaa tournament, one discussed watching the games with her son, and one joked about the nonsensical nature of the students’ run to the white house. He also, “without jinxing anything that’s going on,” pushed back a paper that was supposed to be due next Tuesday “because that’s how much confidence I have.”

-overheard PE Jr. and Tay having a lively discussion with friends during lunch in leo’s about the price of tickets for fans, location of the student sections, and the travel “packages” that are available. just thought it was funny in light of the discussion going on in the “ticket info and discussion” thread. This then turned into a discussion about how they set up the georgia dome for basketball. They are clearly excited about all aspects of the experience that is this week and this weekend, as we all are.

Those are just a few specific ones that I remember. I’ll be sure to add more as I remember them or as they continue to happen. Great idea for a thread, Grandpa…hope all the alums enjoy everyone’s stories.

[GUJook97]

Great thread. Keep it coming.


**bump**

Would love to hear if any ideas are being floated for huge gamewatches on campus. As alums, Mrs. Jook and I would gladly show up on campus for that.

[Grandpa]

jmassera said:

Those are just a few specific ones that I remember. I’ll be sure to add more as I remember them or as they continue to happen. Great idea for a thread, Grandpa…hope all the alums enjoy everyone’s stories.

Thanks for sharing sead43 - I think its very cool that they put up blue & gray balloons in the cafeteria (helps to draw attention to what the basketball team has accomplished so far to those students that perhaps do not normally follow the basketball team and may not fully appreciate the significance of making it to the Final Four), which I imagine was less a university-specific initiative, but rather one undertaken by Marriott (if I'm correct in assuming they still run the cafs on campus, but I may be wrong on that). Also thanks as well to the others (Westchester, NickSixers, TigerHoya, exorcist, Stig, and hoyagirl) who have also chimed in - would love to keep hearing throughout the week about other things people note.

Although I never experienced it myself while I was on campus (I graduated in '96, the year when we fell one game short of making it to the Final 4 in an Elite 8 loss to UMass), I can just imagine the buzz and anticipation for Saturday's game (and hopefully Monday after that!) that will grow as the week goes on and gameday gets closer!

[superan]

On Sunday I had work at the housing office from 3-7 where there is no TV, conveniently during the 5-7 PM gametime. So I couldn't take it anymore and closed the office, signed out, and posted a sign outside the gate saying "Closed for Basketball Game" at around 4:45 to make sure I didn't miss opening tip. No one said a word to me for doing that ;D

A pretty huge cultural show Asia Fest scheduled for 7:00 PM Saturday will be either postponed or held earlier in the afternoon because the performers don't want to do the show while the game is on.

The Campus Ministry is rescheduling a Gospel event because they all want to watch the game. Interesting priorities for a Jesuit university

Basically, I think any place in Georgetown where there is no TV will be closed.



And the experience at Mcdonough Gym yesterday night was just absolutely amazing. Probably one of the most special nights I've had at Georgetown. Honestly, just chilling with the basketball players as if they were your closest friends, shooting hoops with them, getting Pat Ewing Jr. to lift you up for a dunk, watching guys who brought their portable TV's and playstation, people setting up a mini hookah bar, etc. etc. etc. It was just awesome.

[hoyas2008]

gujook97 said:

Great thread. Keep it coming.


**bump**

Would love to hear if any ideas are being floated for huge gamewatches on campus. As alums, Mrs. Jook and I would gladly show up on campus for that.

It looks like there is going to be a gamewatch at McDonough sponsored by GPB (with possible help from the Corp). Not for sure yet tho

[sead43]

The Theater Program just announced that the closing performance of their last production of the year (Big Love) has been moved from 8 PM to 2 PM on Saturday.

[Grandpa]

tigerhoya said:

The WaPo Metro section story today had some good anecdotes in it - one french prof let a class go yesterday to meet the team after a student got an email that they were about to get back, for example.

I found the Wash Post article that TigerHoya referred to in his earlier post for those who may not have already seen it (link below). I think it portrays the Georgetown students and University community as a whole in a very positive light. Thought some in particular would enjoy this particular excerpt:

Georgetown is the kind of school where students bring their Arabic and biochemistry homework to do while they're waiting for basketball tickets. They spell each other in the ticket line so nobody has to miss too many classes. They don't burn couches, like some celebrators at other schools; they bring them along.

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/26/AR2007032602131.html

[sead43]

they have added a huge "Congratulations East Region Champions" banner to the balloon arch in Leo's:

www.flickr.com/photos/7515516@N05/437052912/

and yes, i'm sure it's marriot's doing...very nice of them.

EDIT: can't get the link to work so you have to copy and paste the URL

[Grandpa]

Just giving a bump to this thread in an attempt to offset the dissonance of the Cold Pizza / Claire Cooper back and forth

[SirSaxa]

Great idea for a THREAD!
And thanks for all the little stories -- the alumni LOVE this stuff!
Great job by the Current students! -- (and some profs. too!)