At Charlotte Latin

Got my first taste of Charlotte and it is a nice and clean city, easy to get around in. A little cooler than I expected. It was in the mid 40s and low 50s for most of the day.

After watching practice for most of the season inside the Shenkman Center it was a it of a shock to the system. Charlotte Latin looks like a great high school, but it isn't indoors.

Randy Edsall looked miserable (ok, he was just cold) and had a hooded sweatshirt on. The players have adjusted nicely. they are loving this.

No school, just football and and fun right about now.

Players are enjoying the city. A couple of the older guys went out to Coyote Ugly among other places a couple of nights ago and the team will be at the Bobcats game tonight. Hopefully none of them got on the bar and started singing. I was in Tampa at the Ugly in Ybor City once...

Don't worry, the curfew was 1 a.m. and goes down an hour each night leading up to the game. I think it is a 10 p.m. curfew on Wednesday night. Anyhow, they are going to be ready to play.

This is more of a pro feel to it. No classes and the players are on there own. You have to have fun down at these places and enjoy the city. It comes down to trust, and if you can't trust your players to be mature then there is no use even playing in one of these games.

It only took a part of practice to get back in the groove. Like riding a bike. Everyone is healthy and the players are anxious. A couple of guys came in late because of flight delays, but everyone made it down to Charlotte fine.

Some other notes:

Team visited Levine Children's Hospitals today. Dan Davis, Danny Lansanah, Donnell Ford, Larry Taylor and Tyler Lorenzen went to the hospital to visit sick children.

Huskies will head to Lowe's Motor Speedway tomorrow for a tour and participation in the Richard Petty driving experience. Edsall and Wake coach Jim Grobe will compete in a tire changing contest tomorrow. The UConn players' money is on Grobe.

"Coach looks more like he brings in his car for service," Lorenzen critiqued. "I am a country boy... but coach looks like he calls AAA."

Most of the players are looking forward to driving 170 MPH in a race car. I don't know if I am going to get in a car. I was going to, but now I am leaning against. Not sure if the media is even going to be invited to do so. A part of me hopes they don't ask so I don't have to make a decision.
I am the guy who got scared and walked out of the test track at Disney.

The only roller coasters I've been on is the Wildcat at Quasy Amusement Park and the Thunderbird at Riverside. Of course I went on Space Mountain, but I didn't like that either. When I was a kid my mother left me on a kiddie coaster at some back alley carnival. As I cried they all waved and laughed at me. I have never recovered.

If your coming down Friday don't forget to head to the street festival on Friday on Trade and Tyon streets. A pep really will commence at 5 p.m.

Edit: Went down to the hospitality suite to get my credentials. Walked back up with credentials, media guides and two beers.

I love Charlotte.