Madness

Yes, yes, I'll be filling out a bracket for the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball tournament. And it is likely I'll fill out more than one bracket, with different winners, for each of the pools I enter. I won't, however, enter multiple brackets in one pool, thus subjecting myself to the ridicule of people like Lisa.

But that's not what I'm here to talk about.

Last night, the Ursinus Bears took the next step in an exhilarating season by beating the US Coast Guard Academy 82-76, in overtime, to claim a spot in the Final Four of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball tournament. It was a thrilling game, as the victors paired a balanced offensive attack with intense defense and rebounding (not to mention superior height) to overcome the Coast Guard's sharpshooting three-point specialists. The Coasties showed a lot of heart, nearly giving me a heart attack.

The only low point (for me, anyway) was one of the hometown cheers. Two nights ago, the Gettysburg student section taunted Ursinus with chants of "Safety School." (I know. Creative. Why the Hellferich Hooligans didn't respond with "scoooore-board," I don't know.) And so last night, chants of "Navy Rejects" rained down on the Coast Guard's impressive contingent of fans. Not only did I find this to demonstrate poor sportsmanSHIP (har-har), but generally it's just not a good idea to insult people in uniform. Ursinus students should mind their Ps and Qs next time they find themselves in a boat, as the chants may not have been water off the back to the good men and women of the Coast Guard...

Anyway, raucous student cheering sections will be raucous student cheering sections, I guess. But class never goes out of style.

Congrats to the Bears, and good luck in Salem, VA!