Blogs
Web Search powered by YAHOO!
- 11.22.2009
- |
51°F
- Blogs > ACC Now
You may also like Canes Now | Balls and Strikes | Preps Now | Campus Notes
Divers want another shot at Kenan leap
Submitted by rpickeral on 09/02/2008 - 14:30
DURHAM — Aerial Adventures hopes to get another chance to deliver the game ball at North Carolina someday.
And if they do, the parachutists promise to hit the correct stadium.
Matthew Fitch, president of the Virginia-based company and a professional skydiver, said Saturday’s accidental leap into Duke’s Wallace Wade Stadium — instead of UNC’s Kenan Stadium, which is about 8 miles away – marks the only time in eight years that Aerial Adventures has missed its mark.
“When I first opened the parachute … I said, ‘uh-uh.’” said Fitch, whose client list also includes Virginia, LSU and for the Atlanta Braves. “At that point, I knew … and there was no turning back.”
Fitch said he and his crew were running a bit late because of the weather, but he and his fellow skydiver didn’t know they were stepping out above the wrong stadium because, as part of their usual safety procedure, they were busy re-checking each other’s gear for at least five minutes prior to exiting the plane. (Both are experienced; Fitch has made 4,000 jumps, and his colleague has made more than 13,000.)
The pilot has a GPS system, and is responsible for telling the divers when to go. But the company was using a new pilot, Fitch said, and as of Tuesday morning, he still hadn’t been able to talk to him about what went wrong.
But because of the types of parachutes the company uses, “no one was ever in danger,’’ Fitch added, even though the Blue Devils and James Madison were going through warm-ups on the field. He has apologized to UNC, and was trying to reach Duke officials to also express his regret.
“I thought it was part of our show,’’ Blue Devils running back Clifford Harris said Tuesday, grinning at the incident. “I was glad they came.”
Rick Steinbacher, UNC's associate athletics director for sports marketing, said the school won't pay for the jump-gone awry (the company has agreed) and it probably won't use parachutists again for a few seasons, at least.
But Fitch hopes his company will eventually get another chance to land at Kenan.
“I’d like to see the Ram down there on the field, guiding us in with lights,’’ he said.
Robbi Pickeral
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at robbi.pickeral@newsobserver.com.
Want to post a comment?
In order to join the conversation, you must be a member of newsobserver.com. To register or to log in using your existing account, click here.Advertisements
Comments
Carter Finley?
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 16:59 — Mr Swann (not verified)The skydivers didn't try to land at Carter Finley...there wasn't any airspace for the plane due to all the black helicopters over the stadium.
Good thing...
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 16:17 — JPDOhioUNC is not at home this weekend. With Hanna coming, those guys could end up in Death Valley.
It's "fans" of DUIke and who
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 16:00 — gvillegatrIt's "fans" of DUIke and who are not from NC who always think Durham looks like the DUIke campus!!
haha
Tue, 09/02/2008 - 21:15 — hdog007If I'd have been told to jump into the cesspool known as Chapel Hill, I'd of rather gone to Durham too!.
Where are you from?
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 14:56 — UNCAlumnusDurham is the bad one. I should know...it's my hometown. I moved with good reason.
I think you have it
Tue, 09/02/2008 - 22:31 — Anonymous (not verified)I think you have it backwards. Durham is the cesspool.
It was very cloudy, all the way up the sky
Tue, 09/02/2008 - 18:40 — UNCAlumnusTall clouds can make big planes shaky, I can only imagine a small one that a sky diver would jump out of. My only serious question is..will the next one be free? I mean, they missed the stadium, man.
Adds to the lore ....
Tue, 09/02/2008 - 15:15 — FloydTurbono harm done .... and rival fans have something to chew on for the next 20 years.
Any truth to the rumor a
Tue, 09/02/2008 - 15:07 — Anonymous (not verified)Any truth to the rumor a member of the UNC men's tennis team was the pilot of the plane?
The pilot was a former FEMA
Tue, 09/02/2008 - 17:01 — Anonymous (not verified)The pilot was a former FEMA Director.
This time they promise to land at UNC's Carter-Finley Stadium
Tue, 09/02/2008 - 14:50 — SEC Fan (not verified)Imagine their surprise by missing Kenan again,.......