The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
PATRIOTS CREATE BUZZ AT TECH
Agroup 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 in Atlanta against the Los Angeles Rams.
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 after practice Thursday afternoon. Students took pictures and cheered as team members appeared. A student yelled out an invitation to tight end and bon vivant Rob Gronkowski to stop by his fraternity.
Third-year student Diego Gonzalez, a Patriots die-hard, 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.
Georgia Tech, though it has a football team, is a school where most of its students are extremely focused on academics.
“Not many students are paying attention,” said Luke Grater, 21, who’s studying materials engineering.
Grater and classmate Wesley Ogata headed to a practice facility Thursday morning to see if players were around. No luck.
“They’re my favorite team. It’s awesome they’re here,” Ogata, 21, a computer science major, said of the team being on campus.
The Patriots have tried to be inconspicuous at Tech, not surprising for a team famous, or infamous, some say, for its secrecy. (The Rams are practicing at the Atlanta Falcons facilities 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. The team bus slowed down a campus trolley, one student said. Patriots fan Khalil Newell, 20, a thirdyear business administration student from Carrollton, wished he could see more of them. 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.
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.