I just saw this article about the George Mason Patriots in the Washington Post. I couldn’t help but be touched by how positive Mason has been all through the tournament and afterwards:
I’m very proud of my team and my school! This is my first year at GMU and the Patriots basketball and GMU’s econ department have both won my heart!
There were some tears in the postgame locker room Saturday night, but even then the Patriots were remarkably upbeat, laughing and ribbing each other while Butler asked straggling reporters whether they'd like any more quotes. The Patriots had pledged to have more fun than any team in this tournament, and it seems they succeeded.
"You know, you have a lot of different ways to look at things, and we always choose the positive," Larranaga said. "We're going to try to keep the loss to Florida in perspective, but really keep the wins that led us to the Final Four in the forefront."
Their exploits brought unprecedented attention to their school and their basketball team this week. "George Mason" was Google's most-requested search Saturday, and a youth basketball association has already requested a 1,000-seat block of tickets for a game next season.
But the Patriots' legacy will extend beyond their roster and dilemmas. They came to stand for every non-major school in the country during their tournament run. Larranaga has expressed both a hope that the Patriots will offer inspiration to other unknown teams, and a concern his team's success will create pressure on his peers.
"I don't know the ripple effect this will have," said Larranaga, who remained behind in Indianapolis to collect a coaching award. "I hope it's a positive one. I am concerned that it won't be, that more people will create unrealistic expectations on mid-major programs and coaches. There's always too much emphasis placed on winning at all costs, and I would just hope that people would enjoy what we did."
The Patriots certainly did. During the trip home, they autographed basketballs, pennants, T-shirts and magazines, for each other, for students and for school employees. When they finally arrived at Patriot Center, they were greeted by dozens of fans clapping and holding signs; one called George Mason "America's Most Beloved Team Ever."
Looking forward to some great years ahead!!!
P.S. – See more positive Patriots proudly proclaiming their pride here.
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