A group of physically imposing visitors has spent a lot of time on Georgia Tech’s campus this week, creating, shall we say, a buzz among some there.
The New England Patriots are practicing at Tech in preparation for Sunday’s Super Bowl LIII matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Some students are excited. Some are a little grouchy about it. Some have no clue what the fuss is about.
About two dozen students gathered outside Bobby Dodd Stadium, waiting for the Patriots to come out of Tech’s locker room and board two idling buses Thursday afternoon. Students took pictures and cheered as team members and coaches loaded the buses after practice. A student yelled out an invitation to tight end and bon vivant Rob Gronkowski to stop by his fraternity.
“I don’t really care that much, but I think it’s hype to just see a football team in person and it’s kind of why I’m here,” said Nathan Luskey, a third-year student majoring in biomedical engineering.
Luskey’s friend, Diego Gonzalez, is a bit more invested. While he is from Mexico City, he is a Patriots diehard, having made repeated trips to Boston as a child for medical treatment. His father bought him a Tom Brady jersey and he was hooked. Thursday, he wore a Patriots toboggan. Wide receiver Julian Edelman gave a head nod.
Gonzalez, a third-year student in the business school, is all in on the Patriots. He dropped $3,000, “all the money I had in my life,” for a ticket to the game.
“This is, like, once in a lifetime,” he said.
Other students were less invested.
“I don’t know who they are,” said one female student rushing to class Thursday. She’s from Spain and doesn’t know much about American football.
Credit: HANDOUT
Credit: HANDOUT
Students Wesley Ogata and Luke Grater went near a practice facility Thursday morning to see if players were around. Ogata saw a video on social media of the Patriots getting on a bus on campus earlier this week.
No luck for these two students. There was only a black sport-utility vehicle outside the facility, not large enough to carry all 53 players, the coaches and staff.
“I think it’s pretty cool,” Ogata, 21, a computer science said of the team being on campus. “They’re my favorite team. It’s awesome they’re here.”
Both students, though, said not all of their classmates are stoked. Georgia Tech, though it has a perennially good football team, is a school where most of its students are extremely focused on academics.
“Not many students are paying attention,” said Grater, 21, who’s studying materials engineering.
The Patriots have tried to be inconspicuous at Tech, not surprising for a team famous, or infamous some say, for its secrecy. The practice facility is indoors. The team’s hotel is not on campus. (The Rams are practicing in Flowery Branch, about 40 miles northeast of the stadium.)
But there are signs of their presence. Four campus police officers stood in front of the driveway to the indoor practice facility Thursday morning. A sign noted the street was closed this week and was for “Event Parking Only.” The team bus slowed down a campus trolley, one student said. A “Welcome New England Patriots” sign hung above the practice facility entrance.
Patriots fan Khalil Newell, 20, a third-year business administration student from Carrollton, wished he could see more of them. He saw the team in person on the NFL’s Opening Night at State Farm Arena. He’s messaged the team’s Twitter account. Their presence on campus is sweet for Newell after ribbing from some classmates about his fandom.
“It’s kind of surreal,” he said.
Grad student Danny Shade, though, is somewhat bummed about the five-time Super Bowl champs being on campus.
“I’m from Maryland, so we hate them,” Shade, 23, a second-year chemical engineering student, said with a smile.
Shade, who studies in a building next to the indoor practice facility, said many classmates have peered through the windows this week to get a glimpse of the team. Some did.
Shade had a moment of weakness during the interview when talking about the team’s quarterback, Tom Brady.
“It’s pretty cool you have a legend like Tom Brady here, even if it is Tom Brady,” he said.
