Final Four finally here, students ready for fun
Annie Hill & Jamie Rotko
Issue date: 4/1/09 Section: News
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The University of Detroit Mercy is the institutional host for the event. Though the games will be played downtown at Ford Field, students and university staff have been involved in the planning for more than a year.
Many are looking forward to the games, free concerts and related activities.
Kealy McNally, a sophomore who played basketball for the Titans this school year, is among the enthusiastic. Despite her Ohio roots, she's hoping Michigan State will rise above North Carolina, Connecticut and Villanova to claim the national title.
"I know someone from State, so I'll be rooting for him," she said.
Eugene Blue, a member of the UDM men's team, is thrilled that MSU is in the competition, but "I think North Carolina will win," he said.
Woody Payne, 21, a communication major and a guard on the men's team, has tickets for Monday's championship game. Like many of his teammates, he will be volunteering at events before then.
"Since I play for the school, I have a lot of community service this week," he said. He expects to be at Sunday's Final Four Dribble through the streets of downtown Detroit and at the Hoop City celebration at Cobo Center.
Student Kevin Marlinga is proud that Detroit is hosting the event.
"It will be cool to see Detroit come alive," he said.
Nemanja Yokic, a junior from Serbia, plans to enjoy the festivities.
"I will probably go to some clubs and parties," he said. "I went to the regional games last year (at Ford Field) and I'd never seen a stadium so big. I'm excited to go back."
Despite the hype, some UDM students are ambivalent about the tournament, one of the nation's most- celebrated sporting events.
"I don't really care about this," admitted Adrienne Greenslade, a sophomore. "The only thing I know about the Final Four is that it is basketball."
But the event includes more than basketball. There will be free concerts along the Detroit River this weekend.
Student Ashley Krebs isn't a basketball fan, but the music intrigues her.
"I would like to watch the concerts downtown," she said. "But I don't have any time."
The games on Saturday and Monday are sold out. But fans can watch the teams practice free on Friday from noon to 4 p.m., followed by the college all-star game.
"It'll be fun to see downtown full of people," noted Marlinga.
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