*This article was initially published in the Spokesman-Review on March 30.
The Spokane Arena played host to four first-round March Madness games on Friday, including two upsets. Each game had fans packed throughout the Arena, many of them traveling long distances in support of their teams.
Three of Friday’s teams are from Alabama, and all eight of them had to travel a considerable distance.
Last years’ national runner-up, the San Diego State Aztecs, headlined Friday’s first session with a close win over the UAB Blazers. The Aztecs had a large section of fans compared to UAB, bringing one of the most passionate West Coast fan bases, “The Show” to Spokane.
The Aztecs added to their season success in Spokane after beating Gonzaga on the road in December.
Calvin Byrd, father of Aztecs sophomore guard Miles Byrd, traveled from Las Vegas to Spokane to watch his son.
Miles Byrd played a minimal role during the Aztecs run last March but has stepped into a pivotal role off the bench this season. Calvin Byrd attended all six of the Aztecs’ tournament games last year and says he was coming to this game regardless of where it was located.
Coaching in the WCC for ten years gave Byrd a lot of respect for the town of Spokane and its love for basketball. Before coaching, Byrd played at Villanova University.
“I mostly left here with an L, but Spokane is a great town, and it is great for our fans,” Byrd said, “Plus, San Diego State travels really well.”
Friday’s action did not lack upsets, as the Yale Bulldogs did the unthinkable against the seventh nationally-ranked team in the AP Poll, the Auburn Tigers.
Just a week ago, the Bulldogs had to make a buzzer-beater in the Ivy League Championship game to even make the tournament. Not only did Yale punch their ticket to the big dance, but they defied all odds, handing Bruce Pearls’ Tigers squad a first-round exit.
Stetson Griffin grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, and attended Friday’s game as a diehard Yale Bulldogs fan.
“There is nothing I love more than New Haven pizza and Yale Bulldogs basketball,” Griffin said. “I love my town.”
He bought a flight to Spokane and his ticket to the game within an hour after the selection show. The traveling was well worth it for Griffin after the Bulldogs upset the Tigers in a thriller of a game.
“It has been so great to watch my team exceed expectations and become a great Cinderella story,” Griffin said. “Now they’ve given me a reason to come on Sunday.”
Shane Petraszewsky is from Alabama and attended Alabama University. He moved to Portland four years ago and decided that if Alabama ever played on the West Coast, “I’m going to make that drive because Roll Tide,” Petraszewsky said. “So far, Spokane has been great. It’s a beautiful little city, and all the people seem really great.”
The highlight of the day was the support for Grand Canyon University. The top nationally-ranked student section, according to ESPN, “The Havocs”, showed up and rocked the house for Friday’s second session.
The University allowed 250 students to fly from Arizona to Spokane for the weekend to bring the hype of the student section to March Madness. The tickets sold out in just a few minutes.
For three hours, the Arena was filled with walls of purple, and chants of “Let’s go Lopes” could be heard for miles. This was the most attended game of any of Spokane’s round-one matchups, and the crowd energy was a breathtaking experience.
Between the Gonzaga fans who attended the game to cheer against Saint Mary’s and the passion that Grand Canyon fans have for their team, it felt like the game was being played in Phoenix. The Antelopes never faltered and won their first tournament game in program history, bringing to life “the biggest party in college basketball.”
Spencer Ball grew up in Northern Michigan and decided to attend Grand Canyon University because of the tight-knit community and the weather.
“I love that I got to come on this trip and see a new state I’ve never seen before,” Ball said. “I love being a part of the best fans in the nation, the Havocs. Everyone loves our athletes, and we want to be there to support them. We love being Lopes.”
