by Bailey White
Staff Writer
Hosting the North Carolina State football team — a group of 423 players, coaches, managers, trainers, administrative staff and friends and family occupying 210 rooms — may seem like a daunting task. But staffers at the Omni say they are more than up to the challenge of providing lodging for the team as they prepare for Wednesday’s Toyota Gator Bowl.
“It really isn’t too different from what we normally do,” said Karen Courtright, the director of sales and marketing at the downtown hotel, noting that an earlier than usual check-in time was the only real difference.
“Some of the players started arriving on Christmas Day,” she said. “The rest arrived Thursday morning at 9:30 which is earlier than our usual check in time of 3 in the afternoon.”
Managers and extra staffers were around just to make sure things ran smoothly, “which they did,” said Courtright.
She said staffers began preparing for the team’s stay after meeting with school officials a couple of weeks ago.
“We went over all the specifications and logistics,” she said. “They’ve been in bowl games before so they knew exactly what was needed. They pretty much brought everything with them.”
One of the things they brought was a rigid schedule.
The team grabs breakfast at the hotel before dashing off to practice sessions at Jacksonville University. Later, they spend hours in the hotel’s conference rooms, reviewing game tapes and planning strategy for Notre Dame, their New Year’s Day opponent.
“They have all of our meeting facilities right now,” said Courtright.
Other amenities the hotel provides for the team include a game room and the use of the second floor for pre-practice activities.
That doesn’t leave the team with a lot of time to relax, but as game day approaches, the mood in the hotel gets livelier.
“The excitement increases the closer it gets,” said Shawanna Thompkins, the front office supervisor. “The whole week is a lot of fun.”
Wednesday night, the game will be over and the team will celebrate with a dinner at the hotel.
“It will be a big, buffet-style dinner,” said Courtright.
Some players will leave that day, but most will check out Thursday.
As for the Omni staff, “they’re very excited,” said Courtright, adding that for the last two years the hotel has hosted visiting teams’ alumni, and not actual players. “It’s a big deal for them and a really fun week. It’s nice having the team here.”
Especially because this team came bearing gifts.
“They brought N.C. State sweatsuits for everyone on staff,” said Courtright. “And they brought 50 pairs of Nike tennis shoes for housekeeping. They’ve been wonderful.”
The front desk staff, who enjoy the interaction with the players, agrees.
“Some of the players are really funny,” said Allison Garvin, check-out specialist. “It’s nice to have them around.”
“The head coaches are very down to earth,” added Thompkins. “They’re a very good team to have aboard.”
The Wolfpack’s opponent, Notre Dame, isn’t downtown — the Irish are at the Sawgrass Marriott.