ATLANTA — After daylong car rides and hastily booked flights, Syracuse University students made themselves present in the heart of Atlanta on Saturday.

For the first time in 10 years, the Syracuse Orange advanced to the Final Four round of the NCAA Tournament. And whether by car, van or plane, students weren’t going to miss an opportunity to support their basketball team on its quest for national glory.

Early in the week, SU offered $40 tickets for students to attend. For some, it was the main reason they decided to make the trip. Evan Gikas wasn’t expecting to attend until he found out about the offer.

“We got together and we were like, ‘We gotta do it,’” said the sophomore entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises major. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

He and his three friends flew out of Rochester — an easy flight followed by a long day of celebratory activities.

But for Jamie Hoskins, a broadcast journalism graduate student, the trip was a little less effortless.

Upon hearing the university was providing the $40 tickets, Hoskins and her friends began planning the 14-hour drive.

A combination of country and rap music helped make the trip a bit less rough, but a quick stay at a sketchy hotel didn’t.

“But we decided, you know, we’re almost there, this is worth it, we need to sleep, we need to be prepared for the game,” Hoskins said.

Stephanie Bronfein, a freshman in the Bandier program, knew she was going to the Final Four as soon as Syracuse did. Her father, an avid Final Four attendee, promised he would get her to the tournament if SU were a contender.

Though her father is in Atlanta as well, Bronfein is attending the game by herself. However, she said, some of her friends threatened not to go just because they didn’t know anyone else going.

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,” Bronfein said. “If you’re sitting in the student section, you’re going to be able to cheer with everybody. You’re totally going to connect just based on the fact that this isn’t our city, but we’re all here together to support Syracuse.”

Bronfein witnessed that solidarity on the ride down. On her flight out of Rochester, everyone was wearing Orange. She said seeing her school colors in another city is not only exciting, but comforting, too.

Daniel Broe, a junior mechanical engineering major, was one of seven friends who drove down to the Big Dance. As soon as Syracuse solidified its place in the semifinals, Broe and friends solidified their plans to attend the game.

After buying $40 student tickets and booking a hotel, Broe and his buddies hopped in a rented van and made the trek South.

“It was pretty rough,” he said. “I slept probably four hours, but that wasn’t enough.”

Even after the lack of sleep and thick fog on the way down, Broe was in high spirits. He and his friends have since enjoyed the weekend’s events, which included free performances from Zach Brown Band and Dave Matthews Band. But the anticipation of the game, he said, is what makes it all worth it.

Said Broe: “If you’re a Syracuse fan, student and you’re not here, you’re missing out.”

Published on April 6, 2013 at 7:34 pm

Contact Maddy: mjberner@syr.edu