NCAA basketball success transforms George Mason, campus minister says

Published: 2006-03-28

ARLINGTON, Va. (CNS) -- The Cinderella story of underdog George Mason University's arrival in the Final Four in the NCAA men's basketball championship has transformed the school's Fairfax campus, according to student campus minister Brian Dunleavy. "Everyone is happy. Everyone is wearing green," he said. On March 27, there was a two-hour wait to get Final Four T-shirts. "It really has changed everybody." George Mason's 86-84 win in overtime over top-ranked University of Connecticut March 26 propelled it into the Final Four in the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship for the first time in school history. The Patriots were to play the University of Florida April 1 in Indianapolis to determine who would go on to the championship game. According to Dunleavy, the students have become more open and kind toward each other. "They have pride and share the same thing," he said. "Now everyone is so close to each other. It's like a big family."

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .