Davidson coach Bob McKillop clasps his hands in the second half of a second-round NCAA Midwest Regional basketball game against Georgetown in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, March 23, 2008. Davidson won 74-70. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Davidson's Stephen Curry, left, celebrates with teammate Jason Richards (2) following Davidson's 74-70 win over Georgetown in a second-round NCAA Midwest Regional basketball game in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, March 23, 2008. Curry had 30 points and Richards added 20 in the upset win. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
It's a great day to be a Wildcat. Indeed. AP Photo/Mel Evans (Photos copied from ESPN website)
How about that Davidson Basketball team??? We're in the Sweet Sixteen baby!
Go Wildcats!
Other than a following a couple of sports, I really don't pay much attention to them. Usually, I have to ask who's playing in the Super Bowl--and often multiple times--before I remember. A big football game is on? Jeannine calls and says, "You watching the big game tonight?" only to wait for my response of, "What game?" so that she can laugh her hearty laugh, sigh, and proclaim, "Oh Em, what are we going to do with you?"
But this week, sports fan or not, I'm paying attention. Paying attention to Davidson in the NCAA tournament that is. We all are I think. My Davidson friends are sending articles and emails back and forth. My non-Davidson friends have a sudden interest and excitement in Davidson basketball. They're emailing me, "What a game! Go Wildcats!" And this week, I really needed a joyful distraction like some great Davidson basketball and the fun conversations with friends and family as a result.
Davidson entered the tournament as the 10Th seed in the Midwest region. First they beat 7Th seeded Gonzaga to move onto the second round where they defeated the 2nd seeded Georgetown. Thanks to my dad who began taking me to games in fourth grade and teaching me to shoot hoops, I actually have some understanding of basketball. I might even venture to say that my understanding of this sport is better than that of Jeannine!
Even my ANS specialist brought up Davidson basketball in our last phone consult. Then, in a follow-up email he wrote: "So, enjoy the Davidson game (I have a line for the sportscasters to use: "would you like some Curry with that dish?" ... OK, now back to my real job)..." Sorry, but I thought it was hilarious.
And, how about that Stephen Curry? And Jason Richards? And Bob McKillop? And that little team from that little school in the south that is now suddenly a household name? Even our local newspaper had the Davidson game along with a shot of Stephen Curry and Jason Richards rejoicing on the front of the Sports section. NPR chose Davidson's play as the highlight of the tournament so far (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88939622). One of the ESPN commentators said before Sunday's game that Davidson would be the big upset of the day--upsetting Georgetown that is. And they did. And, I am definitely NOT crying any tears over Duke's early elimination--as we view them as 'The Other D' in North Carolina.
Today Carrie and I rejoiced that finally people knew who the heck Davidson was. Marla sent an article on just that topic (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=clemmons/080324&sportCat=ncb).
Yes, I'm asking for bragging rights here on this blog entry!
I'm so used to hearing the question: "Where did you go to college?"
Me: "Davidson College."
Response: "Where?" or "Did you mean Denison? Dickinson?"
Me: "Davidson College. It's in North Carolina, about 30 minutes outside of Charlotte."
Response: "Oh."
Inevitibly, this series of questions and answers is often followed by one final question: "Why did you go there?"
This isn't so gratifying when you go to a college where you work your toosh off and no one has ever heard of it!
Now people have heard of Davidson College. And the sportscasters love to play up the Honor Code and the small student body of 1700. Now, when people ask me where I went to school maybe they will simply respond, "Oh, Davidson. They have a really great basketball program, don't they?" And maybe I'll be frustrated that they don't now more about this small liberal arts school in the south. Maybe I'll wish they knew more about what makes Davidson so incredibly special, particularly its honor code, rigorous academics, self-scheduled exams, and all of the other little special touches it has such as pairing us with roommates freshman year who become lifelong friends.
I'm approaching my 10 year anniversary of graduation from Davidson and what a way to celebrate! Currently, I'm filling out a form of Davidson memories. One of the questions is: In one sentence, how has your Davidson experience impacted your life? I can answer with complete honesty, that every single day of my life I'm grateful to Davidson. I am grateful for many things--most importantly the way Davidson taught me to live my life, the friendships I created there, and the liberal arts education I received. I am so grateful that I graduated before I got sick, even if I just made it by a month! Rarely does a day go by that my email box doesn't have an email or a photo from a Davidson friend. And, they even faithfully read my blog! :) I mean, that's friendship!
I may live in a town that lives and breathes blue and white, but I will always live and breathe red and black.
