Gary Williams...Thank You. Never Thought I'd Live to see Terps Win it ALL!

In the NCAA Basketball Tournament (March Madness) the strategy is clear.  Survive Rounds 1 & 2 anyway you can.  Play your "A" game in the Regional and get to the Final Four where anything can happen.

1999 NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Championships - South Regional Knoxville TN

In 1999, #2 seeded Maryland Terrapins (its a Diamondback Turtle) beat Valparaiso & Creighton in Rounds 1 & 2, Maryland Survived!  Now they matched up in the Sweet Sixteen game against #3 seeded St. John's (NY) of the Big East.  South Regional to take place on the campus of The University of Tennessee-Knoxville on March 18 & 20, 1999....ROAD GAMES!!!

On Thursday, March 18, 1999 @ 7 am, I drove to BWI Airport with my college roommate and BFF Steve.  Landing in Nashville about 10 am, we rented a car and drove to Knoxville. There was major construction on the way and we stopped for lunch.  We got to the U of Tennessee at 5 pm.  Campus police directed us to "Shuttle Parking" and there we waited an hour for the shuttle bus.  The bus took us to the arena, where I had to walk around the building and up a ramp to "Will Call."   Got the tickets, walked back around to the entrance and entered the facility.

After I bought a T-shirt, hat & program...I sat in my seat 15 rows above the Maryland bench at 7 pm...12 hours of travel.

Tip off at 7:18 pm for TV, everything was okay...for the first 3 minutes.  Then the Terps were overwhelmed by St. John's Red Storm, which had recently changed their nickname from the "politically incorrect" Red Men.  You can Google it...I was there.  Down 10...15...20...25 points, it was a nightmare. During timeouts, coaches and players yelling at each other.  At the half, I was disappointed the concession stands didn't sell cyanide.  I found a pay phone (no cell phones then), changed my flight home to the next afternoon and my hotel room to a one night stay from three.

I watched Laron Profit, Obinna Ekezie & Steve Francis (entered NBA early) Maryland careers come to a Thud Ending.  At the final buzzer, the ticket "scalpers" ran into the Maryland section, handed me $100 and I gave him our two Championship (Saturday) game tickets.  No wait for the shuttle bus back to the parking lot, I was out there before Ohio State-Auburn had warmed up.  I got home the next afternoon and admitted to my wife, what a waste of time.

2002 NCAA Div 1 Men's Basketball Championships - East Regional Syracuse, NY

In 2002, everything was on the line for Maryland.  Their first Final Four appearance the previous year ended in a 2nd half collapse of historic proportion against Duke in the National Semi-Finals.  Maryland was home at the Verizon Center (formerly MCI Center) for Rounds 1 & 2.  I was there via DC Metro (Chinatown Station) for Round 1 win over Siena.  Wisconsin was a tough 2nd round opponent, but the Terps Survived!  ROAD GAMES!!

So happened, my daughter was a Sophomore at Syracuse University, site of the East Regional, March 22 & 24, 2002.  Although it was "tax season," I packed the computer, some files and headed to Syracuse NY.  I secured two tickets for the game from a client (Terp Booster) who wasn't going.

Syracuse University's Newhouse School is worth every penny of tuition.  But, that place was an icebox.  I walked Friday night at 6 pm  from my daughter's dorm room to the Carrier Dome (center of campus),  1/2 mile tops...I thought I was going to freeze to death.

We sat behind the basket, near Maryland's bench for the Sweet Sixteen game against Kentucky.  It was close for awhile, but Maryland won.  Wow!! I finally get to use the Championship Game Ticket.  Of course, CBS scheduled it a 5:30 pm tip off on Sunday...another cold, dark night in Upstate New York.

I worked in the hotel room, Best Western by the airport Saturday & most of Sunday.

The Championship game was against UConn and it wasn't going well.  I was still defrosting in the 2nd half, it was colder than Friday night, while UConn's Huskies were outplaying the Terps. Maryland couldn't inbound, got out hustled, out played...UConn had MOMENTUM.

