BLACKSBURG, Va. -- The following is a log of sorts comprised of events that have occurred since Friday, when my fellow women's basketball beat writer and I took the trip to Blacksburg, Va., to cover the No. 1-seed Penn State Lady Lions on their quest for a national championship. The stories and quips that you are about to read are completely true, although at times that may be hard to believe.

Friday

We load up the Collegian Cruiser and head south for what is supposed to be a seven-hour trip to Blacksburg. The only thing I know about our destination is that it is the home of Virginia Tech, and Penn State's version of Benedict Arnold, Kevin Jones. Blacksburg is the first stop the Lady Lions will have to make in what just may be the toughest draw a No. 1 seed has seen, with the possibility of playing a home team just to get to the Sweet 16.

We cross the border to West Virginia and stop in some small town at a Burger King. I soon realize that I am in West Virginia when I see that the only requirements for the employees are that they are under 17 and have two different hair colors. I quickly get back into the car and prepare myself for the rest of the trip. We get to Blacksburg without any trouble and check into our hotel. Our room is chock full of workstations, beds, a couch, a refrigerator, and two sinks. At this point, the only thing being used is the fridge, and it's being filled with beverages that can be bought at gas stations ... am I in Virginia, or heaven? I ask myself this several times before I go to bed.

Saturday

Work actually begins today, as all four teams -- Penn State, Virginia Tech, Iowa and Hampton -- have press conferences and practices that are open to the media. After watching the Hokies and Hawkeyes practice, I attend the press conference of the No. 16-seed Hampton Pirates, the Lady Lions' first-round opponent. Keep in mind that I know absolutely nothing about Hampton. I don't know any of the players, I don't know where Hampton is, I don't even know if it's a real school. But it doesn't take the Pirates coach, Patricia Case-Bibbs, too long to inspire me like I've never been inspired before. When asked by some local newspaper reporter how Penn State is better than her team, she replies, "I would never say that. Not in front of my kids, not in front of you. I wouldn't dare say that because if I said that that means I'm defeated, and I don't want to be defeated - Never!"

As Bibbs walks out of the press conference, I stand up and applaud with tears streaming down my face. "I don't want to be defeated ever, either, Patricia," I yell. OK, that last part was a lie, but that's what I wanted to do.

Later that night, we partake in a social experiment. Compare the nightlife of Virginia Tech, or Penn State Jr. as I like to call it, to that of State College. Let's just say that it doesn't matter which is better because that night ended that way it usually does for me at Penn State -- alone, kicking myself for not buying more button down shirts. What an idiot.

Sunday

Game day. No. 1-seed Penn State vs. No. 16-seed Hampton, and it doesn't take too long to realize why each team was given its respective seeding. The Lady Lions are up by 20 points just nine minutes in to the game. Reicina Russell is hitting 10-foot jumpers along the baseline and it's almost comical looking at the Hampton players' faces. It's the look George Lopez gives when something goes wrong. You want to help, but it's just funny enough not too. But Hampton's trip inside the state wasn't a complete waste. Their performance squad is the most entertaining thing I've seen on a women's basketball court. The band was playing "Hey Ya" and the the cheerleaders were shaking it like a Polaroid picture, literally.

Then Penn State's Tanisha Wright throws a flagrant elbow that hits Hampton's Nicole Brathwaite squarely in the nose. There's blood everywhere and a fight almost breaks out. I am now hooked for the rest of the game because the chance that a fight might break out is now extremely high. Every time a Penn State player touches the ball I am pretty much praying that a good-natured brouhaha will ensue. But alas, nothing happens. Wright, however, is booed by the Hampton cheering section every time she touches the ball. It's getting raucous now and the only pictures that are going through my head are that of the Riddick Bowe-Andrew Golota fight when a giant brawl breaks out and people are getting beaten with walkie-talkies. I soon find all of the exits just in case. But cooler heads prevail and Penn State finishes off Hampton mercilessly, with players still shooting three's right up until the end of the game.