March 31, 2004
SAN ANTONIO, Texas–Georgia Tech arrived in downtown San Antonio around 10:30 p.m. central time on Wednesday night. The Yellow Jackets and their immediate travel party were greeted at their hotel by a sea of cameras documenting the arrival of Tech in the Alamo city.
The players and coaches have finished most of their media commitments for this week until Friday afternoon when they will practice at the Alamo Dome and then take part in a pregame interview session.
With this appearance in the Final Four, its easy to understand why this might be the most publicized event in Tech athletics history. Since the Jackets’ last appearance in 1990, which was followed by their run to the Citrus Bowl the next fall, the Final Four has taken on a “Super Bowl-like” atmosphere each year in the host city.
Tech’s 1990 Final Four was in the conventional McNichols Sports Arena in Denver. Since then, only once has the Final Four not been held in a dome (1996, East Rutherford, N.J.).
The schedule for Thursday has Tech going through a workout at Trinity College in San Antonio, then the players can enjoy some free time in the Riverwalk area near their hotel.
GOVERNOR PERDUE LEADS SEND OFF
There was no program or declaration, but Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue came by Alexander Coliseum on Wednesday afternoon to see the Jackets leave for Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Governor Perdue will not attend Saturday’s game against Oklahoma State because of a previous commitment, but he is scheduled to be in attendance if the Jackets advance to Monday night’s title game.
Governor Perdue was joined by nearly 250 fans and all four local Atlanta television stations to see the Jackets off for San Antonio.
COWBOYS THE LAST TO ARRIVE
Oklahoma State will not arrive in San Antonio until shortly after noon on Thursday. Duke, UConn and Tech all came in on Wednesday night. Oklahoma State could also have the biggest crowd at Saturday’s national semi-finals session. The Cowboy faithful were outnumbered last weekend in New Jersey, but after spending week one of the tournament in Kansas City, they are ready to come back strong for this weekend’s event.
DICKIE V, AND DIGGER TOO!
Georgia Tech hadn’t been in their hotel five-minutes when both Dick Vitale and Digger Phelps showed up in the lobby. It wasn’t scripted to be like that as both Vitale and Phelps were passing through to another engagement.
Neither college analyst was willing to expand on their choice of Kansas to win the St. Louis regional last weekend.
CBS FOLLOWING JACKETS
CBS was given permission tonight to tape the Jackets film session with Coach Hewitt for use in their coverage of the Final Four this weekend. CBS has been given special access during the rest of the week to showcase Tech’s preparation for Saturday’s game against Oklahoma State.
TONIGHT’S TRAVEL TIP…
When you visit the Alamo in San Antonio, don’t forget to see the basement!
