|
Below, you'll find extensive information on leading
west virginia basketball articles and products to help you on your way
to success.
Cold Nights And Hot Games
By Ron Richards, Thu Dec 8th
Each year, colleges and universities from all over the nationsend their men's teams to the "Last Frontier State"to the Great Alaska Shootout Tourney. The competitionheats up the cold winter days and nights, as teams meet head onto battle for buckets. Colleges and universities get theopportunity to play against their top rivals and powerhouses ofthe game. These games draw in record crowds each year, as anybasketball fan should not miss the chance to attend this fastpaced pre season classic. The main question on any sports fan's mind is, why Alaska? Thereason is simple, former University of Alaska Anchorage headcoach, Bob Rachal found a loophole in the NCAA rules determiningpre season play. In an effort to draw more attention to thestate, the University of Alaska Anchorage, and the Seawolvesathletic program, Rachal became the mastermind of what began asthe Sea Wolf Classic. The NCAA rules stated any games playedoutside the contagious 48 states did not count towards aprogram's pre determined allotment. For this reason,participants of the Great Alaska Shootout Tourney canget an early gauge of their teams prowess against nationaltalent. The first Sea Wolf Classic was held in 1978 for the '78-'79basketball season and saw the Wolfpack of North Carolina StateUniversity crush the University of Louisville's Cardinals. Thetournament ended in 1978, leaving many wondering if it wouldbecome an annual event. Much to everyone's relief, the Sea WolfClassic became a Thanksgiving tradition in 1979, but under a newname.
Broadcaster Billy Packer is
credited with changing the name fromthe Sea Wolf Classic to the Great Alaska Shootout BasketballTourney back in 1979. In this stunning tournament, the titlegame came down to the University of Kentucky Wildcats and theIona College Gaels. The Wildcats proved too powerful for thetiny New York school, and emerged victorious as the secondchampion of this fantastic new challenge. A list of past champions reads like a who's who of Collegebasketball, including NC State, Louisville, Kansas, Kentucky,Duke, North Carolina, and UCLA to name a few. The attendance may have been meager in the early days, but soonthe action caught on, and now college fans of allages flock to the state for the Thanksgiving weekend GreatAlaska Shootout Tourney. What better way to celebrateour national day of thanks than by cheering on teams from allacross the country? Many hotels, cruises, and lodges havespecial packages designed with the college fan inmind. If you find you cannot wait until December to enjoy hot hoopsaction, head to Anchorage and watch the action melt away thesnow! Plan a trip for the family and bring budding sports fansto experience the thrilling display of skill and sportsmanship,or make it a raucous occasion for celebration with your besthoops loving buds. Whoever you bring, just make sure you bringyourself to this annual college showdown! About the author:A lifelong Alaskan, Ron Richards lives in the beautifulMatanuska Valley. Ron invites you to come and see Alaska. Oneexcellent way to enjoy Alaska is by taking an affordable Alaska Cruise Visithttp://findanalaskacruise.com for more information.
|
