Tuesday, March 15, 2011

How do we know your team's in town?

Long Island University is the Blackbirds. I had no idea. Hampton's the Pirates, and if you follow March Madness, you might remember their big upset over Iowa State back in 2001, which led to the wonderful image of their coach impersonating a dead bug. But other than that, I don't know much.

So here's the question, for fans of the eight schools playing here in the NCAA regionals this weekend: How will we know your team's in town?

Here are the teams coming to Charlotte, by the way -- I'm going to put them in alphabetical order to eliminate any bias: Georgia, Duke, Hampton, Long Island, Michigan, North Carolina, Tennessee, Washington.

OK, see, I'm biased already.

Georgia is my team. I went to school there. I left several million brain cells scattered around campus. I still daydream about going back and becoming a perpetual grad student. These are my people.

Here's how you know Dawg fans are in town:

-- ABC stores suddenly low on Jim Beam; CVS stores suddenly low on BC powders.

-- Hotel-lobby debates about whether Herschel Walker could play college basketball (yes), and how many points he would score (164 a game).

-- Lots of body-painting going on... but not as erotic as it sounds.

Now then... both Duke and North Carolina are also headed this way. I could say that you know Duke fans are in town when the parking lot is full of Jersey plates. I could say that you know Carolina fans are in town when you see people counting the Jersey plates in the parking lot. But I would never say such things, because I know you Blue Devil and Tar Heel fans will step up.

(Of course, it's possible that you might actually say something about the other team, rather than your own. There's no way we can stop that. But of course none of you would do such a thing. Hint. Hint.)

But we're looking to hear from all of you. Michigan, Tennessee, Washington, Hampton: What should we look for from y'all? And you Long Island Blackbirds... is anybody coming? Because we need to talk. Clearly, the Long Island Expressway would be a much cooler name.

Have at it in the comments...

It just so happens that MY team is in town, so I'll go first.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

As a Georgia alum, I take offense to the body paint remark. I have not seen even a fraction of the body paint at UGA that I see in one Duke game. The Crazy Nerds take the cake in body paint! With the exception of the guy that paints the Bulldawg on his bald head, there isn't much body painting going on at UGA. Not sure what you are talking about. Have you looked at the Duke fans! They must own stock in body paint companies. GO DAWGS!!!

Unknown said...

Dawg fans are rabid, loyal, optimistic and fun! You will know the Dawg fans because they are the last to leave the party, the pub, or the tailgate and they are generous tippers.
Bulldogs know good basketball when they see it and appreciate being invited to the dance, now lets see if they can boogie better than Washington.

Anonymous said...

Sic 'Em!

Anonymous said...

Go ahead and enjoy your fame vicariously through 'athletics' (read professional farm team mentality) from the second best school in GA while I enjoy my degree and its associated employment benefits. GT'83

Anonymous said...

GT'83, get back to work. As your boss I am very disappointed that you would be visiting websites while I pay you to plum pipes.

-UGA Grad '87

Anonymous said...

Love it, Go Dawgs!!!!
Lake Norman Dawg Fan

tommy tomlinson said...

This has somehow turned into a UGA message board :) That's OK with me, but I'd also love to hear from folks who follow the other teams... jump on in.

And thanks for visiting, Georgia Tech guy. Which tournament are y'all in again?

Unknown said...

Go Dawgs!! I second the comment on the body paint, though...

Anonymous said...

Tech Sucks

Anonymous said...

Know why UTenn's color is orange? You can wear it to the game on Saturday, wear it deer hunting on Sunday, and on Monday you can wear it while picking up trash on the side of the road!

HBTD!!!

Anonymous said...

Who cares about all these teams anyway, they're just visiting? My school is ALWAYS in Charlotte! Go Niners!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

and even in Charlotte's worst season, they still beat Tennessee and Ga. Tech.....haha

GetaREALdegree said...

How do you know when UGA's in town? They show their true Southern manners by using a handkerchief to clean up after they vomit.

Merv said...

As a UGA Alum, I prefer Bulleit Bourbon and Goody's powders to Jim Beam and BC. But otherwise, we are the last to leave the party and generally know how to be gracious in victory or defeat. Good luck to the Dawgs in Charlotte this weekend!

Anonymous said...

How do you know Ga fans are in town? They're standing around watching UGA doing things that dogs sometimes do and whispering to his buddy, I wish I could do that. Of course his buddy will say, That dawg will bite youuu. As told by Ga grad, Lewis Grizzard.

Go Vols

Anonymous said...

Tommy, are you sure you're a Ga fan? I notice that a picture of the VOLS are leading your article. Could it be that you just couldn't make it above the state line and are a VOL wannabe?

tommy tomlinson said...

Anon 5:20: I'm not sure how that photo happened. Clearly, quality control is getting slack around here :)

Anonymous said...

Once a Dawg always a Dawg ... how sweet it is!
Former Redcoat Band member

Anonymous said...

UGA Grad '87:
"...plum pipes???" Plumb, maybe?

Your education is showing.
Go Blue!

Anonymous said...

Devil>Dawg/anything else you care to mention


Good luck on making it past the sweet bitches(as in lady dawgs), youll need it

Anonymous said...

A few million of my brain cells were left in Athens as well, but the rest are headed to Charlotte this weekend. Lets hope we get a good crowd and beat Carolina Sunday! GO DAWGS! -UGA Alum '08

Anonymous said...

I went to UGA ....had so much fun I ended up graduating from Georgia State .... Athens is unlike any place....eat at the grill and listen to widespread panic!

Anonymous said...

I miss HERBIE's

who has eaten Herbie balls???

and dont forget

weaver d??

Anonymous said...

Go Vols

Liz said...

You know the Tennessee Volunteers are in town when you hear "Rocky Top" for the first and hundredth time. Little old ladies and even babies are decked out in beautiful, bright orange. And if we lose..watch out! Our blood runs orange!

Anonymous said...

You know Coach K is in town when you can't find any black hair dye anywhere. You know Georgia is in town when you see crowds marvelling at roads with pavement on them. You know Tennessee is in town when you hear crowds of people talking about how they hated to leave their sisters and brothers behind (think about it). You know UNC is in town when you look around, since we own this town. You know Duke is in town when you see white guys flopping down all over the plays as an homage to the team.

Anonymous said...

Love the Dawgs! Eat at Mert's - founder is an Athens man.

Is there a better non-coastal city in the South than Athens? If you have never been, think Chapel Hill without the chain dinning, with a southern accent and some very cool music and people.

Go Georgia!!

Anonymous said...

Paved roads comment from a Carolinian? Give me a break.

You know Georgia is in town when you see the beautiful women, hear the barking and partying, and friends are buying rounds for new friends, opponents fans and hosts.

Old Georgia joke - when you first meet someone from Atlanta, they ask, "What business are you in?"; from Macon, "What church do you belong to?', but in Savannah, they always, ALWAYS, ask first, "What are your drinking?"

Anonymous said...

Someone sat near a little old lady at a Georgia football game who was cheering loudly for the Dawgs. In the second half, the guy asked her why the seat next to her was empty and she said "It's my late husband's seat."
He asked, "Why didn't you give it away to one of your friends?"
She said, "I tried to but they are all at the funeral."

Go Dawgs!

Greg Hicks said...

UNC Asheville alum here still psyched from our win last night against UALR! But Bulldog fans can be described in three words. Loyal and weird. We love our school and our team and we cheer for these guys because they aren't Kemba Walker or Jared Sullinger. We had an 1,100 seat gym. We have a pep band consisting of about five people, one of which is a bagpiper. But we are ruthless supporters and will wear our UNCA royal blue shirts with pride. Any 3-pointer we hit and you hear, U...U-N...U-N-C-AAAAAAAA! You are hearing the battle cry of either an alum, student or staff member. It's an awful chant but it is our chant and we love it!

Stagger Lee said...

You know UNC fans are in town b/c all the pinot noir is sold out at Whole Foods. You know the Duke fans are in town b/c all the dental dams are sold out at the local pharmacy.

You know the Dawgs are in town b/c, well, we are awesome and tend to stick out.

Go Dawgs!!!

-'06 UGA alum and Charlotte's native son

chupacabra said...

This isn't fair really because we UNC folk are always in town.