On Sunday afternoon, several of the New York Red Bulls met up on the beach before heading over to a restaurant to watch the NCAA Tournament Selection Show. While almost every player saw his alma mater get into the Big Dance, defender and Drexel alumnus Jeff Parke was not happy after all 64 teams were named.
"Once I saw Old Dominion get in (which is also in the Colonial Athletic Association), I knew it was over because it was either us or them. I was mad for a while, but there's only so much complaining you can do," Parke said.
But how about the last team in - the Stanford Cardinals?
Parke: What are they, 18-12?
Tim Regan, Bradley University alumnus (interjects): Stanford shouldn't be in there ...
Parke: Yeah and every guy we were with, their school made the tournament. I'm the only one that got left out and Stanford was the last one picked."
It's that time of year again: March Madness. Where we figure out when a 12 seed is going to pull the big upset, where the George Masons of the world slip on their Cinderella slippers and twirl into the national spotlight, where the Bryce Drews earn their 15 minutes of fame and where predictions on one of the most scrutinized sporting events of the year are thrown around like hot cakes.
For the Red Bulls, with several of their teams in the tournament, they are into the action as well - filling out their brackets as meticulously as any college hoops fan around the country would.
For Stanford alums Todd Dunivant and Taylor Graham, their team - an 11th seed that opens up against No. 6 Louisville - deserved to get in.
Dunivant: Well they're the No. 2 seed overall ... wait, are we talking about men or women?
Graham: If you're deciding between the Bradley Braves, the Drexel Whatevers and the other teams on the bubble, I think Stanford is an easy choice. We have dominant players in the NBA like the Collins twins and Mark Madsen.
Dunivant: I think they were on the outside looking in the whole time and for Jeff Parke, it's another year without glory for him and Drexel.
Graham: And for the record, Jeff Parke cannot name one player on their team.
A well-represented college on the Red Bulls' squad - one head coach, two assistant coaches, a fitness coach and two players - is the University of Virginia. The Cavaliers open up their tourney as the No. 4 seed in the South Bracket against the Great Danes of Albany.
Midfielder Joe Vide thinks that they're definitely going to reach the Sweet 16, but will fall to Greg Oden's Ohio State Buckeyes, who he is not sold on.
Perennial ACC powerhouse Maryland also comes into the tournament as a 4-seed and plays Southern Conference champ Davidson in the first round.
"I think obviously the ACC is a good conference so they're battle-proven and have a good-looking team," said former Terp Seth Stammler. "I think they're going to work their way into the round of eight hopefully and see if they can push into the Final Four, but I don't think that they're going to compete for a championship this year."
Other than figuring out the winner, one of the most intense debates surrounds who will be the surprise team that comes out of the tournament. Could it be Patriot League champ and the No. 13 seed in the West, the Holy Cross Crusaders?
"Holy Cross has come so close to pulling off upsets against the likes of Kentucky, Kansas and Marquette in the past," said director of communications and former columnist for the renowned Holy Cross newspaper, The Crusader, Eric Tosi. "I think this the year we finally break through and get a W. My prediction, not one but two victories for the Crusaders - head coach Ralph Willard finds a way to a Sweet 16."
Another team trying to break through is the Ivy League champs, the Penn Quakers. A 14-seed set to face No. 3 Texas A&M in the South Bracket, a team from the Ancient Eight has not won game in the tourney since the Princeton Tigers in 1998. Still, Penn alumnus Danny Cepero is confident (Interesting Note: Cepero used to be roommates with Mark Zoller, who is the Quakers' leading scorer at 18.2 ppg).
"I always think they can do it," Cepero said.
Meanwhile, others aren't so optimistic about their teams making an impact. For example, equipment manager Craig Chmiel attended Miami (OH) but wants to say on the record that he is "a 100-percent Dayton Flyer, through and through." And no, he does not expect the RedHawks, at 18-14 overall, to go anywhere in the tourney.
With that being said, here are some of predictions for this year's tourney. It's time to dance.
Danny Cepero:
Champion: Florida - "They are the team to beat. It's the same five guys, the same coach."
Cinderella: Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt
Craig Chmiel:
Champion: Texas
Todd Dunivant:
Champion: Florida
Taylor Graham:
Champion: Florida
Jeff Parke:
Champion: Florida - "Hate to go with a No. 1 seed but I don't see anyone beating them."
Seth Stammler:
Champion: Ohio State - "My hometown favorite."
Cinderella: Marquette
Eric Tosi:
Champion: Ohio State
Cinderella: Holy Cross
Joe Vide:
Champion: Ohio State
Cinderella: Winthrop - "They will make some moves."
