Behind closed doors, Conway rallies for its team
At first glance, downtown Conway looked no different than normal for a Thursday afternoon.
People strolled down sidewalks and milled around in shops, most of them open for business.
But shopkeepers and clerks were paying attention to more than just their customers.
In the back rooms of many local businesses, hidden out of sight and away from the customers, TVs, computers and tablets were tuned in to game three of the College World Series.
If you’re going to be number one in the nation, it’s going to be a big ego boost, especially for the people that live here.
Anthony Turner
And they were all rooting for Coastal Carolina as they beat the Arizona Wildcats 4-3 to be crowned national champions.
“I’ll be very honest with you, I’m not a sports fan, but today I am,” said Anthony Turner, a phone repairman who works in the back of his wife’s jewelry shop in downtown Conway. “It’s just the fact that today they’re going to be number one. And that’s the reason I’ve got it on.”
Turner said his wife’s enthusiasm for the game persuaded him to pay attention.
I just purchased a bunch of flags that you put on the car, and I’m not even a fan.
Anthony Turner
“If you’re going to be number one in the nation, it’s going to be a big ego boost, especially for the people that live here,” he said. “I just purchased a bunch of flags that you put on the car, and I’m not even a fan. I’m from California.”
Kristi Updegraff works at Waccamaw Outfitters and was watching the game online with a Kindle Fire. Normally, she wouldn’t watch a game while working, but this day was different.
“I’m keeping up with it,” she said. “It is a small screen, but it works. It’s important for Conway and Coastal.”
At city hall, Conway Planning Director Adam Emrick had been working from both of his cellphones while watching the game in a conference room.
“It’s definitely multitasking at it’s finest right here,” he said.
Keeping on top of what they’re doing is part of work today.
Conway Planning Director Adam Emrick
The city also was busy organizing homecoming parade for the team, and Emrick said city employees were running in and out of the room to keep up with the score while working.
In fact, watching the game was part of their job description.
“Coastal’s success has done wonderful things for the city, so keeping on top of what they’re doing is part of work today,” he said. “It’s our job to have the spirit of the community, and this is it.”
This story was originally published June 30, 2016 at 7:21 PM with the headline "Behind closed doors, Conway rallies for its team."