Being an Out-of-Town Fan

I know I am but one of thousands, but I'm not sure that everyone in DC understands the effort it requires to be a vigorous Hoya rooter when living out of town, especially in non-Eastern time zones.

A simple Georgetown basketball schedule doubles as a pocket calendar for the winter months. As soon as the schedule arrives, I play process of elimination with weekend games … a wedding on the day of the Marquette home game, a family vacation during the Pitt game … and narrow down my candidate home games to attend. One or two of these fall out due to the calendars of close DC friends (bye-bye Memphis game). Even with these stars aligned, I still need some price cooperation by United Airlines.

The result of such detailed maneuvering? At least three people remarking to me this weekend, "you flew in from Chicago for the American game?"

Yes, I flew in for the AU game. While the Eagles didn't present much resistance - the 11-0 start resembled the GU-DePaul game from early 2008 - I am always excited for a chance to catch up with friends while I see the Hoyas as an early season work in process.

Up close, it was exciting to see things obvious - Greg Monroe has amazing basketball acumen and reminds me of Jeff Green - and minute - I'm impressed by the arc on DaJuan Summers' free throws, a new development since last year and no doubt the product of a whole lot of hard work.

This work will be on display again tonight as the Hoyas face off against Savannah State. As fans, we can't sleep on this team. The same tough John Beilein-led Michigan team that has knocked off UCLA and Duke this year trailed the Savannah State Tigers by 20 at halftime. Michigan scratched out an OT win on campus in Ann Arbor, but that performance will doubtlessly leave the Tigers believing they can knock off our Hoyas.

With no TV for this game, make sure you show up if you're in DC. The rest of us around the world will huddle around our Internet radio connections.

Jeff Goldstein

MSB 2000

Generation Rheese Gibson?