This past weekend, I visited Asheville, N.C. to witness the Samford Bulldogs women's basketball team win their second straight Southern Conference championship. While there, I served a dual role for the team. In one role, I supported the men's and women's teams both as a member of the Bulldog Pep Band. In the other, I reported the stories for the school newspaper. At the victory celebration on Tuesday morning, I was talking to our athletic director, Martin Newton. He suggested that I write a story about having both of these responsibilities. Therefore, I come to the source I know will get published no matter what (that's the great thing about a personal blog) so that this idea can become a reality.
The preparation: Possibly around the end of Jan Term, Dr. Smisek sent out the yearly "join the basketball tournament pep band" email. My response: an immediate "yes." I went last year and enjoyed it immensely. This year, though our women's basketball team was slightly worse than last year's and our men's was slightly better though still not exceptional, I expected the same sort of atmosphere as last year's tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn.
In the week leading up to the SoCon tournament, I became more anticipatory and even less excited about it. I wasn't expecting as much fun as last year's (a six-plus hour drive to Asheville is not quite the same as three hours to Chattanooga), and I really didn't want to be away from home too long. After all, I had classes to attend and, more importantly, a girlfriend I didn't really want to be so far away from. Knowing I had committed to go, and after a talk with one of my friends who was also going, I put aside my negativity and prepared for the journey.
Day 1: Friday, March 2 - Our men's game began at 6 p.m. Eastern time that night; as a result, we - the band and cheerleaders - were scheduled to depart at 8:00 in the morning, Central time. 8 o'clock rolled around and the bus did not. I, as well as many of my friends, just wanted to get on the bus and go back to sleep. Finally, the bus arrived and we pulled out at around 8:35. With the late departure, and having to stop for lunch, we made it to the Asheville Civic Center with about an hour until tip-off. The game was Furman-Samford.
From the start, our team's fans had four times more spirit than Furman's, even though they outnumbered us at least 2.5:1. Part of that was because their band was playing across town at their women's game and didn't arrive until halftime. However, the story was different on the basketball court. Furman advanced to the quarterfinals with a 75-66 win, and the men's season was over for Samford. Having hoped the improved Bulldogs would at least win one game in the tournament, I was disappointed. There was still the women's team, though.
During the game, I texted my editor: "Hey JT, I'm at the tournament this weekend. Want me to cover it for the Crimson?" After the affirmative response, I emailed Zac Schreiber from sports information: "Zac, I need to speak to Coach Tillette about the game for the Crimson sometime before the end of Monday. I'm in Asheville as long as the women's team is, and my computer power cord is on the fritz. Let me know by phone and email so I'm sure I'm aware."
Yeah, that's an interesting story, too. For the past week, my laptop charger had been working off and on. I ordered a new one a day or two before I left, so it had not arrived before the tournament. Thus, I was writing and reporting two stories, potentially completely away from home, with a computer that had a limited charge. This became quite the problem the longer we were in Asheville. I also emailed Drew Windler, Tyler Hood and Jeff Merritt before my battery dwindled to a dangerously low point, and got in touch with Joey Mullins for my women's story.
Day Two: Saturday, March 3- This was the team to be excited about. Our women's basketball team, the defending conference champions. Their regular season was not as spectacular as last year's; still, a fourth-place seeding in an eleven-team league is nothing to scoff at. The competition was against the Elon Phoenix at UNC-Asheville's Kimmel Arena, where just moments before leaving the hotel, I saw Asheville claim the Big South title on television. The expectations in the band and cheerleaders was a win, but we sure wouldn't have minded going home early. The Bulldogs dominated. For dinner, the fare was a fantastic Italian panini and the disappointment of having to inform Amy I'd be another day getting home, at least. Without the use of my computer, I didn't do any reporting. That role took a night off.
Day Three: Sunday, March 4- Today, we faced the top seed in the conference in Davidson. The general consensus at the Quality Inn was that we would be going home after the game ended at around 2 p.m. We didn't let the team know that, and as a result, boy, were we wrong. With our support, the Dogs bolted to a huge halftime lead, and didn't relent enough to let the Wildcats take the game from them. I think of all the wins in the tournament, this was the biggest disappointment for the band and cheerleaders. I had to let Amy know that once again, she'd have to wait another day for my return.
Text from Zac Schrieber: "Clayton, how about 2:00, Eastern time, tomorrow?" I responded with a yes, knowing that I'd most likely be in a public area with band people. Of course, I much rather would've been in a hotel room with everything conveniently nearby for me to take notes on the conversation, but I had to do what I had to do. I stayed up late for no reason, and got rested for the hopefully excited day ahead.
Day Four: Monday, March 5- I had a very quiet and late breakfast at the hotel, joining about four others in the group that were the only ones awake at 10 in the morning. The anticipation began as the word was passed on that Appalachian State's coach wanted to face the Bulldogs in the final, because she said my school's team didn't deserve it last time. That's motivation if ever there was need to be motivated at all. I was able to find an outlet to work with my laptop charger, and found a public computer in the hotel. I was able to write up my men's story, sans Tillette quotes, and talked to Joey Mullins about talking to Mike Morris.
We went to the Asheville mall for lunch and time-killing before the 5 p.m. tip time. I called and talked to Jimmy Tillette in the middle of the mall and roamed around with my band friends until it was time to go. We had several signs and t-shirts made up for the game, plus red and yellow cards to display when Mountaineers fouled our Bulldogs. It was with immense spirit the band and cheerleaders walked into the Civic Center arena that afternoon, and we passed that spirit on to the team while they were warming up. We wanted this win.
The team wanted the win, too. They got off to an 18-8 lead and never really lost control. In the second half, App fought back for an eventual one-point lead, but the crowd support propelled the Bulldogs to recover. In the band we were screaming and yelling and having trouble matching up with the cheerleaders because we had that much spirit. In the end, Samford pulled off the 54-43 victory to claim its second straight SoCon title. We were victorious. I say "we," because I credit the spirit squad (band and cheerleaders) and fan support for being the deciding factor in the girls' win. Is it egotistical? Sure, a little. Realistic? Most probably. When they were taking the picture with the trophy, the team called the cheerleaders and band over to be in the picture with them, something that did not happen last year. So it's absolutely certain that they appreciated our presence.
Back to the bus. We had pizza and soda (Pepsi, of course, being in North Carolina) waiting for us so we could get home as soon as possible. Before the game I talked with Joey Mullins and arranged to call Coach Morris around an hour after the game. I waited an hour, but we were in the middle of a movie. I waited for the end of the movie and a gas station stop to call the coach, but there was no response. I ended up writing about ten questions I could ask when he called back, but he never did. As a result, I never really got to sleep on the bus, though I tried. We arrived back in Birmingham at around 12:40 in the morning.
Day Five: Tuesday, March 6- Now, it's time to celebrate. The victory flag pep rally was at 10:45 a.m. and I was there as a band member and a Crimson reporter. After several rounds of the fight song, I put my horn away to talk to Coach Morris. I spoke with him and Paige Anderson, and plugged the quotes I received into my story by that evening. While at the pep rally, I witnessed crews from several stations, including ABC 33/40 recording the event (You can see my critical review of 33/40's report here - I promise it's a lot shorter than my personal blog posts). At the pep rally was when I had the discussion with Joey and Mr. Newton that inspired this post. Mr. Newton told me I could be the only person in the nation to be doing the double-duty thing as a reporter and band member, I doubt it's true though. If you know of any other instances in which this happened, and are still reading this post, leave me a comment. Otherwise, come back next post.
Until then,
-Clayton
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