LOUISVILLE, Ky. – As I ate dinner downtown last night I happened across two Penn State fans. We exchanged pleasantries and eventually the game between Oregon and the Nittany Lions the night previous came up. The two gentlemen were Penn State alums and lifelong volleyball fans, so I asked their opinion of the game.
The older of the two men looked at me and told me simply that the reason Oregon was successful in defeating Penn State was tenacity. He said the Ducks simply wanted the game more, and this tenacity was what propelled Oregon past Penn State.
Tonight when Oregon takes on the Texas Longhorns they will need to bring this tenacity and fight with them. Like Penn State, the Longhorns are a tall, athletic team and the Ducks will probably enter the match as a slight underdog.
As I sit writing this, Louisville is once again quiet. The vibrant Southern atmosphere present before the Final Four matchups and last night on the streets of downtown is currently in hibernation.
However, in a few short hours when the Ducks and Longhorns battle for the NCAA national title, I’m sure the KFC Yum! Center and the surrounding area will once again be raucous and energetic.
If the Ducks are able to bring their tenacity with them, they might even end the night national champions too.