Five Friends Keep 14-Year March Madness Tradition Alive Despite Pandemic
From left to right: Justin, Jaryd, Carl, Logan, Michael "Guys I'm not yet bailing on March. When I am home tonight we should group chat. I have ideas." Those words, sent to the four of us by Michael shortly after the official announcement of the cancelation of March Madness, put into motion one of the most epic weekends amidst one of our planet's darkest stretches. The five of us live for March Madness. It's been our national holiday since we stepped on Mizzou's campus together 14 years ago. Specifically, the first Thursday - Sunday of the tournament is our haven. It was easy at first. We all lived in the same dorm in 2007, so all we had to do was skip our classes, hook a few TVs up in one of our rooms and set up shop. That transitioned to apartments the next two years and finally a house for our final year together in 2010. When we went our separate ways after college, the thing that brought us back together every year was the tournament. ...