Final Four Snapshots and Tidbits: A Gators Social Media Diary
Thursday, April 3, 2014 | Men's Basketball, Scott Carter
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Final Four is big news in Big D.
The Gators arrived here on Wednesday and made their first visit to gigantic AT&T Stadium on Thursday as they prepare to face UConn on Saturday night.
Florida has been here before. The Gators defeated Florida Gulf Coast University in the Sweet 16 at AT&T Stadium last season before falling to Michigan in the Elite Eight.
Still, this visit has a different feel.
A much different feel.
This is the Final Four, college basketball's marquee event and a spectacle that seems even bigger in Texas at Jerry's World.
"I remember when I was playing in college when we went to the tournament, we wasn't playing in venues like this,'' UConn coach Kevin Ollie said Thursday.
The cities of Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington have all rolled out the red carpet for Florida, Connecticut, Kentucky, Wisconsin and their fans.
All four teams held closed practices at AT&T Stadium on Thursday to get used to the venue. The practice sessions Friday are open to the public and Saturday's Final Four games are expected to draw in the vicinity of 80,000 or more fans.
With so much hype and hoopla surrounding the event, here is a flavor of the day in GatorZone.com's social media diary:
NCAA says 30,000 credentials issued for this year's Final Four and 10,000 hotel rooms reserved. #Gators
— David Jones (@DaveJonesUFbeat) April 3, 2014
#Gators pose for team shot on Final Four logo after closed practice at AT&T a Stadium. pic.twitter.com/ygrvnGneE3
— Chris Harry (@GatorZoneChris) April 3, 2014
That shot lives forever MT @TimCaseyPhoto: @scottiew_5 records @CBSSports #FinalFour promo #GatorMadness #ItsGreatUF pic.twitter.com/l0XOi03kjU
— Kassidy Hill (@KassidyHill) April 3, 2014
At the @Walgreens across from the stadium... Safe to say they are ready for the #Gators fans coming pic.twitter.com/8pHR6fQAJA
— Sam Kouvaris (@samsportsline) April 3, 2014
Gator fans raysbaseball say @UFCoachBillyD will get his 3rd title! http://t.co/J5Jdyi89Ek
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 3, 2014
It is not possible for me to capture the size of this place. Here's me trying. pic.twitter.com/N1pbaXDKUW
— Corey Brooks (@CoreyBrooksUF) April 3, 2014
.@JakeDa_Snake takes cuts in the wiffle ball cage at Bracket Town. #GatorMadness pic.twitter.com/e8PMCejfpV
— Gator M-Basketball (@GatorZoneMBK) April 3, 2014
Scottie Wilbekin realizes he has a tall task ahead of him. #FinalFour pic.twitter.com/trxEkxbjcz
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) April 3, 2014
.@GatorZoneMBK soph @mfrazier20 records a @CBSSports #FinalFour promo #GatorMadness pic.twitter.com/Cp0ikWBApQ
— Tim Casey (@TimCaseyPhoto) April 3, 2014 NEW VIDEO: Our latest @GatorZoneMBK hype video gets you ready for the @FinalFour...enjoy - http://t.co/yCeuKPUm9j #GatorMadness
— GatorVision (@GatorVisionTV) April 3, 2014
For @ATT and @NCAA, #FinalFour represents an unprecedented convergence of interests http://t.co/jCejmGTakK
— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) April 3, 2014
@CoachKO_UConn and @UFCoachBillyD press conference at #finalfour at @ATTStadium home of @dallascowboys #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/hygZxbmpaS
— UConn Men's Hoops (@UConnMBB) April 3, 2014 “@lmtbaskin: @Will15Yeguete 1st birthday and wearing her fav team! #GoGators #biggestCaliFan pic.twitter.com/80zGLGPf5E”happy Birthday!! 😍😊🐊
— Will Yeguete (@Will15Yeguete) April 3, 2014
Group picture of the @MBKRowdies before taking off for the Final Four @WUFTNews pic.twitter.com/ol2ul5YDaD
— Connor Ingalls (@ConnorIngalls) April 3, 2014
Front of @DallasNews sports section today...#FinalFour #GatorMadness pic.twitter.com/tufhKdVREl
— Scott Carter (@GatorZoneScott) April 3, 2014 Great view! MT @MelindaDPD: Welcome to #Dallas! @Big12Conference @FinalFour @MMMusicFestival pic.twitter.com/pSMptcjjLE
— Final Four (@FinalFour) April 3, 2014
.@not_romo we know you're a Duke fan but the #gators are here pic.twitter.com/jnclUFwlP9
— UF Manager (@UFManager) April 3, 2014 NABC announces #Gators C Patric Young the recipient of Pete Newell Big Man of the Year Award.
— Edgar Thompson (@osgators) April 3, 2014
Great visit with parents of @BigPatYoung4 yesterday at north side home. Story on how they raised him coming. #Gators pic.twitter.com/5MJfeQMjMm
— Eugene Frenette (@GeneFrenette) April 3, 2014
.@GatorZoneMBK secures back-to-back titles as the #Gators defeat Ohio St. in the 2007 title game #FinalFourFlashback http://t.co/GC68a6nqG2
— March Madness TV (@MarchMadnessTV) April 2, 2014
The #FinalFour @GatorZoneMBK @denverparler #Gators #GatorMadness pic.twitter.com/8nc4YXQFKH
— Jim Cowsert (@jimcowsert) April 1, 2014
#Gator fans will enjoy Final 4 #Teamcast on TNT. Lots of features/interviews with Gator greats. Working with Mark and James will be fun!
— David Steele (@steelemagic) April 1, 2014 #FinalFour set to tip off with Salute to student-athletes. pic.twitter.com/i8FAarQsKd
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) April 3, 2014
The #Gators Glossary: Explaining the terms of endearment for Florida basketball in 2013-14. http://t.co/V1DTZr55au
— Alligator Army (@AlligatorArmy) April 3, 2014
Jeremy Foley the man that made it happen for Gators when he hired Billy Donovan . #dickievpicks http://t.co/1hq92d7BuE
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 3, 2014
Great article on @BigPatYoung4 from @YahooForde: http://t.co/sKXFCfYusz. Awesome kid who takes a ton of pride in being a Gator.
— Jon Rubin (@jon_rubin) April 3, 2014
From Florida fan Dennis Adair … “This is a good sign, my Gator chopped today.” … #GatorMadness #FinalFour pic.twitter.com/0ppZ84rIJx
— Scott Carter (@GatorZoneScott) April 3, 2014