Then the Giant Hand of CBS reached into the Carrier Dome...the Red Light came on - "TV or Official Time Out" was called.  

About 12 minutes later, Maryland throws in the ball (without calling time out, throwing it away or having it stolen), Juan Dixon dribbles up the court and calmly hits the three point shot. The Terps got their game back to form.  Maryland's Championship Run is Saved!!!   Bless you CBS.

My daughter walked me to the garage (indoor icebox), I kissed her goodbye, told her I love her.  I spoke to some friends on the cell phone coming home by myself.  I don't know what commercials CBS showed during that 12 minutes "timeout" but I was there to see what really happened.  I saw a composed Maryland team (coaches & players) work out the strategy needed to win.  The lessons learned in Knoxville (1999) and two Duke disasters in 2001 were not in vein.

I'm glad I was in Syracuse to see it.  Also, I was wrong, Knoxville was not a waste of time.

1st NCAA Lacrosse Championship - Maryland vs. Cornell @ Hofstra Stadium June 5, 1971

The 1st NCAA Lacrosse Championship was also my first lacrosse game.  Traffic from my home in Queens to Hofstra was heavy.  Cononero II was running in the Belmont Stakes that afternoon for the Triple Crown.  Over 100,000 was expected at Belmont Park in nearby Elmont, NY.

Hofstra had the first "AstroTurf" on a college campus. The AFL's NY Jets had their training camp there.  Only Houston's Astrodome, home of the MLB Astros, had "artificial" turf (i.e. AstroTurf) in pro sports.  Americans were still going to the moon in those days.

Maryland and Cornell's school colors are both Red & White.  Maryland's players were 50/50 - NY/MD and Cornell almost all NYers, but Cornell's star was Canadien Al Rimmer who the Terps could not stop all day.

The Terps were playing catch up all day, but never did catch the "Big Red."  Cornell won 12-6.  Per the scoring I kept, Al Rimmer had 6 goals.  I wanted him deported.

The attendance was reported in the paper at 5,500 or so.  I would have guessed two or three thousand tops.

It was the last time I bought a program for 25 cents.

Maryland 1972 NIT Champions @ Madison Square Garden NYC March 25, 1972

In 1972, the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) meant something.  Only Conference Champions won a spot in the NCAA Tournament (pre-March Madness).  Conference Runner-up teams, Independents (50% of colleges) and local schools came to NYC and gladly accepted an invitation to the NIT.

The 1970-71 Maryland Terps had "experienced" Madison Square Garden (MSG).  The Terps played and beat Seton Hall on Feb 20, 1971. Freshman could not play Varsity sports then.  I met Freshmen Tom McMillen and Len Elmore sitting court side and had them autograph my Maryland press guide. Lefty came over and passed the guide around and had all the players autograph the inside cover.

The Terps invitation to the 1972 NIT was an important accomplishment in Lefty's plan to make Maryland "the UCLA of the East."

The "President" Arrives

"Pep Bands" were not common in MSG.  Eddie Layton played the organ there for 50 years and that was all I knew about music.

The Maryland Pep Band set up early for the first game against St. Joseph's. When Coach Lefty Driesell came out for pre-game warmups, as usual they played "Hail to the Chief."  The uproar that President Nixon was entering took 5 minutes to calm down.

The Terps played well enough to beat St. Joe's that day, then Syracuse and Jacksonville.  Terps drew some boos during the "slow downs" that made North Carolina "four corners" famous - which resulted in the shot clock in college basketball.   Now on to the NIT Championship against Niagara. 

NIT Championship Game - March 25, 1972

The Championship game against the Purple Eagles of Niagara University (Buffalo NY) was on a Saturday afternoon.  The NHL NY Rangers had a home game that night, so the court was placed on top of the ice.  I sat in a floor seat right behind Lefty.  The mats or cloth laid on top of the ice did not keep my feet from being ice cold.

Maryland won its First Championship that day.  Niagara made a good accounting of itself, but the Terps had size and controlled the boards.

After the game I went towards the locker room entrance with my friend Howard (Lefty's business partner).  When a security guard stopped me, Asst Coach George Raveling came over and said to him "that's Lefty's son."  I ran into the locker room. 

The locker room celebration was the realization that Maryland basketball was on the right track.  It took another 30 years for Maryland to complete that journey and Win the NCAA National Championship.  I'm glad I was there for the entire trip.

Maryland Terp Wins Third Annual NYC Marathon - October 1, 1972

On October 1 1972, I was a 16 year old senior at Long Island City HS (Queens NYC).  I wanted to get out for the day and noticed in the NY Times Sports page the NYC Marathon was scheduled in Central Park.  I was active in basketball & gym, so I figured I'll get some exercise.

I put on the prize of my wardrobe, a University of Maryland sweatshirt.  My neighbor, Howard, was Lefty Driesell's business partner in insurance and would occasionally bring athletes down to College Park.  Back then you could only get school apparel at the school, and Howard brought back lots of Maryland stuff.  I was already a devoted Terp.

I took the subway (RR train from Broadway in Astoria) to Central Park.  Registration for the New York City Marathon was in a "Y."  It was $3 to register.  They gave me a locker key, a program, two #265 cards and four small safety pins to put on the numbers (front & back).

I was putting my sweatshirt in the locker when a guy came over, "Do you go to Maryland?"  I said "No...not yet...but I will be...I hope to."  He introduced himself as Shelly, his name was Sheldon Karlin.  He was a U of Maryland student from Silver Spring, MD.

Shelly told me he was on the Maryland Track Team, then his father came over and went into a tirade about Maryland AD Jim Kehoe.  Bottom line, Shelly was caught drinking a beer when the team was at an out of town meet and was suspended from the team.

Shelly & I wished each other luck.

The NYC Marathon was one (1) 2.2 mile lap & four (4) 6 mile laps within Central Park on the outer main path.  The women, there were 10 or so,  start 15 minutes earlier than the men.  When the whistle sounded, all the women sat down.  I was unaware that an "Equality Protest" was planned.  Some news photographers took pictures.  The women wanted to run at the same start as the men.  When the men took off 15 minutes later, the women began their run.  Officially, all the women times include the 15 min they sat down.

Shelly passed me a few times and called over words of encouragement.  I did walk 8 miles that day.  When I got to the finish line (after one lap) and quit, who do you think was coming in for the win?

Sheldon "Shelly" Karlin - a Student from The University of Maryland at College Park MD - hometown Silver Spring MD - Winner of the Third Annual New York City Marathon.

After he hugged his Dad, he came over to me, said "Go Terps!!" as we shook hands.

If you every hear from Shelly, please let him know, I'm Proud to be a Terp too.

**Update Dec 2, 2010 - I received an e-mail from Matthew Karlin that his father, Sheldon, had passed away in July 2000.  My memory of Shelly is watching him crossing the finish line as NYC Marathon Champion & Proud Terp.

Jaguars vs. Titans @ LP Field Nashville TN December 5, 2010 Kickoff Noon

Jacksonville Jaguars travel over the Cumberland River to meet the Tennessee Titans in Music City USA.

Titans games have plenty of tickets available. See below Score the Best Seats - Cheap

Nashville is a fun Road Game Day Trip. If you're coming from Jacksonville, it will require a night in a hotel. 

Nashville is Central Time***Kickoff is Noon

Flights Jacksonville - Nashville - FARE $89 Each Way!

Southwest Airlines goes non-stop to Nashville, however, it will require a night's stay.  That first flight to Nashville doesn't get in until 11:05 am - too late.  But, the 6:25 pm flight back to Jacksonville is PERFECT to get home after the game. 

