March 28, 2001
Photo Gallery
Maryland media relations assistant directors Stephanie Mociun and Jason Yellin will be filing daily reports from Minneapolis throughout the Final Four. They will give and inside look at the team and all of the events surrounding the Terps' first-ever Final Four.
March 28, 2001 -- Minneapolis, Minn.
7:00 p.m. -- The University of Maryland held a grand send-off for the men's basketball at Cole Field House. More than 7,000 exuberant fans jammed Cole for a wonderful event. With the voice of the Terrapins Johnny Holliday serving as master of ceremonies, the Maryland Gymkana Troupe kicked off the festivities. Then the Maryland spirit squad gave a great performance to thrill the crowd.
The opening performances were followed by the introduction of the Final Four-bound Maryland men's basketball team. Following some opening comments by head coach Gary Williams, each of Maryland's seniors got to address the crowd before the team left to "take care of business" in Minneapolis, as senior Mike Mardesich put it. With the crowd on their feet to cheer on the Terps, the team departed through the tunnel and onto the buses. As the buses departed Cole Field House, countless fans lined the sidewalks and filled the parking lot, screaming their words of encouragement. As the lights and sirens from the fire trucks sent the Terps off, a police escort led the team to the BWI airport.
8:00 p.m. -- After taking the 25-minute ride to BWI, Maryland boarded the charter plane, the same plan which was used earlier that day to drop off the Golden State Warriors for their game against the Washington Wizards. It was an awesome ride on a plush plane used by many NBA and NHL teams.
The team and support staff were treated to the showing of Charlie's Angels, while a delicious dinner (choice of steak or chicken) was served.
The two hour, 13 minute flight was smooth until a small bit of turbulence near the landing into a rainy Minneapolis.
10:30 p.m. -- The team collected its baggage and boarded a bus and headed to its hotel. As the team left the Hubert H. Humphrey Terminal at the Minneapolis airport, we started to see the signs welcoming the Terps to the Final Four.
Snow lined much of the landscape in the Twin Cities before the team arrived in the Riverfront area. Along the way the team passed the beautiful new Xcel Energy Center, home of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.
The Terps arrived at the hotel and was greeted by the mayor of St. Paul and a contingent of Maryland fans.
After the Terps found their way to their rooms, there was some time to relax before getting some much-needed rest for the plethora of the upcoming events.
