Mobile Support
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:51 am
This is an article from the Memphis paper. I'm sure the same can be said about the BGSU player's experience in Mobile. Once again, we are so glad to have y'all in Mobile.
Here it is, sorry:
Host city sports winning atmosphere
Postcard from Mobile
By Phil Stukenborg
Contact
December 21, 2004
It hasn't been New Orleans, but Tiger players have discovered something that the Big Easy couldn't offer during the team's bowl trip a year ago.
In four days of touring the city between practices and scheduled GMAC Bowl events, Tigers players say they've been approached by Mobile natives who have welcomed them to the city and thanked them for playing in the game.
In New Orleans last year, the Tigers were competing for attention with the upcoming national championship game, the NFL's Saints, a Louisiana high school championship game and major league baseball's winter meetings. ''We went to the mall here and people knew we were football players, they knew why we were here,'' said Tiger deep snapper Jared Bidne, a senior from Senoia, Ga.
''Last year in New Orleans it was, 'What are y'all here for? Are y'all a high school football team?' ''
Local media coverage has exceeded last year's with as many as four Mobile-area television stations attending daily workouts and the Mobile Register, the daily newspaper, providing extensive coverage. Half-page ads promoting the game are a fixture on the back page of the newspaper's sports section.
A special section devoted to the game will be published Wednesday.
''When an event happens in Mobile,'' said Jerry Silverstein, president of the GMAC Bowl, ''the people here embrace it.''