As we now reminisce about one of the most exciting March Madness’ in recent history there is one story that brings it all together. It is a story about a father and a son. A son that is a leader on his team. And a father that well, travels.
It is a story about George Mason guard Folarin Campbell and his father, Festus. A story that begins and ends in a train.
You might have heard of George Mason University after its Cinderella story run in the NCAA tournament in 2006 when the Patriots advanced to the Final Four before losing to eventual champion Florida.
Campbell was the main reason that the Patriots went deep in the tourney thanks to his double-digit scoring in all five games as a sophomore.
This year’s tournament appearance was a whole different story. The Patriots were Colonial Athletic Association Conference winners and given an automatic bid to the tournament. In 2006 George Mason received an at-large bid and didn’t know it was in the tournament until the selection show. Oh and by the way no one thought the Patriots should have made the tournament and look what they did.
Throughout the magical run and all the conference and non-conference games, the blow-outs, the close victories and tough losses there has been one Patriot fan always there, Festus.
“I think he has maybe missed two or three in my four-year career and that is probably because he couldn’t get off of work. He has been supporting me from day one,” said the younger Campbell.
Sitting at the Pepsi Center in his yellow-and-green jersey on March 20 in the first round of the NCAA tournament against Notre Dame there he was. A little exhausted but it was worth it.
“Because it would have cost $700, $800 per person round trip to fly, so I can get on a train for free, why in this economy do I want to spend seven to eight hundred dollars,” said Festus.
So on Tuesday before the tournament as George Mason was about to board a comfortable flight out to the Mile High city, Festus was boarding his smelly and slow Amtrak train, destination Denver. As the Patriots got off their three-hour flight from Virginia, Festus’ journey was just beginning, a journey that would end up lasting 20 hours.
“It means a lot. I would say that my dad is my biggest fan and for him to leave on a train on Tuesday that got in today, he is my greatest fan and I love him to death,” said Folarin.
And all the babies screaming, sleepless nights, crappy food and smells surrounding Festus were all worth it in the end.
“This is possibly his last game so I wanted to make sure that I could be here to watch it and support him,” said the elder.
Unfortunately it was his last game as the Patriots fell 68-50 to Notre Dame and Campbell and the rest of his teammates had to sadly realize that this year there would be no special tournament run.
To make things worse Campbell suffered perhaps his worst shooting night of the season going 1 for 12 from the field and finishing with just four points in 33 minutes of playing time.
“It is great. I mean, I wish we had a better ending, but some people don’t get to make the NCAA tournament,” said Campbell on playing in the prestigious tournament.
For Festus the result did nothing to wipe away the smile that he had on his face. A smile that his hard working son has put on his face in the over 100 collegiate games that he has attended.
“He has been going everywhere we went, for him to go out here I am not surprised,” said Folarin.
As Festus began his long journey back home the smile still sat confidently on his face as he reminisced about all the games he has seen his son play.