Several other airlines have various schedules JAX-BNA.  Southwest has the best cancellation policy; should your flight be delayed and you'll miss the game, awful weather or you change your mind.  You can cancel and have Full Credit for one year from purchase for another trip.

Hotels

There are many hotels with Free Airport Transportation for an early Monday departure.

If you're coming in Saturday and flying out after the game, there's a nice variety of downtown hotels.  See below Dinner in Nashville at the Nashville Hilton.  A Perfect Game Day location.

Travel from the Airport (BNA) to Nashville

Nashville MTA has Express Bus Service from the Airport. The #18 Airport/Music City Central departs the airport once an hour, on the :45 hour. 

On the bus, buy an ALL DAY PASS, it costs $4.80.  The fare box on the bus takes credit cards and cash.

Arrival at Music City Central - Bus Terminal

Your Airport Express Bus will arrive in Bay #18 at Music City Central - Bus Terminal

If you don't have time for breakfast, See Getting to LP Field

Breakfast in Music City USA

You'll arrive in Bay #18 at 5 minutes past the hour.  Walk across to Bay #17 - Take Bus #7 Hillsboro - it leaves on the quarter hour.  It's a nice ride through town. 

I heard about a popular restaurant called Pancake Pantry.  When I asked the bus driver about the closest bus stop to it...several riders on the bus said "Go to Fido's"  I went to Fido's, it was excellent, especially their gourmet coffee.  Its a block past Pancake Pantry. This is the Vanderbilt University area.  Lots of students and the typical collegiate atmosphere. Check out both places and pick the best for you.

The bus goes down Broadway and turns on to 21st.  When the bus makes its left turn onto Wedgewood, Your Stop is Wedgewood & 21st Street. Exit the bus.

Walk to the corner, make a left turn onto 21st Street.  Pancake Pantry will be on your left and Fido's one block further down 21st Street on the left.

After Breakfast

Leaving the restaurant, turn right onto 21st Street and walk to the Bus Stop.  Take Bus #7 Hillsboro on 21st back to Music City Central - Bus Terminal.  The bus pulls into Bay #17.

Getting to LP Field- By Bus

At the Bus Terminal:  Which ever one of these buses is ready to leave, get on it, they all go to LP Field:

Bus #4 in Bay #14; Bus #14 in Bay #2; Bus #23 in Bay #12  

In 10 minutes you're through downtown and over the bridge.  The Bus Stop is Woodland & South 1st Street - LP Field.  You'll be right where you need to be.

Season tickets holders have Permit Parking on the north & west sides of stadium. The bus will take you over the Cumberland River, to the north side of LP Field.

Getting to LP Field - Walking

If you are walking around downtown Nashville and decide to walk across the Pedestrian Bridge (at 1st Ave South & Shelby) to LP Field, there are plenty of tickets for sale on the bridge.  Don't bother, unless you want a corner end zone seat.  If you want the best seats, See SCORE THE BEST SEATS - Cheap.

SCORE THE BEST SEATS - Cheap

What you need to know:

At Kickoff (noon), Unused Tickets are Worthless.

Tickets for the Best Seats arrive 30 minutes prior to the Noon Kickoff (11:30 am).

DON'T settle for bad seats.  This is YOUR DAY!  Your team, on the road; your friends will be talking about this game for years to come.

Season Ticket Holders (i.e. Best Seats) have extras or gave them all away to friends, customers and employees. Those great seats are going into the stadium unused...Unless you offer to buy it from the person that have them.  Most people are delighted to get something for it.

A lot of people come to the game with extras and what to decide who is sitting next to them. That is why don't sell them on tickets exchange sites.

Buying extra tickets from a season ticket holder is a Win-Win situation. Thank him/her for selling it to you.

