FGCU was ranked second to last in their region. Their first game in the 2013 NCAA tournament was against basketball powerhouse Georgetown: close to 30 NCAA tournament appearances, the Hoyas had been to the Final Four a total of five times, and was a one-time tournament winner. Even ESPN needed to preface their coverage of the matchup with a geography lesson.
So when the FGCU Eagles beat Georgetown they got labeled things like “party poopers”, and yes they broke my bracket. For a short time the City of Fort Meyers even changed its website name to Dunk City, in honor of this viral video hit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MWGx0x25yo
Student rallied and crowds cheered, but ultimately midnight came for this Cinderella story with a loss to the University of Florida in the Sweet Sixteen. Not bad for a team that was created a little over 10 years ago.
Even though college basketball’s March Madness was last month the excitement from the tournament is still around. Wednesday, members of both the House and Senate paid tribute to players, coaches, and staff. Representative Heather Fitzenhagen, from Ft. Myers, said she’s proud of her home town team, as she introduced the visiting Eagles House Chamber. But it was the House Speaker who received a special signed basketball from the players.
“And thank you for the basketball, we should check the gift ban and make sure we’re good there", House Speaker Will Weatherford joked.
The team made their way to the Senate Chamber as well, where Senators Lizbeth Benaquisto and Garrett Richter, both from southwest Florida, shared the sentiments of their House counterparts. They pulled the pick and roll against their home away from home of Tallahassee.
“Members we’re so proud of Tallahassee, it’s a great city, but its not as great as Dunk City! Congratulations, you’ve made Florida so proud- great to have you up here, go dunk city. Go Eagles!” They said.
The House and Senate passed, without objection, measures recognizing FGCU’s accomplishments this season and the tournament. The Eagles became the first 15 seed to ever make it Sweet Sixteen. Not bad for a school that was created about 20 years ago. And that is a slam dunk.
