BOSTON -- March madness isn't just last-second buzzer beaters, Cinderella teams, and office pools.
What makes the NCAA basketball tournament so special is the fans, who often travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to support their teams.
At the East Regional afternoon session held at the FleetCenter in Boston on Friday, site of the Syracuse-Manhattan and Penn-Oklahoma St. games, the Quakers faithful -- consisting of Penn students, alumni and the many people who picked the Red and Blue to upset the Cowboys, including CBS broadcaster Bill Rafferty -- made their presence felt.
"We definitely had the loudest fans of any of the four teams that were there," sophomore Jon Lubin said. "The interaction between alumni and students was great, with high fives and loud cheers."
A neutral spectator sitting across the stadium, University of Connecticut freshman Devon Shalmi mirrored Lubin's sentiments.
"Penn's fans are clearly the most enthusiastic and wildest fans out there," Shalmi said. "The team responded to its fans more than any team I've ever seen."
But Quakers fans had less freedom in their cheering than they do at the Palestra.
They were repeatedly asked by FleetCenter security guards to sit down. Traditionally, Penn's student section remains standing throughout the game.
"The security guards were unprepared for the Palestra atmosphere," sophomore Mike Schimmel said.
"Some people come to these games expecting a golf competition, eating their club sandwiches and watching the game in their spare time," Lubin said. "As college students, that's the antithesis of what Penn fans are trying to bring to this game."
In order to protest being glued to their seats, the Quakers' fans jumped up and cheered at the top of their lungs when Adam Chubb entered the game at the 12-minute mark. He then hit a shot to put Penn ahead, 22-17, at which point the Penn fan section erupted again.
The FleetCenter security guards also asked Jeff Campbell, Schimmel and two of their friends -- who had painted their chests for many of Penn's home games -- to put on their shirts.
Still, despite being seated and fully-clothed, Penn's fans helped the Quakers capture the lead in the first half and keep the game close until the waning moments of the second half.
Red and Blue Crew President Jeff Millman, a columnist for The Daily Pennsylvanian, said that many Penn fans were seated in sections of the FleetCenter other than those assigned by Penn.
The Penn Athletic Department offered tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis to students and alumni, showing preference to season ticket holders.
Some Penn students stayed in Philadelphia for the game and came together to support the Quakers in Houston Hall.
The Red and Blue Crew organized a viewing party, with free Abner's food and drinks, as well as a big-screen television. Approximately 450 students attended the event.
"It felt just like being in the Palestra," sophomore Matt Klapper said.
At one point during the game, the Houston Hall crowd started chanting loudly, "Defense!" When Tim Begley got injured with about eight minutes left in the game, the concerned crowd turned completely silent.
Despite the $50 price for Friday's morning session at the FleetCenter and the cost of travel, Campbell and Penn's other fans were happy they made the trip.
"I'm glad I went, as expensive as it was," Campbell said. "I spent $90 on just the train coming back to Philadelphia."
"The atmosphere was well worth it, especially the show Ugonna [Onyekwe] put on -- 30 points and no fouls is unbelievable," Campbell said.
While Oneykwe's most impressive performance came on the hardcourt, his most memorable move -- well, aside from maybe his up-and-under and-one reverse layup -- came on the sidelines after he had been substituted out of the game.
Onyekwe tipped his head toward the Penn fans to acknowledge their support and express his appreciation.
"Penn fans care more about their actual team than [other teams'] fans do," Shalmi said.
Seems like the respect goes both ways.
Sports reporters Michael Gertner and David Burrick contributed to this story.