Whatever happens in the game, as my Dad says, Davidson has shattered all expectations. Really, now it's just about having fun. So go out and have fun--because you made history already guys! For the first time in 39 years you made it past Round 1. And you have the longest winning streak among all other Division I teams (23 straight).
Don't forget to watch Davidson beat Wisconsin (Carrie and Britt?? You reading? :)):
Davidson vs. Wisconsin
Friday, March 28Th
7:10 pm on CBS
Detroit, MI
Go Wildcats!
Emily
P.S. Can you believe I'm not writing in purple?
Here are the articles in more detail for those interested--you know those of you Davidson folks reading! :)
From ESPN (passed on by Marla. This article had me chuckling, as it captured what it's like to live in a state no where near Davidson!):
Where exactly is Davidson? In the Sweet 16, that's where
By Anna K. Clemmons
For most of my post-collegiate life, whenever someone asks me where I went to college, I answer in two parts. "Davidson College … it's outside of Charlotte in North Carolina." Why the geographical tag? Because few people outside the Tar Heel state have heard of the small, liberal arts college 30 minutes from the Queen City.
But thanks to a guard named Stephen Curry, a coach named Bob McKillop and a team of hard-working, strong-willed players, that changed this weekend. Led by point guard Jason Richards (who led the nation in assists this season) and Curry (70 points in two tournament games), 10th-seeded Davidson took down Gonzaga and then Georgetown in the early rounds of the NCAA tournament in Raleigh, N.C.
Stephen Curry and Davidson aren't flying under the radar anymore.I was there for both games -- but as a fan, not a reporter. Initially, I'd requested a press pass, thinking I'd sit objectively on press row and watch my Cats attempt something they hadn't accomplished since my father graduated from Davidson in 1969 (the Lefty Driesell days). But I quickly realized that wasn't possible. Luckily, the president of Davidson, Tom Ross, also happens to be one of our closest family friends and secured tickets for me. When Ross entered Davidson in 1968, my father was his hall counselor, and they've been friends ever since. Ross' daughter, Mary Kathryn, and I have been best friends since we started going to camp together at age 5, though given our parents' closeness, we claim it's really "since the womb." (We were also Davidson classmates and roommates.)
That's a lot of what Davidson is -- not just an excellent academic institution (ranked as the No. 9 liberal arts college this year by U.S. News and World Report) that does your laundry, but a foundation for lifelong friendships. Filling out March Madness brackets last week, I entered into one with my best girlfriends from college, 15 total, all of whom I'm still close to. A school with a student body of 1,700 is in some ways like a fraternity. As soon as you say the words "Davidson alumni," you've made a connection, whether you were there together or not.
Stephen Curry and Davidson aren't flying under the radar anymore.I was there for both games -- but as a fan, not a reporter. Initially, I'd requested a press pass, thinking I'd sit objectively on press row and watch my Cats attempt something they hadn't accomplished since my father graduated from Davidson in 1969 (the Lefty Driesell days). But I quickly realized that wasn't possible. Luckily, the president of Davidson, Tom Ross, also happens to be one of our closest family friends and secured tickets for me. When Ross entered Davidson in 1968, my father was his hall counselor, and they've been friends ever since. Ross' daughter, Mary Kathryn, and I have been best friends since we started going to camp together at age 5, though given our parents' closeness, we claim it's really "since the womb." (We were also Davidson classmates and roommates.)
That's a lot of what Davidson is -- not just an excellent academic institution (ranked as the No. 9 liberal arts college this year by U.S. News and World Report) that does your laundry, but a foundation for lifelong friendships. Filling out March Madness brackets last week, I entered into one with my best girlfriends from college, 15 total, all of whom I'm still close to. A school with a student body of 1,700 is in some ways like a fraternity. As soon as you say the words "Davidson alumni," you've made a connection, whether you were there together or not.
Those thousands of alumni were united by basketball this past weekend. After Friday's victory, Ross received e-mails from the Ukraine, calls from China and messages from Africa. The words were a mix of elation and disbelief that Davidson, a one-and-done team the past two years, had made it to the second round. My college friend Taylor, living in Shanghai, convinced an "Olive-TGI-Bee's" (his tag for a knock-off of the American chains) to turn the game on in the sports bar so he could sit and cheer alone at midnight for the Cats.
Because while the rest of the nation is catching on, we've been following the Cats all season; and in many cases, for many seasons. Earlier this season, we were disappointed after close losses against North Carolina, Duke, UCLA and NC State, but we knew McKillop's day would come. The talented Long Island native, who often likens basketball to Broadway, would find a way to lead his team onto the biggest stage of the season.
