THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 20, 1995 TAG: 9503200039
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEPHANIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
There are two types of fans: fickle ones who'll follow only a winning team, and those like Dan Bauman, who was still clapping when others had paid their bar tabs and left.
Until the last seconds of Sunday's NCAA basketball game - Old Dominion University vs. the University of Tulsa - Bauman jittered at the edge of his seat, his face glinting with a fine sheen of perspiration.
``They rise to the occasion,'' he said. ``I think they can win.''
Bauman, who has attended almost every home game, is no fair-weather fan. He'd wanted to drive to Albany, N.Y., to cheer on his team. But instead, he was watching the game on the big screen at Sports Page Restaurant & Tavern.
Even so, it was a rare and unexpected treat to be sitting in this dark bar on a cool, sunny Sunday afternoon. No one, not even Bauman, had expected the hometown team to get this far.
Someone had even posted the ``Welcome Back ODU'' sign a few days before - an honest mistake.
``When it started, all we were saying was, `Wouldn't it be great if they beat Villanova?' '' said Steve Iannucci, a 22-year-old senior at ODU. ``Nobody knew we'd get this far.''
Friday's upset against Villanova University, seeded third in the East Regional, had hundreds of students partying near the campus off Hampton Boulevard, screaming out their joy and setting fire to a few couches.
The upset meant Norfolk Councilman Randy Wright had to do double duty - as baby-sitting grandpa and as host of several political pals gathered at his home to watch the game. As Wright's 11-month-old grandson tried to snatch pretzels from a bowl on the coffee table, Del. Howard Copeland, D-87th, sat on the corner of the couch, sternly reprimanding a television announcer for mispronouncing the name of ODU's coach.
``It's CAPEL! He keeps saying Capels. He's adding an `s.' '' said Copeland, shaking his head at the lack of respect the national media had for his team.
Back at the sports bar, with just a few minutes left in the game, a loud cheer erupted. Old Dominion fans glared at the source: a tall, tanned man - an ODU student - rooting for Tulsa.
``That was me,'' said Scott Heatley, a native Oklahoman.
``I knew in the first round that if ODU won that they'd be playing Tulsa,'' the 23-year-old senior said. ``Now, everyone's dogging me. . . . I feel like I'm a big outcast.''
But with the game nearly over, and ODU still down by 10 points, Heatley's cheers were drowned out by dozens of fans.
``I still say we're going to win,'' said Ed Kimple, 25, an ODU senior. ``I'd like to see them go on.''
And then the loss: ODU 52, Tulsa 64.
No moment of silence. No reverent eulogy.
Just the televisions still blasting with noise, customers reaching for their wallets, and waitresses clearing away empty glasses.
And a few, like Kimple and Bauman, still staring at the screen.
``It was a little bit heartbreaking,'' said Bauman, clapping softly. ``But they deserve a lot of credit.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
PAUL AIKEN
Staff
ODU junior Mike Spotte winces while watching the Monarchs' loss to
Tulsa at O'Sullivan's Wharf restaurant near campus.
TULSA 64
ODU 52
Old Dominion was thwarted in its bid to become only the second No.
14 seed ever to reach the NCAA's Sweet 16. DETAILS, C1
KEY MOMENT
With 7:07 to play, Tulsa sank a 3-point shot after ODU had pulled to
48-46.
TEAM RETURN
The ODU team is arrive today at Norfolk airport on USAir Flight 965
from Baltimore.
by CNB