Road Trip!   That’s what the hubby was shouting after the NCAA Selection Committee’s announcement of seedings for the tournament.  Yes, our beloved UCLA Bruins would be playing in San Diego so going down for the game (Second Round) was a no-brainer unless an unthinkable First Round upset occurred.  After all, if it could happen to Duke, then …

Fortunately, they safely put away the Golden Hurricanes of Tulsa in their first game and now it was on to the Cinderella-like team of #12 Stephen F. Austin, the unlikely victor over #5 Virginia Commonwealth.  

There's a considerable history of going to these games, starting back with the 1995 tournament, we traveled to Oakland for Rounds 3 & 4 to make it to the Final 4. Obviously it was then a yes to go to Seattle for the finals.  It is virtually impossible to contemplate how few hotel rooms there are for an event like this. When all of the final four teams are still in, fans start arriving Thursday and Friday for the first games on Saturday which determine who goes on to the championship game Monday evening.  I think I slept on the floor of what could generously be called a half-way house for recently-released criminals as the only accommodations available. But after people dump out of the city when their teams lose in the Semi-final round on Saturday, rooms become plentiful for the remainder of the stay.

Seeing the Bruins win that evening, with no less than the inimitable Wizard of Westwood John Wooden in attendance, was an incredibly emotional feeling. Oh, how I would have loved to share the experience with my dad, a UCLA basketball player from the '40's just prior to Wooden's reign. Alas, he passed away in 1990, but was his presence ever felt that evening.

Since then, we have traveled to Indianapolis, San Jose, Phoenix and various and sundry other locations supporting the team.  Once I flew in just for the final game.  One of the more interesting times was the San Antonio Final Four in 2008 where we started out in Bruin gear (they lost in the semi-final) then switched to Kansas gear (in support of the son's intended school). There is nothing like the excitement generated at these events.  Team spirit is amazing, and tons of high-fiving with folks you've never met.

Sunday's drive had to be timed to get to the beautiful San Diego State campus (the hubby's alma mater) in ample time, with first stopping both for lunch and to see the end of the day's other big game, Kentucky vs. previously-undefeated Wichita State.  The Shockers in the end got shocked, but the game lived up to the hype.  Safely in San Diego, we experienced yet another victory for the Bruins and a spot in the Sweet 16. Congrats to first-year coach Steve Alford; GO Bruins; and I booked a hotel for Dallas just in case ...

With Kathy Gordon -- we're both second generation at Pauley;
our fathers knew each other at UCLA and our families have always sat together!

With the son and the hubby outside Viejas Arena.