VCU news

By Tom Gresham

Their spirits undampened by the cool, wet weather, approximately 2,000 VCU basketball fans filled a parking lot alongside the Siegel Center today to cheer for the school’s men’s basketball team as it departed on its journey to Houston, site of the 2011 NCAA Final Four.

The sendoff was reminiscent of the one held exactly a week before in the same spot, except this one was larger and louder. That earlier rally celebrated the school’s first-ever trip to the Sweet 16 round of the tournament and gave the Rams a final chance to hear from local fans as they boarded buses for the airport, where they were leaving for San Antonio. In the week since, VCU has defeated both Florida State and Kansas, captivating the country and electrifying the campus and the wider VCU community. The Rams’ players and their charismatic coach, Shaka Smart, have been transformed into folk heroes, and VCU’s ability to compete with the elite basketball programs is no longer worthy of debate – it’s a proven fact.

Attendees at the rally were dressed in all manners of VCU black-and-gold apparel. They carried signs and snapped photos with each other, hugging and giggling about the moment VCU has found itself inhabiting. A posse of art students swept in with clever signs – “Even Art Students Love VCU Basketball … Good luck at the Super Bowl!” – and alumni pressed up against a temporary barrier for a clear view of the passing players. When the team walked through the crowd from the Siegel Center to a waiting bus, the cheering grew louder and children were raised on their parents’ shoulders for a better look. People watched from the Bowe Street Parking Deck above the scene, Rams’ banners hanging before them. The mood reflected a motto that has circulated the past two weeks and that many of those at the rally displayed on stickers on their chests: “Our Time. Right Now.”

Derail Hampton, a sophomore mass communications major, said the atmosphere on campus this week has been beyond description.

“It is absolutely … words can’t explain it,” Hampton said. “The only way would be to hit all of the buttons on the keyboard at the same time. And then hit a bunch of exclamation marks.”

Hampton attended the Florida State and Kansas games in San Antonio last weekend, braving a bus trip of more than 24 hours, and he has already secured plane and game tickets for the games in Houston this weekend.

“I have to go,” Hampton said. “This is something I’m going to tell my grandkids about.”

Hampton was born and raised in Richmond and often attended VCU games. He said the basketball team’s run has helped bring to the surface the strong feelings many have about VCU.

“There’s always been school spirit and school pride here, but now we’re showing it off to people like we haven’t before,” Hampton said.

Pat Rollins was in attendance at the rally. She’s the mother of VCU alumnus John Rollins, a PGA golf pro. She said she attended several VCU games this season, grew enamored with the team and has been reveling in their tournament run. She noted that John will be with the PGA Tour in Houston this weekend – a good sign.

“It’s been phenomenal, so exciting, to watch them,” Rollins said. “I just had to come here to see these boys off.”

Also in attendance was Ernest Ellis with his 4-year-old son, Erren. Ellis is a season-ticket holder and said that Erren is a devoted fan who comes to most of the team’s home games and knows all of the players’ names. Ellis admitted that he did not see the Final Four run coming – that he, in fact, did not expect the Rams to make the NCAA Tournament. After they won their first game, though – a victory over Southern California in the new First Four round of the tournament – he started to get a good feeling.

“The whole thing has been amazing the way things have gotten going,” Ellis said. “VCU is just coming on.”

Both Ernest and Erren believe the Rams can win the national championship now. Erren said the team just needs to rebound well. Ernest Ellis said he's proud to have been rooting for the Rams from the very beginning of their dream season, and he's excited to see them reap the rewards of their hard work at the Final Four.

“It’s going to be something to see,” he said.

VCU will face Butler on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Houston’s Reliant Stadium. The winner advances to the national championship game on Monday.