Miami Ohio University Athletics
Joining Facebook has its Perks
4/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Gameday
April 5, 2010
In early March Swoop RedHawk announced on Facebook...
"Miami Students, here is your chance to win the excitement of the CCHA Championship game in Detroit. Easy to enter, just go to Swoop's Facebook page and give your email address. Its just that easy. Be there to Experience the NEXT Miami Moment!
Winner receives two tickets to the CCHA semifinals and Championship game in Detroit. In addition, hotel stays. Tickets will be awarded at the Miami/Ohio State game on Saturday, March 13th."
Erin Fischesser was chosen as the lucky winner. Here is an account of the experience...
When I found out I won tickets to the CCHA tournament weekend, I was incredibly excited. I was immediately making phone calls to cancel all of my weekend plans to head to Detroit in support of the `Hawks, and the weekend didn't disappoint.
After classes on Friday, my boyfriend, two of our friends and I began the trek to Detroit, and after my first Sonic experience we arrived at Joe Louis Arena minutes after the game began. As we walked through the turnstiles, the crowd erupted in cheers. I peeked inside to find that Michigan had scored its first goal. The celebration was overwhelming. Michigan blue and yellow filled the seats and the red and white fans were few and far between. Needless to say, we hurried to the Miami sliver of the venue.
The Brotherhood struggled through the game and it was painful to watch at times, but the excitement of following my team on the road still persisted. Regardless of the play on the ice, I was proud to be a RedHawk. After an upsetting loss, we headed to the hotel where I had won a night's stay.
The hotel was gorgeous and overflowing with college hockey fans. Everything was decked out in CCHA logos and team gear. When we got to our room, I was amazed by the view of the river and Canada on the other side. We got ready and then headed downstairs to the CCHA Fan Zone party. There were tons of hockey lovers out to support their respective teams, a great band and some freebies. We had a great time mingling with the other hockey faithful, making friends and swapping stories from the season.
On Saturday, we spent some time in the city. We went to Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island, two competing restaurants that are side-by-side, to be the judges of whose coneys were best (Cincinnatians would know best, after all!). We wandered around and then returned to the hotel to support the Miami Hockey Band and check out the GM showroom.
After a fun afternoon, we rode to the Joe to watch the `Hawks play Ferris State. This game, The Brotherhood came out swinging and looked much more like the team we have cheered to victory time and time again at Goggin. I felt much more at ease about the road to the Frozen Four after watching the RedHawks rally back.
At the end of the game, the few fans that made the trip were overjoyed and erupted in cheers, singing the Fight Song as the team approached the corner of the arena. The Brotherhood did their usual post-victory traditions, but it was so much more meaningful to do it in an arena that was not our own. It seemed more meaningful. We sang and swayed to the Alma Mater before heading back to the car for our drive home.
When we got back to Oxford, everyone was excited to hear our reports of the team on the road. It was such an amazing experience to follow my team to the tournament and I am so glad that Miami's Athletic Department made it possible. It truly was a memorable weekend and although the outcome wasn't what we had hoped, my Love and Honor was strong as ever.
For promotional information, free giveaways and exclusive contests, friend Swoop RedHawk on Facebook and be the first to know! CLICK HERE to join today!
