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American's Dream Comes True
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American Coach Jeff Jones, who sobbed on national television after the victory, will return to the tournament for the first time since 1997 with Virginia, where he played with Ralph Sampson and later coached the Cavaliers until he was relieved of his duties in 1998.
"I missed it," Jones said. "I've had close friends and colleagues, say, 'You're spoiled.' But we went to the tournament five of the first six years at Virginia. It's what I was accustomed to. The fact that we are going is really special."
Wil Jones, one of only two American players to have his jersey retired by the school, watched the game from Virginia Beach. He said he had been encouraged before the season about the team's hopes. "I said to Jeff Jones, 'I really like those two little small guys,' " he said, referring to tournament most valuable player Garrison Carr and Mercer. "We've waited so long to get to the tournament, I thought those were the kind of players that could get us there."
"So all I have to say is: Hooray for the little guys."
This win was the greatest sporting achievement for AU since 1985, when its soccer team advanced to the national title game against perennial powerhouse UCLA. But the Eagles lost in eight -- yes, eight -- overtimes.
Before the victory, American was one of 33 Division I schools whose men's and women's basketball programs both had failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament. AU fielded its first men's team in 1926 and began competing in Division I in 1967. Eighty-two seasons after the Eagles began, 41 seasons after they were eligible for the tournament, the drought ended.
"There's certainly not another trip to the NCAA tournament that feels better," Jones said after he had snipped the last piece of net from the rim and held it aloft to cheers. "This is pretty damn good."
