First, I'm one of those cool kids and made a Johari window. Rah. Do it.
http://kevan.org/johari?name=LittleDrummrBoy Alright now. So this past Friday night I went to a Rascal Flatts concert at the Greensboro Coliseum. Yes, you read that right--Rascal Flatts, as in the country music group. I actually enjoyed the show quite a bit--perhaps the best show that I've been to where I didn't know any of the songs (except for the covers). As i'm sure you can guess, the concert was Megan's idea, but it was definitely good times. I've got respect for nearly anyone who can get up there and rock it live and do a damn good job of it, and they definitely did the damn thing. And from an event productions standpoint, it was great to see, especially being on the grounds of the Coliseum, which is where our Switchfoot concert is (different venue, but same grounds). And their set was AMAZING--it even included a flying portion where they basically flew on a small platform to a stage that was in the middle of the arena floor. It was great. And it was good to be in the coliseumm, which I now know is a formidable sports arena as well. i'll be there for some sports action probably this coming week for the women's ACC tournament--if the Terps stay a 3 seed (there's no reason they shouldn't) I'll be seeing them in action on Friday night. And soon enough it'll be Revolution season. But anyway, back to the concert. I was one of very few people of color there, as can be expected. I got quasi-countrified by throwing on apparel from a prominent southern university (read: a USF hat). And the show also featured a wedding proposal and a fight. Good times!
Yesterday I went and saw the UNCG's men's basketball team in my first time seeing them and their last regular season game of the season. I think that it was pretty on-par with my two other mid-major universities (I don't care if USF is in the Big East, they are still a mid-major) in terms of basketball experience and attendance. USF always had better attendance by sheer numbers, but it was probably about the same proportion of the Sun Dome, if that, and the fan base was characterized by pretty much the same lukewarm enthusiasm. UNCG's arena was probably a bit more rockin than it generallyis because we were playing Elon, about a half hour away, so they had a good deal of fans present too. This was also my first tiime in Fleming Gym as well, which is actually quite small. UMBC folks, think the lower level of the RAC (plus maybe a bit more) with no spaces behind the basket. The pep band actually stood behind the basket in the seatless space. I would say the pep band reminded me of the Down 'n' Dirty Dawgs, in that they had a good song selection (certainly a deeper book than the USF Pep Band used) but it sounded at times as though they had a jazz band director overseeing their program, an affliction I'd say UMBC shared. It was a good time, and given the size, I definitely think we can pack that bad boy well if they let me do Midnight Mania programming this coming year.
Let's take it back to Boston for a minute. When I checked into my hotel I saw a kid in a UMBC sweatshirt. I thoguht that's a kinda cool coincidence... I come down later and the place is crawling with them! Turns out our swimming and diving teams were up there for a meet and staying in my very hotel! I shouted a few "Go Retrievers!" at folks and was met by a few quizzical stares or ignored a few times before I decided to give up. Which truthfully saddened me. I know I didn't attend the most spirited University in the world, but I would figure if someone says something of the sort, you can at least respond in kind. I mean, that's what would be the case with a War Eagle, or a Roll Tide, or a Hook 'Em Horns, or a Boiler Up , or hell, even a Go Bulls... but it was put into perspective a bit when we had dinner with the folks from UNCW and they said some random person shouted "Go Seahawks!" at them... I explained that it could have been an alum and explained my plight.. they gave that person the same blank stare, so I guess it made some sense. I was just glad to see that much black and gold in one place--and in Boston too! And I ran into Charlie Brown (our athletic director) outside by the elevators early one morning... I think he was confused to see me, you know that look you give someone when you know you know them but you can't quite place them. At least, I'd like to think that after 4 years playing drums for UMBC athletics, he at least had that much recognition...
Last night I attended the associate member ceremony for Lambda Chi. It actually made me remember with fondness my induction ceremony to ΟΔΚ and the subsequent ones I performed both as a member and circle president. And soon it's off to my usual Sunday evening meeting with ΛΧΑ. I look forward to next weekend when Spring Break is about to start and I should have a healthy nothing to do for the weekend! :-D