Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, December 11, 1993 TAG: 9312110168
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But the mat many of them wanted to see on a misty afternoon was the tarp covering the field at Salem Stadium.
The fans from Mount Union College and Rowan College didn't have to look far to find organized activities when they hit town:
There were "welcome centers" set up at major Roanoke Valley hotels to direct fans to various attractions (one of the most-asked questions at the Sheraton, where many Rowan College fans were staying: "How do I get to that mall across the highway without walking?")
Meanwhile, Salem threw a Stagg Bowl block party - complete with bonfire - at the Salem Farmers Market.
But one of the most popular activities surrounding the Division III national championship game seemed to be an unscheduled one: Hundreds of fans made a pilgrimage to Salem Stadium, just to see the place.
"Everybody from Mount Union has been here," said John Saunders, assistant director of the stadium complex, as he hung banners and made other last-minute preparations.
Maybe not everybody.
But at times it seemed that way, as many fans from the Ohio school bypassed their hotel check-ins and went directly to the stadium, sometimes creating a small traffic bottleneck outside.
Tom Lantos, whose nephew plays cornerback for Mount Union, tested the acoustics with a series of deep-throated "Go Raiders!"
"Good sound," he pronounced.
"We always do this, at least for away games," said his sister-in-law, Irene Lantos.
Debby Wolpert, a Mount Union grad, scrambled high into the stands to find her seat.
"Great view," she said.
And then there was Dan Buckel, another Mount Union grad, who stood silently, his eyes scanning the field.
"I'm just trying to visualize the scoreboard and how it'll look tomorrow," he explained.
With a big score for his team, he hoped.
by CNB