Soon after the start of the second half in a tight game between the Syracuse Orangemen and Connecticut Huskies on Sunday, I turned to my travel partner and fellow alum Scott and said, "This is gonna be a court-stormer." As the game wore on, in front of the fifth largest crowd in Carrier Dome history (32,944), I cared less about the outcome's influence on NCAA tournament seeding and more about getting onto Jim Boeheim Court to celebrate for only the second time in my life and first since I was a senior at Syracuse 10 years ago.
When the buzzer sounded to cap off an 11-point victory — the Orangemen's second over a top-10 team in as many weekends — we did indeed storm the court. And I have the pictures to prove it. Fans left messages on SU hoops forums thanking the crowd for being the sixth man, and I was happy to have played a part in what is unquestionably a most unique on-campus college sports experience.
Weekend Notes:
• The largest ovation during Senior Day introductions was for back-up center Jeremy McNeil, whose mother died at the start of last season. After other seniors were ushered to center court by their parents, McNeil was escorted by the entire team. A woman in the row behind me wiped away tears.
• Ten years since graduation. It was a somewhat emotional experience walking and driving around campus, noting what's changed and what hasn't, both in terms of the university and the 31-year-old man who first hit town as a 17-year-old boy.
• People in Syracuse apparently don't tip well. We went out to the bars in Armory Square on Saturday night, and I saw several people leave change on the bar. One guy left 50 cents on a $13.50 tab. Ouch.
• Lower-level tickets to the game were selling on eBay for about $150 each. Stupid UConn fans. Scott and I took a scalper's first offer, and we still made out well: $60 a seat for two in Section 104, Row K. The woman next to me reacted like I'd just paid $100 for a turkey sandwich, though.
Wow! Sounds like being on the road is alot of fun.
Posted by Ned at March 8, 2004 2:28 PM