St. Bonaventure University senior Christopher Radey says he had to buy a ticket for a bus trip to watch the men’s basketball team play in the Atlantic 10 championship game in Atlantic City, N.J.

“It was too monumental of a moment for our school to not be there cheering on with all my peers,” explains Radey.

St. Bonaventure earned its first conference title and first NCAA tournament appearance in nine years after defeating Xavier 67-56 on Sunday. While one bus of students saw the historic victory live, Radey unexpectedly watched from an Applebee’s with other passionate fans.

Two Covered Wagon Tours buses left campus at 4 a.m. The second bus’ driver noticed something leaking from the first bus as it approached a Great Bend, Pa., McDonald’s three hours later.

Graduate student Kathryn Klimek, the first bus’ chaperone, says after both buses stopped, mechanics worked to repair an oil leak on the first bus. Klimek says the woman who helped reserve the buses made phone calls to arrange another bus.

Radey says he and some passengers wondered if the second bus would leave, comparing the situation to a movie.

“We decided that the two buses were exactly like those two boats full of people in The Dark Knight,” Radey remembers. “People were passing judgment on each other, deciding who should stay, who should go.”

As mechanics worked, the second bus left, abandoning 41 disappointed students.

Senior Lisa Malmgren says passengers desperately tried calling bus companies.

“It’s hard to get ahold of any business at 8 a.m. on a Sunday,” says Malmgren. “We just had to accept our fate.”

Klimek says she held out hope until 10 a.m.

“At that point we would not have made it there for any of the first half and we would be cutting it close to even make for the second half if we didn’t hit one minute of traffic,” she explains. “I was very sad for the group of students.”

At 10:30 a.m., another bus arrived and drove the group back towards campus. It stopped at the Hornell, N.Y. Applebee’s parking lot about 20 minutes before the 1 p.m. tipoff. The passengers entered the restaurant, creating a smaller version of St. Bonaventure’s home court, the Reilly Center.

“We took over Applebee’s and cheered like crazy,” says senior Kate Burt. “In true Bona fashion, we made the best out of a crappy situation.”

“The staff was very accommodating,” says senior Sam Wilson. “It was a bonus to watch the game in a place with beer on tap and pretty good food.”

Klimek says she agrees the students handled the situation extremely well.

“The bus was full of the best sports I could have asked for,” states Klimek.

“I loved the experience we had and it will forever make a wonderful story that I can tell people,” declares Radey.

As one of 25 schools to have both its men’s and women’s basketball teams in the NCAA tournament this year, the students say they see the teams’ successes as a significant achievement.

“Students from bigger schools can’t understand what it’s like,” says Malmgren. “We’re such a small school, but so passionate. I think it’s about time to show people what it means to be a Bonnie.”

“I couldn’t imagine being anywhere but Bonaventure for this experience,” says Klimek.

“I’ve never felt more proud of this school.” marvels Wilson.

The men’s team takes on Florida State Friday at 2:45 p.m. The women’s team plays Florida Gulf Coast Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Photo credit:

Bryan Weber