By Dirk Facer, Deseret Morning News
Bruce Woodbury refers to it as a baptism by fire.
In 1979, as the University of Utah's sports information director, he oversaw aspects of media relations for the Final Four. While Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were honing their skills for a bright future in the NBA, Woodbury commenced a big part of his career.
Over the next 27 years, he'd oversee 13 more segments of the NCAA men's basketball tournament in Salt Lake City. The total includes this week's first and second rounds in the Huntsman Center.
"It seems like yesterday when we had the Final Four with Magic and Bird," Woodbury said. "Then they retired from the NBA. So obviously it's been a while."
The passing of time, however, has not aged Woodbury's enthusiasm for the tournament. He still considers it big-time fun.
"It's cool because the eyes of the nation are on Salt Lake watching the premier sporting event in the country. People are tuned into your games," Woodbury said. "It's fun. It's something that's really hard to explain, but obviously the fans like it. They know what it is. They know how much fun it is to go to these games. There's nothing like NCAA tournament basketball."
That, Woodbury continued, is why he doesn't mind spending much of Selection Sunday at the arena contacting participating schools and finalizing preparations. Approximately 400 media credentials will be issued for games at the Huntsman Center.
It's a crazy start to a week filled with the issuing of media credentials, seating charts and attending to the needs of dozens of reporters and observers. Teams and officials are stationed at 10 different hotels.
"You've got to have a lot of help from a lot of people on campus, staff, volunteers, the city and companies," said Woodbury, who employs 50-60 helpers to cover the various tasks. "It's a big deal. There's a lot of details."
None, though, cause Woodbury to sweat. When it comes to hosting tournament games, he's been there and done that successfully bridging technology from ditto machines to wireless networks.
"It's not always about basketball. It's about the whole atmosphere," Woodbury said. "Walking around the concourse during the NCAA tournament is just electric. You go: 'Wow, this is really cool."'
So much so, in fact, that Woodbury is feeling a bit sentimental this time around. With impending retirement, this will be his last tour of duty as a U. employee.
"I guess that's the way it is with anything," he said.
Woodbury hopes to remain involved as a consultant down the road. Utah is hoping to host the first and second rounds again in 2009. Including this year, the university will have played host to 81 postseason games over 16 tournaments dating back to 1968. Including 1971 when he worked for the school paper, Woodbury has seen all but two of them.
His fondest memories include an appearance by the Jackson State band in 2000. After arriving late because a bus driver took a wrong turn, the musicians put on quite a show during their team's 71-47 loss to Arizona. The best ever, Woodbury claims.
Another memory involves the NCAA and its determination to make sure things are the same at every tournament venue. Even the smallest details are covered by policy and procedures.
One year in the midst of a game, Woodbury received a call from the NCAA media director in Kansas City. While watching the television broadcast, he noticed a radio broadcaster was drinking from a Coca Cola cup on press row a no-no considering it wasn't a cup furnished by the NCAA.
During a timeout, Woodbury ventured over to the reporter and placed the cup out of view. A misunderstanding ensued with the Coke cup moving more than the players on the floor.
"I think he thought I was crazy," Woodbury said. "That's how the NCAA works. They want everything to be perfect. If not they let you know."
The matter was resolved with an explanation and the transfer of the beverage to an approved cup.
Utah's attention to detail is one reason the NCAA tournament keeps returning. If the university is able to host games in 2009, the Huntsman Center will surpass Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium as the venue where the most games have been played.
"The reason they come back here, I guess, is because we've done a great job," said Woodbury, who noted that sites are graded and evaluated after each tournament. "That's a tribute to all the great people who have worked here over the years working the NCAA tournament. It's something we do very well and something we love doing."