Men’s Lacrosse: NCAA Tournament Update – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
The men’s lacrosse team will take on Cornell at 5 p.m. Saturday in a first-round game of the 2008 NCAA Championship. The Buckeyes, tri-champions of the Great Western Lacrosse League, earned an at-large bid into the NCAA tourney and are making the third appearance in program history (the first since 2004). Read on to find about more about the team’s trip east for the matchup with the Big Red.
Thursday, May 8
1 p.m. The bus is just about loaded and ready to pull away from the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. After the final player arrives (he was late because of a test), the trip is underway. It’s a full bus, with a travel party of 52 people, including players, four coaches and staff. The movies are started, beginning with an old-school Indiana Jones flick. By the end of the trip, four movies will have been seen in their entirety.
3 p.m. After a brief stop at the bus headquarters to change drivers, the team is back on the road again.
6:30 p.m. Dinner. After 45-plus minutes of looking, a highway exit with a few food choices finally appears. The group splits up to grab a quick bite before heading back on the road.
10 p.m. We made it! The travel party arrives at the hotel in Ithaca. The bus gets unloaded and everyone is to their rooms, tired from a long day that began with an early-morning practice.
Friday, May 9
9 a.m. Breakfast in the hotel. Standard buffet fare eggs, cereal, bagels, etc …
10:30 a.m. The team gathers for a film session. After that, there is some free time to relax and get some lunch before practice. Many wander to the mall and the food court, while others head to the grocery store across the street.
1:30 p.m. The bus takes the team to practice. The players check out the field, which also serves as the Cornell football field, where they will take on the Big Red tomorrow. After practice, it’s back to the hotel to rest and get ready for dinner. On the way home from practice, freshman Tyler Dophin is serenaded with “Happy Birthday.”
5 p.m. – Dinner, followed by more video. Adding to the birthday fun, the group discovered it also was Kevin Buchanan’s birthday. Another round of “Happy Birthday to You” ensued.
It’s almost game day!
Saturday, May 10
8 a.m. – Game day is here. Time for breakfast in the hotel as the team begins to focus in on the game in just a few hours.
9:30 a.m. – Head over to the field for a 45-minute walkthrough, going over last-minute details for the matchup with the Big Red. There are some new additions to the stadium today. Two TV trucks have arrived so ESPNU can televise the game live. After the walk-through, it’s back to the hotel to rest up.
1 p.m. – Pregame meal … typical pregame food (chicken, pasta, salad, rolls).
3 p.m. – The team, dressed in jackets and ties, boards the bus to head to Schoellkopf Field for the game.
5 p.m. – Time to beat the Big Red! The game is live on ESPNU, with live stats availabe here: http://ncaasports.cstv.com/gametracker/launch/gt_mlacros.html?event=667153&school=ncaa&sport=mlacros&camefrom=&startschool =&
