Temple University Athletics
Philadelphians Eye Temple, Rematch In Weekend Games
3.21.01 | Men's Basketball
from left, Kevin Lyde, Ron Rollerson and Quincy Wadley are seen during the rally. |
By JONATHAN POET
Associated Press Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP)(March 21) - One might not notice that March Madness is coming to Philadelphia, seeing as how most area sports fans are looking to Atlanta of all
places.
Hundreds of Temple students turned out for a school-sponsored lottery that sent 40 lucky winners to Georgia with tickets for the Owls' game against Penn State
on Friday.
But, there is no doubt about it: The NCAA East Regionals are coming to Philadelphia's First Union Center. Just look at the floor, which has been replaced for two
games Thursday and one on Saturday, and the rows of seating built to accommodate the more than 600 expected members of the media.
Tourism officials are estimating that about 8,000 people from outside the area will fill at least 25 percent of downtown Philadelphia's hotel rooms.
Nearly 300 Temple students packed into a room at Temple's arena Wednesday for the chance to get airfare, hotel accommodations through Sunday and tickets
to its games in Atlanta for a total of $50.
The event had a pep-rally atmosphere with cheerleaders and raucous fans. One carried a life-size cardboard cutout of coach John Chaney dressed in a sweater
vest.
after his name was called as one of 40 students selected in a lottery.
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Pete Hennesey, 19, was among the 40 people who won spots on the university trip.
"Temple has been my team since I was six years old," the freshman said. "My dad came here. I was born in Temple Hospital. It's in my blood."
Winners shrieked, yelled and hooted- these are Owls fans, after all - when their names were called.
Lawrence Richardson, a senior who "sat through all those losing games" earlier this season, said he wasn't feeling good about his chances about being selected.
Richardson won a spot on the trip, but still had some schoolwork to wrap up.
"I'll e-mail my papers," he said. "Oh, I gotta do that tonight."
