By LISA CHIU
Observer Staff
March 19, 2008

Bald eagles soar far distances due to uplift from warm air currents. Like their mascot, the American University men’s basketball team has soared all the way to a history-making entry to the Division I NCAA Tournament – thanks to a lot of sweat and the uplift from fans.

Students, faculty, staff and community members gathered on campus Wednesday to wish the team victory as it headed to Birmingham, Ala., to play the University of Tennessee on Friday in the first round of the East Region tournament in the Big Dance.

All along the road to their historic feat, the team has been cheered on by thousands of citizens from AU Nation. Freshman Caitlyn Chew said that she has made it to every AU home game – except for last week’s victory over Colgate University, but only because she was home for spring break.

“But I saw the article in USA Today and I cut it out, I was so excited,” Chew said.

Chew and her friends are part of the “Blue Crew” who wear blue and paint their faces at all the AU games.

“I’m such an advocate of AU, it gives us some better recognition, because we have an excellent team,” she said.

Also at the sendoff rally were Horace Mann Elementary School students from 2nd to 6th grade who unfurled a long banner they’ve been working on, said the school’s musical director Sarah Pace.

“They’re just thrilled that this local team has made it. They are so excited,” Pace said.

AU President Neil Kerwin said the team has brought pride to the University.

“And now they’re off to play against an ‘apparent’ No. 2 seed,” Kerwin said, followed by cheers from the crowd.

Senior forward Travis Lay said the team wants to make AU proud in Alabama.

“And we hope to come with two wins,” he said.

Championship Win: Watch video report

The team’s 52-46 victory at a packed Bender Arena last week catapulted the University to its first appearance in the Division I tournament in the team’s 82-year history as the winners of the Patriot League Championship.

Junior guard Garrison Carr led the Eagles with 17 points and five rebounds. The first half of the game had American in a slight lead, but the second half proved much tenser as the teams traded the lead until minutes before the buzzer. In the last few minutes, American fought back the lead winning 52-46. (See the play-by-play here)

Sharon Buck is neither alumni, nor a parent, but she is nonetheless a fan. Buck started attending AU basketball games last year with her husband. When AU defeated Colgate on Friday, she was on the edge of her seat.

“I was so overcome with enthusiasm for the team and the people involved. It’s just so thrilling to be enthused by this marvelous, marvelous achievement,” Buck said. “We were in the lead and then comes halftime! There was a one point difference and it was back and forth, and back and forth. I was screaming so loud.”

Also at the game was former AU basketballer Kermit Washington, who later played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, San Diego Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors.

“It feels great,” Washington said. “A chance to go to the big dance is something very special for us. It’s good for recruiting and enrollment and identifies that [AU] is not only a good academic school, but pretty good at basketball too.”

American Head Coach Jeff Jones admitted that the championship game wasn’t one of their best games, but he said teamwork really paid off.

“It had a lot of opportunities for our guys to make a lot of contributions. Jordan Nichols came through with some big baskets. Brian Gilmore, Garrison and Derrick are the guys that get the most notoriety, but it wasn’t one of Derrick’s best games,” Jones said. “A lot of different guys were making contributions and they hung in there and somehow found the light.”

Junior guard Derrick Mercer said that the team has been under a lot of pressure since AU has missed out at the league title three times.

“It was exciting around campus for the last week… Just coming out there on the court and hearing them cheering your name, it gives you energy,” he said.

“It was great to look up and see thousands of people.”