2B = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FINALFOUR
FRIDAY,APRIL4,2003
Road trip pit-stops make a memorable Final Four
By Chris Wintering
cwintering@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Sureyou could spend as much as $800 roundtrip and just fly to the Final Four in New Orleans. But chances are all flights are booked, and what college student would turn down a road trip with friends?
Donovan Atkinson/Kansan
The 983-mile journey is fairly easy. Take Interstate 70 East to St. Louis. Once in "The Lou," take I-55 South to New Orleans.
The drive may be long, about 16 hours, but the Kansan has compiled a list of places that might make your Road to the Final Foura little more fun.
START
1 Allen Fieldhouse
It's a short trip down I-70 to Columbia. However, because the Tigers have never been to a Final Four, they can't tell you much about the road there.
2 University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.
What coach Quin Snyder can tell you is how he managed to lose to all four of the Final Four teams while keeping his hair looking so great.
3 Anheuser-Busch Companies, St. Louis
Last year Kansas coach Roy Williams and his team rubbed the Billiken's belly at St. Louis University for good luck. After a first-round scare from Holy Cross and Kirk Hinrich leaving the game with an injury, coach Williams changed his tune.
"I believe the Billiken will have to get his thrills some other way," Williams said after the Holy Cross game.
Well, a great way to get your thrills in St. Louis would be to stop by Anheuser-Busch for a tour. Word is that it gives free samples.
4 Mississippi River, Blytheville, Ark.
In 1991 and last year, coach Williams had his team spit into the river for good luck. Both teams made the Final Four but failed to win it all, so spit at your own risk.
I-55 South toward New Orleans runs parallel to the mighty Mississippi River. However, there is a place near Blytheville, Ark., where I-55 is a part of the Great River Road, which offers a scenic view of the river.
5 Graceland Mansion, Memphis, Tenn.
Mike Sheridan, Cincinnati senior, is one of many students who will be making the long road trip to New Orleans. He said that along the way he planned to visit Elvis Presley's famous mansion, Graceland.
While Sheridan wasn't sure if he would pay for a tour, he did have an idea of what he would do there.
"My plan is to go to Graceland, cue up some Michael Bolton 'Walking in Memphis' and let the good times roll," Sheridan said.
6 Birthplace of Britney Spears,
Kentwood, La.
For many college-aged men, a small town off of I-55 is Mecca. It is where perfection was created. It is, of course, the birthplace of the reigning Princess of Pop, Britney Spears.
One of the students making the trek to New Orleans was excited about stopping here, but doubts Britney would be hanging around the Kentwood Livestock Kitchen or Kinchen's Indoor Rodeo Arena (yeah, those are real places).
"She is probably too Hollywood to still be there," said Adam Bleser, Overland Park senior. "But she does have a sister, right?"
7 END
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, La.
Edited by Amber Byarlay
ATTENTION KU STUDENTS
Make sure you get home safely Call 864-SAFE!
Safe Ride Operates 11:00 PM - 3:00 AM Seven Days a Week!
GOOD LUCK TOMORROW, 'HAWKS!!!
Come cheer for our guys on big screen TVs!
Doors open at 10 a.m. Saturday Patio will be open
LAWRENCE
843-9273
It can only happen at The Hawk!
A
1
---