Do the numbers 79 and 64 mean anything to you?

No? Well, they probably should.

These numbers represent the final score in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament game between Kent State and Pittsburgh on Friday. The No. 12 seeded Flashes knew they had a tough evening ahead of them. However, they also knew pulling off a victory wasn’t impossible. In 2002, the Flashes beat the No. 5-seeded Pittsburgh Panthers in the Sweet Sixteen match-up. This year, however, Kent State wasn’t able to duplicate the same win it did four years ago.

Although this fairy tale has come to an end for the Flashes, Kent State students should still wear their colors with pride for these Mid-American Conference champions. We shouldn’t forget their achievements, even though the season is over.

It saddens me to know that as I speak of the men’s basketball team, there are far too many Kent State students who don’t even know what March Madness is, or that the Flashes were a part of the NCAA Championship games. School spirit at times seems to be minimal.

I guess the point I’m trying to get to is, have some school spirit. Attend some athletic events and maybe even buy some yellow and blue paint to decorate your body with. Moral support sometimes proves to be helpful to a team’s performance.

Also, “broaden your horizons,” so to say. I believe it’s important to know there is a world outside your little bubble. If people continue to only be interested in things they are familiar with, they will miss out.

I’m not going to pretend that I’m some sort of sports fanatic. As a matter of fact, I used to rarely care about Kent athletics. But, when the men’s basketball team started cleaning up, I paid attention. I caught the disease known as March Madness and it has been running through my veins ever since the Kent vs. Akron victory on Feb. 4. I now have my own Facebook.com bracket, and finished watching the Kent vs. Toledo MAC championship game in the restroom of a Red Robin Restaurant. Now that’s dedication.

Yes, Red Robin has televisions in their restrooms; I was amused too. Since my transformation, I’ve learned that this was Kent State’s first appearance in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship since 2002. They conquered the MAC Conference this year, and finished the season with a 25-9 record overall.

Good job, men.

We may never win a NCAA Championship, but pride shouldn’t come from the number of wins a team has. I’m proud of the Kent State Golden Flashes. This year, the men’s basketball team provided me with oodles of entertainment. Not to mention the hospital bills due to heart attacks caused from close games. Suspense kills me, guys.

I’m not ashamed to say I’ve been infected with March Madness. College basketball has become a new pastime of mine, and I plan on developing many more. Maybe knitting or cake decorating could spark my interest. But for now, if you need me, you can find me glued to ESPN until the NCAA Champion is announced.

Erica Weisburn is a junior newspaper journalism major and a columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact her at [email protected].