2003 memories

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Watched at the Schoolyard Tavern in Chicago.  The whole bar knew the game was over after Wade's dunk with about 9 minutes left and from there on out it was pure, drunken joy.  As we know, Marquette fans can put a few drinks down and I'm a nervous drinker before and during big games so the rest of the afternoon/evening is a bit of haze.  Rented a mini-van with about 6-7 others and drove to Orleans a few days later because of the flight prices.  New Orleans was a great time although I've blocked the Kansas game from my memory. 

Can't wait to experience it once more WHEN we go to the Final Four again in the future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlymqXcruCU

[muwarrior69]

I watched at home. It was Marquette's most perfect game in recent times; then we pooped our pants against Kansas. Of course my most memorable year is 1977 followed by 1970 when we told the NCAA to go fly a kite and went on to win the NIT when it was still a premier post season tournament. Watching us shut down Pistol Pete and score a 100+ points in the semi-final was a site to behold.

[BCHoopster]

I watched at home. It was Marquette's most perfect game in recent times; then we pooped our pants against Kansas. Of course my most memorable year is 1977 followed by 1970 when we told the NCAA to go fly a kite and went on to win the NIT when it was still a premier post season tournament. Watching us shut down Pistol Pete and score a 100+ points in the semi-final was a site to behold.

Beating Kentucky in 69 in Madison in the semi's, never heard the field house more jacked, the North vs. the South, Issel, Pratt, Casy and the bigot Rupp.  Can somebody ever explain how
Thomas Payne, first black for Rupp, went there, still confused?  Purdue loss in overtime was worse then the Kansas loss.

[San Diego Warrior]

I was in grad school at the time.   I was coming home from a Vegas weekend and had a layover in Minneapolis, so I skipped the last leg of my flight and went to the game.  Sat in the upperdeck of the Metrodome, and had one Kentucky fan in our section.  They left our section after the half.  Got back to school and had to tell my grad adviser I was taking off for New Orleans the next week.

[dgies9156]

Went to Indy and Minny without my wife.  Of course it was all guys weekends anyway.

Same here. Got tickets from Pittsburgh, ironically.

My children spent the weekend with their grandparents near Duluth. I went with my bro-in-law and sister.

Had three phone calls about New Orleans between the end of the game and my car just outside the Metrodome but thought the better of it.

Ms. Dgies was not in the mood for yet another husbandless, "I get the kids by myself" weekend.

Besides, you somehow knew our Warriors were living on borrowed time after what they did to Kentucky.

[sailwi]

I'm an old geezer so I wasn't in my dorm watching the game, did that  in 77.  I was in Ft. Lauderdale on vacation and went to some local tavern near the beach (not the elbow room) and was over served.  I was sitting next to a Kentucky fan at the bar who was actually very nice but it was still fun gloating late in the second half.  I thankfully walked or more accurately stumbled back to the hotel and sat up fr hours reading message boards and everything I could find about the game.

[MU82]

I was in Indy. The Holy Cross game was gut-wrenching. I actually had to walk out of the seating section of the arena and wander the corridor for a few minutes because I couldn't take it. My friends still give me $hit for doing that. Thankfully, Diener saved us. Then the Mizzou game ... what an effen thrill.

My main memory of the Kentucky game is that I could have gone to it (and the Pitt game) but I passed because it would have been mildly inconvenient for me. To this day, I regret not having been at the Humptydome for that game.

My son (who was then 15) and I were going to go to an establishment in Chicago to watch it but waited too long and the line was out the door, so we turned around and went home to watch on our TV. I didn't get the great communal feeling that so many did, but I was still a happy camper.

I was at the Superdome for the FF. Practically by the time I got to my section, we were down, what, 97-0? It was still cool to make the Final Four.

Damn ... I wish this thread hadn't been started. I'm pissed at myself all over again for not going to Minny!!

Two years ago, when the Warriors were in DC for the S16/E8, my wife and I went on the spur of the moment. I said, "I'm not gonna miss another net-cutting!" We were loving the Miami game ... and then loving the sight of Indiana getting stomped ... but the Syracuse game, not so much!

We'll be there for when Henry and Haanif cut down the nets in 2017!! (Trying to be realistic by saying it'll happen their soph season.)

[seakm4]

I was there with my old man about 30 rows up.  I remember in the middle of the game when Wade hit his 2nd 3 ball looking at my dad and said "He's gone after this year"  I was also looking for Ashley Judd all game, because she's a fox.

[Wade for President]

Attended the Holy Cross/Mizzou games @ the RCA Dome in Indy.  Watched the Pitt game with friends at a bar in Chicago.  Woke up Friday morning following the Pitt win, and promptly rented a 40' RV to drive 10 of my MU buddies to Minny for the UK game. 

My buddy's aunt had passed away shortly before the trip, leaving him $10K.  Visited Cruisin' Chubbies Gentleman's Club (outside of the Wisconsin Dells) on Friday night, where my buddy greeted us all at the front door with spending money.  He basically blew through much of his inheritance before we crossed state lines.  Such a glorious trip.

Hired drivers and had two rv's take 20 of my friends down to NOLA.

2003 will forever be etched in my memory.

[MarquetteDano]

Had great seats at the Metrodome.  Some memories:

• Sitting around a lot of Kentucky fans who were simply stunned
• Badgers fans in attendance actually cheering for Marquette
• Going to the team hotel after and the smile on Novak's face was infectious

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I was in the middle of an SAP implementation working 7 days a week 14-15 hour days, with the system going live the following Monday.  Left the office to go home and watch the game against Kentucky.  Had a celebratory beer with the Mrs and went back to work for another 8 hours with a (expletive deleted) eating grin on my face.

My first day off in a month was the game against Kansas, which I watched from my sister's house while at my nephew's birthday party.  I would've rather worked another 14 hour day than watch that.

SAP Implementation - I remember when my employer at the time switched to it right about 2003.  Ehhh man, what a nightmare.  I felt bad for the people on the conversion team. 

[Rudy]

I was not planning on going, but a big Badger booster who had recently sold me his house gave me his tickets at face value after UW lost to Kentucky. He had a guest bedroom that was all decked out in Bucky and I told him I got sick when I walked in there and it started from there. Lots of banter, but it was really cool of him to give me the tickets. Great seats. We sat next to the Reuters photographer who sent us some great pictures afterward.

At the end of the game, I ripped the Kentucky sign off the wall and had the whole team sign it, plus Hank Raymonds, Mark Marotta, Jon Harris, Rob Harris (Jon's brother...nice guy), George Thompson, Father Wilde and more. I have this sign hanging on the wall of my bar.

[MUMonster03]

Watched it in the Metrodome and remember the crowd, as the game went on, from being fairly neutral to turning into a full blown home court advantage in the second half. When Wade dunked as we started to pull away the place just erupted. Then once the game was over I just stood there in a semi state of shock in realizing we are going to the Final 4! and just stood there and soaked it all in. Then proceeded to celebrate in Minneapolis. Ran into so many random Marquette fans on the street that night.