Sitting with Ross and his wife, Mary Kathryn and her husband, and my mother on Friday, I looked around at the sea of red and black "It's a great day to be a Wildcat" T-shirts. Sure, we were a geographical favorite over Gonzaga, but even the UNC fans waiting for the evening session were cheering for the Cats. Former Davidson players from two to 10 years ago filled the stands alongside alums from the '40s, '50s and 2000s.
It's a great day to be a Wildcat. Indeed.After the win, Curry was surrounded by so many cameras in the locker room that one reporter said it looked like the Yankees clubhouse. Later that afternoon, "Stephen Curry" was No. 5 on Google Hot Trends, which gauges the hottest Internet searches of the day.
At a tailgate that evening, Ross told me he'd recently met Barack Obama at an event. When Ross told Obama where he was president, Obama immediately wanted to talk hoops. "That's a good team you've got there," Obama remarked. "And Steph Curry -- he's one of the best pure shooters in the country." Not bad when a presidential hopeful is taking notice. And it's not just Curry, as the sharpshooter is always quick to point out: The entire roster of McKillop-recruited players -- many from other countries -- has played instrumental roles in getting the Cats to this point.
The arena was dominated by baby blue on Sunday afternoon, though the Wildcats contingent was still strong. As the Cinderella sensation slipped away into a 15-point deficit, the crowd quieted. But when Curry and the Cats came roaring back in the second half, so did the fans. UNC folks were on their feet alongside Davidson as the Cats pulled ahead. Like Friday, they orchestrated a comeback that made the words from this season's anthem, "Sweet Caroline" -- "Good times never seemed so good" -- ring true.
At the game-ending buzzer, we screamed, cheered, laughed and hugged strangers. I felt like an extra in the bar scene in "Major League" after the Indians won the pennant. Davidson's men's basketball team made the Sweet 16. We kept repeating it, as though we still couldn't believe it was true. In the RBC Center's concourse, students gathered in a large circle for more than 20 minutes after the game, chanting and singing "Sweet Caroline." When the Davidson players emerged from the tunnel to take their seats during the UNC-Arkansas game, the entire crowd paused to give them a standing ovation. The players waved and nodded, some heading into the seats to hug their families. UNC's band played one more round of "Sweet Caroline," an ode to the Davidson crowd who sang along yet again.
After the game, the talking heads couldn't stop raving about the Cats. Dick Vitale called Curry his tourney MVP and Richards the most underrated point guard in America. On "SportsCenter," Digger Phelps called the Cats the most impressive team of the Sweet 16 and Steve Lavin named Curry the tourney's most impressive player. Online articles and newspapers across the country talked of the David-sons taking down the G-town Goliaths and the Cinderella team that did it, and the first thing I heard when I flipped on the car radio Monday was McKillop being interviewed on a national radio show.
All this … for Davidson? Twenty-four hours later, it's still sinking in. As a Chapel Hill, N.C., native, I'm spoiled when it comes to college basketball. I've seen the Tar Heels win three national championships and who knows how many Sweet 16 berths. But I have to admit this journey is the sweetest. My small-school team from small-town North Carolina moves on. And with it, so does an alumni wave of pride and excitement stirred to new heights.
Before Sunday's tip-off, we stood outside the RBC Center in our Davidson T-shirts. An older gentleman came up and asked us, "Now Davidson -- where is that exactly?" We smiled, patiently answering the question one more time.
Because a few hours later, there aren't many college basketball fans who don't know. We couldn't be happier. It's a great day to be a Wildcat.
Anna K. Clemmons is a reporter for ESPN The Magazine.
And from NPR (Another article to make you smile. Click on the link to hear listen to the story.):
NCAA Men's Tourney: Sweet Comeback for Davidson
Morning Edition, March 24, 2008 · The NCAA men's basketball tournament is down to the "Sweet 16" — from 65 teams at the start. The first weekend saw powers like Duke, Georgetown, Connecticut and Kentucky fail to advance — while schools like Davidson and Western Kentucky are still playing. Other non-powers like San Diego and Siena pulled stunning first-round upsets.
Commentator John Feinstein says the best story among the 16 teams still playing is Davidson, which was a 10th seed — meaning it wasn't supposed to win one game, let alone two. The southern North Carolina school last won an NCAA tournament game in 1969.
On Sunday, the team came back from 17 points down in the second half against Georgetown, the second seed in its region. Stephen Curry, whose dad played in the NBA, led Davidson and "did not miss a shot down the stretch under pressure," Feinstein says. "It's one of the more remarkable comebacks I've seen in this tournament."
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