Tech fans cheer team from 881 miles away

<p>About 5,000 Georgia Tech students were drawn to Alexander Memorial Coliseum in hopes of watching the Yellow Jackets win a national championship Monday night.</p><p>Instead, the students made the most of the party scene that turned somber late in Georgia Tech's 82-73 loss to Connecticut.</p><p>"I'm just happy they got this far," said Kyle Cuttie, 18, of Peachtree City, Ga. "We couldn't shoot. We couldn't rebound. It stinks."</p><p>The game was 881 miles away in Texas, but the students cheered as if watching live action. The arena floor was empty but more than half of the seats at the coliseum were filled as students watched the championship game on the two video screens.</p><p>Georgia Tech freshman Mario Flores of El Salvador said students appreciated the opportunity to watch the championship game in their home arena.</p><p>"It was the least they could do, and they've done a good job with it," said Flores, who wore a sombrero and stood throughout most of the game even as the Yellow Jackets' deficit remained in double figures most of the night.</p><p>As the Yellow Jackets made their surprising march through the NCAA tournament, Tech fans grew accustomed to having different players emerge as stars of the game.</p><p>The students greeted every Tech basket with a roar, hoping for a comeback, but each time Connecticut answered, and the crowd at Alexander Memorial Coliseum responded with a groan.</p><p>"Luuuuuke!" was the call from the fans when Tech center Luke Schenscher _ a surprise postseason hero _ drew an early charging call. There were loud cheers when the Yellow Jackets took a 12-11 lead, but the Huskies answered with 10 straight points.</p><p>Fear of postgame fan violence decreased as Connecticut's lead grew.</p><p>By halftime, when Tech trailed by 15 points, the only physical danger was being hit by one of the dozens of paper airplanes crafted from the "Swarm San Antonio" signs. The signs were given to the students, who as the game progressed seemed more and more willing to send the souvenirs into flight.</p><p>"It's a fairly knowledgeable crowd," said pre-med student Ralph McCormick of Portland at halftime. "These are smart kids. They know what we're up against."</p><p>The Yellow Jackets gave their fans hope by finally cutting Connecticut's lead to single figures in the final minute. Tech students who had started to leave the arena stood in the aisles and watched as the last comeback attempt fell short.</p><p>On hand for the event was Tech's 6th Man Pep Band and a team of cheerleaders.</p><p>Meanwhile, about a 10-minute walk away, the 100-seat computer lab in the Georgia Tech Library sat nearly vacant.</p><p>At halftime, the official count in the computer lab was 11.</p><p>"It's very unusual," said information associate Batecia Sands. "As you know, Tech is a very studious school. The students are very serious about academics. Usually we have people waiting to use computers."</p><p>For one night, basketball was the top priority on campus.</p><p>Said Flores: "It has not affected my studying _ well, just for tonight. That's it, though. I can not afford to let it affect more than that."</p><p>McCormick wasn't worried about the lost studying time.</p><p>"It's good timing, right before the last big test of the year," he said.</p><p>Atlanta police officers who had scheduled vacation Monday were called back to work to help with security for the event and for a postgame block party planned for after the game.</p><p>Extra officers were called in to help with patrols around the Georgia Tech campus in downtown Atlanta and the city's Midtown and Buckhead club areas in anticipation of any disturbances tied to the game, said Atlanta police Sgt. Kevin Iosty.</p><p>After 7 p.m. Monday, only Georgia Tech students and faculty were allowed on campus during the game. Officers checked student IDs at intersections leading onto the campus.</p><p>Even alumni were not allowed to set foot on the campus near downtown Atlanta.</p><p>The public will get its chance to celebrate the team's successful season Tuesday evening at the coliseum. If Georgia Tech had won, there would have been a replay of the game.</p><p>Even with the loss, "we'll still have the welcome home event," said Georgia Tech spokesman David Terraso.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/4/172157