Loyola fans storm DePaul’s campus, local bars
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McGee’s Tavern is a favorite bar of DePaul students, but on Saturday it felt like a Loyola bar as Ramblers emblems covered the windows. (Benjamin Conboy | The DePaulia)
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Loyola fans were disappointed after losing a tough matchup to the Michigan Wolverines.(Benjamin Conboy | The DePaulia)
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Kelly’s Pub joined other Lincoln Park bars by welcoming Loyola Ramblers fans and students. (Benjamin Conboy | The DePaulia)
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A Ramblers fan sports team colors walking through the SAC in DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus.(Benjamin Conboy | The DePaulia)
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During a Cinderella-style tournament run, Loyola’s men’s basketball fans took to bars around Chicago to cheer on the Ramblers in the Final Four on Saturday, March 31.
The Loyola Ramblers competed fiercely in the NCAA championship, establishing themselves as the premiere Chicago collegiate basketball team.
The last time the Ramblers made it to the final four competing for the national title was 55 years ago in 1963. Loyola advancing to the final four makes them only the fourth 11-seed to come as close to winning a title.
In the week leading up to the final four game, Ramblers fans could be seen donning Maroon and Gold clothing around even DePaul’s campus and favorite bars.
As the game came to its conclusion and it became clear that Michigan would advance, groans could be heard from bars as the team Chicago collectively rallied behind bowed their heads and shook hands with the victors.
Loyola received the same treatment as the Chicago Bulls of the 90’s, with pop-up apparel stands surfacing throughout the loop and the rest of the city. Wrigleyville Cubs apparel stores placed mannequins in the windows covered in Maroon and Gold.
Many DePaul fans were left to wonder when it would be their turn to watch their team compete in March Madness.
