HOUSTON- — In just a few hours, the University of Utah Runnin’ Utes will take on the Duke Blue Devils in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, and some loyal fans are traveling all the way to Texas to see their team play.
FOX 13 News’ Tamara Vaifanua spoke with several Utah fans before they departed Salt Lake City International Airport.
“I am headed to the Sweet Sixteen! How sweet it is!” Vicky Hansen said.
Hansen said she is geared up and ready to shout for the Runnin’ Utes alongside her family.
“My son is actually taking me on this trip,” she said. “He’s in L.A. He was at the games in L.A. last night, and he is meeting me at the Houston airport, and he’s taking me, as a gift, to watch the Utes.”
Hansen said the game has meaning to their family: “We’re all Ute alumni and we’re so excited!”
John and Kay Johnson are also heading to Houston to watch Utah play, and they said they’ve been waiting for years for an opportunity like this. Utah hasn’t made it this far in the NCAA Tournament in a decade.
“They are so good and they play together as a team, probably better than anyone that we’ve seen,” John Johnson said. “Everybody’s on the same page.”
Duke may be favored to win, but Utah fans don’t want to hear it.
“I think we got it,” Hansen said. “My bracket takes them all the way!”