Do NOT buy from Ticket "Scalpers" - The "I need tickets" guys with 10 tickets in their hand.  Some sell fakes & voided tickets.  Season ticket holders don't want anything to do with them.  They would rather "eat" (carrying it unused into the stadium) the ticket...but you're going to help the season ticket holders by buying their tickets.

Season ticket holders don't want to be "embarrassed" by standing outside "hawking" tickets for sale.  But, if they see you're looking to buy a couple of tickets they will ask, "Do you need a ticket?"

The "Face Value" of a ticket means nothing.  The team makes season ticket holders feel good that they paid $75 for something marked $200. It also disappoints them when they sell it for $25.

Never buy "Internet" printed tickets...they've been photo copied 50 times.

What you need to do:

Print up a Seating Chart of LP Field and have it with you. Know what range of sections you want.  Don't bother with end zone seats, between the two 30 yards lines is a good range.

Know what you are willing to pay - $25 a ticket is plenty for this game.  Have CASH READY to buy the tickets.

Dress (your Jags attire is fine) & Act like the guy you would want sitting next to your children at Everbank Field.  Nearly every ticket I bought was next to the people I bought it from.  Nobody wants to sit next to a jerk.

Go to Where The Tickets are - The best seats Come From Permit Parking in Lots G, M on the north side and S, K. M on the west side of LP Field.   You're getting off the bus on Woodland at South 1st Street, Lots G & M are on your right, as you walk towards the stadium. The Gates around the stadium to the right is where to find the best tickets. Put up 1 or 2 fingers (even if you need 4) to let people know you're looking.

The best seats are Fancy, Team Logos, Quality Printed tickets. 

Do NOT bother with "Internet" printed tickets.  If Ticketmaster printed tickets, check the back for printed matter - they should not be blank. Also, the seats won't be good.

Check the tickets for the Section Number, is it in your range?  Ask the seller "Are the seats next to you?  Are they Good?"  If you want the tickets, then offer $25 a ticket.  When the person ask for $100, just tell them that's all the want to pay.  They may take the $25 or look for a better price, but the clock is ticking.  They'll take the $25 and why not?  Its better than nothing.

Enjoy the game and your Great Seats.

After the Game

Bus back to town - The #4, #14 & #23 Bus Stop on Woodland heading towards the bridge, will take you back downtown.  I would get off at Union & 5th Ave N. Walk on 5th Ave towards Broadway - Welcome to Music City.  Plenty of Restaurants & Bars.  If you don't exit the bus at Union & 5th, you'll start at Music City Central - Bus Terminal, an extra 3 blocks walk to Broadway.

Pedestrian Bridge on the south end of LP Field going across the Cumberland River offers beautiful views.  When you get over the bridge; you will be at 1st Ave S & Shelby (Riverfront Park is on your right).  Walk one block to your right and up Broadway.  Enjoy your visit to Music City USA

Dinner in Nashville

You'll probably find a fine restaurant & bar on Broadway.  I'm a sports fan.  It took two trips to Nashville before I found where the "locals" go after the game.  The Best Sports Bar in town.

The Nashville Hilton located off Broadway on 4th Ave South.  Coming up Broadway, turn left at 4th Avenue, go a short block, turn right at McGavrock St.

"Sports Grill" at the Hilton. Has 35 HDTVs, long bar, high tops & tables...food & drink specials.  Many Titans fans go there to catch the afternoon games.  The food was good and the atmosphere 100% Football.  There is a relaxing lobby with country music, smaller lounges inside as well.  Also, your ride to the airport leaves from outside the Hilton.

Return to the Airport

The #18 Bus Airport Express  will stop on 4th Ave S & McGavorock - Flag It Down.  Walk out of the Hilton and make a left to 4th Ave S.  Taxis are waiting at the Hilton a few feet away, if you're running late.

The Bus comes there at approx 20 minutes past the hour.  The 8:20 pm bus, is the last one on Sunday night.  Make sure you "Flag Down" the bus.

The Bus will get you to Nashville Airport in 20 minutes.

Have a safe trip home