View From The Hill
(3/12/09)

SWEET SIXTEEN – HOST FAMILIES

THE HOUCHENS INDUSTRIES/KHS-DOUBLE A GIRLS SWEET SIXTEEN BASKETBALL
TOURNAMENT BRINGS 55-THOUSAND PEOPLE TO THE CAMPUS OF WKU.

AND AS AMY BINGHAM TELLS US IN THIS WEEK'S "VIEW FROM THE HILL", THE
TEAMS GET A VERY WARM WELCOME.

THEY'RE CALLED HOST FAMILIES...AND THEY ARE A BIG PART OF THE SWEET
SIXTEEN'S SUCCESS.  VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVE AS A LIASON BETWEEN THE TEAM
AND THE CITY OF BOWLING GREEN.

"I'VE ALWAYS BEEN AN ENTHUSIASTIC BASKETBALL FAN"
BILL FRANKLIN OF BOWLING GREEN IS MONTGOMERY COUNTY'S NUMBER ONE FAN.
"IF THEY NEED SOMETHING THEY CAN CALL...A DOCTOR, A GYM TO
PRACTICE IN...ANYTHING THEY MIGHT NEED WE'RE AVAILABLE.”
FRANKLIN IS ONE OF 16 HOST FAMILIES ...ONE FOR EVERY TEAM IN THE
TOURNAMENT.

"WE SIT BEHIND THE BENCH WHEN THEY PLAY AND WE JUST ENJOY
IT AND WE GET TO KNOW THE KIDS ESPECIALLY IF THEY WIN TWO OR THREE
GAMES WE REALLY GET TO KNOW THEM."

THE RELATIONSHIP BEGINS WHEN THE BUS FIRST ROLLS INTO TOWN.  THE HOST
IS THERE WITH GOODIE BAGS AND MORE.

"WE WENT AROUND TO SOME GROCERIES AND FOUND HEALTHY THINGS WE
THOUGHT 15 TO 18 YEAR OLD GIRLS SHOULD HAVE."

HOST FAMILY CHAIRMAN EDDIE SMITH SAYS IT'S AN IMPORTANT BOND.

"THEY BECOME FRIENDS WITH COACHES AND ATHLETIC DIRECTORS, GET
TO KNOW SOME OF THE PLAYERS...IT'S WONDERFUL FOR BOWLING GREEN, WARREN
COUNTY AND WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY."

ON THE COURT AND OFF--EVERY FAN COUNTS!

"SOMETIMES IT'S JUST NICE TO HAVE A FRIENDLY FACE SITTING
THERE SAYING WHAT CAN I DO?"

NOW THAT MONTGOMERY COUNTY HAS ADVANCED TO THE QUARTERFINALS...DOES
FRANKLIN CARE TO PREDICT THE OUTCOME OF THE TOURNAMENT?
"I'M HOPING MONTGOMERY COUNTY WINS."

BILL FRANKLIN'S HOSTING DUTIES DON'T END WITH THE SWEET 16.  HE'S
SCHEDULED TO HOST A WOMEN'S TEAM APPEARING IN FIRST ROUND ACTION OF THE
WOMEN'S NCAA TOURNAMENT MARCH 22ND AND 24TH  AT DIDDLE ARENA.

WITH THIS WEEK'S VIEW FROM THE HILL...I'M Amy Bingham