There is jubilation on the streets of Davidson and the surrounding Lake Norman towns today!
A small school from basically an unknown conference upends the representatives of some of the elite powers and makes a name for itself. This story happens almost every year during the NCAA Basketball tournament ... and this year it is happening to Davidson College in Davidson, NC just north of Charlotte and near the shores of Lake Norman.
The Wildcats, a small school of 1700 students, won their game over Wisconsin to advance to the Elite Eight. The student center as well as all the local bars and restaurants were filled with fans to watch the Wildcats win 73-56.
Jack and I watched the game in our favorite sports bar/restaurant,Big Al's in Cornelius. It was a packed house with at least 30 TV's on and total excitement among the partons, people who have grown up with Davidson College just down the street and newcomers, such as us, enjoying this special treasure right in our own backyard.
Davidson College was founded in 1837 on land donated by the family of revoluntionary war hero General William L. Davidson. The college and town were literally synonymous for 50 or so years when the town that grew up around the college and was called Davidson College The town became just Davidson in the late 19th century.
For years the town board was basically make up of college management and professors. Some people liked it that way and some did not, but there were benefits for the town which includes the considerable art offerings and it's class rooms where auditing by older adults is still very much effect today.
The 450 acre campus is home to around 1700 undergraduate students from 49 states and 36 different countries. About one-fifth are from North Carolina. About half come from outside the southeast. The student - faculty ratio is 10-1.
Many of our friends who live in The Peninsula or in the surrounding area found this area to live because they had children at Davidson College and fell in love with this beautiful area.
Some famous alumi of Davidson College are Woodrow Wilson, 28th Pesident of the United States,Dean Rusk, Secretary of State, Robert Glen, NC Governor 1905-09, Jim Martin, NC Govenor 1984-92, James Holshouser, NC Governor 1972-76, Patricia Cornwall, writer, Tony Snow talk show host and press secretary for President Bush.
We love the little town of Davidson and the College. They have a series of musicals every year that are filled with great talent, a football team that we have watched and found ourselves enjoying the college atmosphere. Many cute shops in Davidson including our favorite little restaurant that is always packed ... The Soda Shop.
Congratulations, Wildcats and GO,GO GO!