Yes, the atmosphere was shaken up for a brief time, but, in reality, the air goes back to its muggy condition in short order.
And yes, whatever betide you on Friday β cleaning out the garage, doing your taxes, clearing out your sock drawer -- is probably still staring you in the face on Monday. But, during those roughly 48 hours between when the 16 th seeded Retrievers knocked off the top overall seed, Virginia Friday, and ran out of gas against ninth-seeded Kansas State Sunday night, things were different.
There was a palpable level of excitement, emanating, of course, from the Wilkens Avenue campus and across the Patapsco River Drainage area. Chatter inside of grocery stores and churches from Havre de Grace to Westminster turned from God and cold cuts to Jarius Lyles and backdoor cuts. Nationally, people outside the state of Maryland discovered that there was more than one University of Maryland campus.
They learned about the wonderful academic reputation of UMBC, a school where science, technology and chess are celebrated and mastered. He has risen to become one of the great academic leaders of our time and taken UMBC with him for the ride.
But, for one blessed weekend, a hardy group of young men gave a school, a region, a nation a peek at the best of college athletics, and, like that summer storm, it felt good. Search Query Show Search. Newsletter Sign Up. Ways to Give. Show Search Search Query. Play Live Radio. Next Up:. All Streams. WYPR News. WYPR - Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email. Milton Kent.
