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For those of you who don’t follow me on twitter ([URL=”https://twitter.com/#%21/Wildcatty11″]@Wildcatty11[/URL]) I was lucky enough to take a trip with 3 girlfriends to New Orleans last weekend for the Final Four. This is my account of the trip, and getting to witness number eight in person.
Friday, March 30[SUP]th[/SUP] 4:45am
Departed Louisville and headed to Lexington to meet up with two of my Sistercats as we embark on our road trip. We are picking up the fourth in Atlanta since she currently lives in South Carolina. I arrived in Lex right around 6am; we departed Lexington at approximately 6:45am.
11:00am
Just had our first Moob sighting! I made a sign to take to Bourbon Street before I left that says “Show me your titles!” Welp, I didn’t see titles but I did see…..moobs. Just got flashed by a young guy while traveling on I-75.
12:30 pm
Arrived in Union City, Georgia to pick up our fourth Sistercat, only 7 more hours to Nola!
7:00 pm (Central time)
Arrived in New Orleans, along with several other Wildcat fans we spotted along I-10 going across Lake Ponchatrain. Time to check into the hotel which is in the heart of the French Quarter, and head out to Bourbon Street and represent our boys in blue.
10:00 pm
Bourbon Street is insane right now! A steady slight rain has been coming down, but that isn’t keeping the fans away. There is a strong contingent of Louisville fans out, who are much more vocal than the Cat fans. You definitely get more of a “just happy to be here” vibe from their fans. Kentucky fans are out and the number of three goggles I have thrown is outrageous. If you see a UK fan, you just throw up a goggle and say Go Cats. Have no clue how many strangers I’ve high fived tonight.
Time to bust out the sign, “Show me your titles!” I held this sign high as we walked down Bourbon Street, saw lots and lots of moobs because for the most part no one reads the sign correctly. Considering the rivalry the banter has been well behaved and friendly for the most part, I can only imagine what the atmosphere will be like tomorrow for the big UK/UL game!
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Saturday, March 31[SUP]st[/SUP] 11:30am
Up and at ‘em and headed to check out Bourbon Street during the day without the rain. All we see is a stream of blue and red, Cats chants and Cards cheers flood all of Bourbon Street. We stumble into this place called Razoo’s that seems to be mostly Kentucky fans, and we instantly feel at home. For two straight hours we danced, threw up three goggles, did the CATS cheer and got pumped up for the game.
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As we walked back after our own mini pep rally at Razoo’s, there was a crowd gathered together, turns out this was the team hotel and they were getting ready to leave for the game. We stood there for an hour in the blistering sun, with what felt like 90 degree heat to cheer on our Cats as they headed to the Superdome. Saw all of the coaches and players load the bus and we were ready for the game.
6:09 pm – Tip off
The energy in the Superdome is electric, like nothing I’ve ever experience, you could literally cut the tension with a knife. The UL fans have the attitude of nothing to lose, they are rowdy and amped. The Kentucky fans are a little more uptight knowing this is a business trip and losing to Louisville in the Final Four would not be an option.
I’ve never screamed like I screamed in this game. Every.single.point. was essential and the fans exploded over each and every one. In the end the Cat fans felt the weight lifted off of their shoulders as all they needed was a win to be one step closer to number eight.
Watched the first half of the Ohio State/Kansas game, boring. Left at halftime, only to return to the hotel room and see it was a great ending, oh well we have some celebrating to do!
11:00pm
Ceeellleeebraate good times come on! No more Card chants, it’s all blue on Bourbon. Celebrated the win until 5 in the morning….Ooooooohhhhhh…..C-A-T-S…..CATS CATS CATS!! All…night…..long.
Sunday, April 1[SUP]st[/SUP] 3:30pm
Just now leaving the hotel room after a long night of celebrating the Kentucky victory over Louisville. Headed down to the riverfront to explore the city a little bit.
4:00pm
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Oh hey there Scott Padgett! Ran into Scott at an NCAA tent on Canal Street. Couldn’t have run into a nicer guy, we reminisced about me meeting him at our UK team camp back in the 90’s, and he even knew about the Sistercats! Scott said this was the first time he’s ever thrown up the three goggles!
8:15pm
Can’t wait to see the free Jimmy Buffet concert…..oh wait, never mind. Fire marshal would not let anyone else in due to capacity of the park, bummer.
Off to Bourbon Street for more celebrating. This was a crazy night so I’ll just say, what happens in Nola, stays in Nola.
Monday, April 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] 2:30pm – National Championship Game Day
It’s here, finally here!!! I woke up this morning amped up and ready for a big blue victory. Surprisingly I am less anxious than I was Saturday against Louisville, I truly feel this is ours to lose and that big blue will get number eight.
3:30pm
Lunch at the Seafood Market on Bourbon street, it is amazing, Crawfish Etouffee, don’t mind if I do. While on Bourbon it is swarmed with Kentucky fans, definitely out-numbering Kansas probably 4 to 1. After lunch going to shop on Bourbon a little bit, then head down to the UK pep rally outside of the Superdome.
5:15pm
Made it just in time for the pep rally unfortunately it has been cancelled due to sever weather in the area, for now we are huddled under an overhang with hundreds of other Kentucky fans to take shelter, GO CATS!
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6:30pm
Already inside the Superdome, had to get in while the rain lightened up….a mere two hours before tip off.
On hour later……
Sitting in my seat freezing! The AC is cranked up and still and hour before tip off. So far big blue cheers are definitely drowning out the Jayhawks. Where is the rest of the Kansas student section?
8:23pm – Tip Off
OMG, it’s here! Freaking out right now! The two UL fans that sat next to us on Saturday have returned, this time more subdued and not as annoying, funny how that works.
9:05pm
Wow this team has been ripping through this first half, this is it, we are finally going to get number eight!!
10:15pm
Ugh! Kansas is making a run and the momentum is swinging, only 3 minutes left, the Cats just need to hold on!
Just a few minutes later………..
WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m crying now, big baby tears and I can’t stop them, right here in the dome. It’s been 14 years since the last Kentucky national championship and all of that is coming out as I cry. I couldn’t be more proud of this team. Hugs and high fives all around.
We are now running down the ramps to get a better shot of the trophy presentation and net cutting.
Just in time, got to see everything from just a few yards away….we are the champions is now playing…what a feeling!
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Anthony Davis is now named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, big cheers for the big man as it is announced.
All of the players now take turns cutting down the net, Darius is last, waves it around and puts it around his neck.
My favorite part of the tournament every year, One Shining Moment is now playing on the big screen….I’m crying again.
11:30pm – Bourbon Street
While wearing my poncho made out of a Superdome garbage bag, we roam Bourbon Street doing CATS cheers and three goggling everyone we see.
Someone pinch me, did this really just happen?
4:30am
Just got back to the hotel, as we have now decided to be part of #teamnosleep and pack our bags for a 6am departure.
6:00am
It’s been real Nola, you gave us #8 and a lifetime of memories, and I love you for that.
GO BIG BLUE!
