New Jersey celebrates Saint Peter’s March Madness upset

Hundreds of Saint Peter’s Peacocks followers flocked to Jersey Metropolis on Friday to have a good time the college basketball staff’s historic March Insanity run.

Greater than 5,000 revelers — some dressed within the college’s most important blue coloration and waving indicators that learn “Jersey Metropolis Robust” —  celebrated the New Jersey staff’s ascent to “Elite Eight” standing within the NCAA match amid colourful floats and music from bagpipers.  

The staff’s win in opposition to the Purdue Boilermakers final week marked the primary time ever {that a} 15-seed staff made it to the ultimate eight within the match.

“You recognize, it’s simply historical past on high of historical past. It’s one of the best feeling ever,” stated parade-going St. Peter’s senior Avery Tan, 26, including that the college additionally simply celebrated its one hundred and fiftieth 12 months.

Cyrus Caudilla, 33, an alumnus of the varsity, added: “They positively put us on the map. So it’s thrilling.”

Hassan Drame, a ahead for the Peacocks staff, addressed the gang –  proclaiming that underdog standing is only a frame of mind.

“Don’t let no person inform you you can not do it, as a result of it’s their opinion. Opinion is a judgment [of] what they doubt about you. Show them that you are able to do it. Peacocks!” he stated.

The parade additionally featured an look by Jersey Metropolis Mayor Steven Fulop, NJ US Sen. Robert Menendez and the Port Authority Police Bagpipers.

The staff misplaced to the North Carolina Tarheels on Sunday and is now not competing within the match.

However Friday, Mayor Fulop advised the staff, “We’re grateful for what you probably did for Jersey Metropolis, and we love you.”