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Hosts welcome Notre Dame

Volunteer team hosts Doris and Phil Cleveland chat with Senior Associate Athletic Director Bill Scholl from the University of Notre Dame during a team practice at the Spokane Arena on Thursday. The Clevelands will assist the team with everything from restaurant recommendations to arranging shuttles. (Holly Pickett / The Spokesman-Review)
By Amy Cannata amyc@spokesman.com
Volunteer team hosts Doris and Phil Cleveland chat with Senior Associate Athletic Director Bill Scholl from the University of Notre Dame during a team practice at the Spokane Arena on Thursday. The Clevelands will assist the team with everything from restaurant recommendations to arranging shuttles. (Holly Pickett / The Spokesman-Review)

Doris Cleveland is accustomed to wearing crimson and gray to support her team, but this weekend you’re more likely to see her wearing gold and blue.

Cleveland is one of Washington State University’s volunteer team hosts for the NCAA Division I basketball tournament, and her charges hail from Notre Dame.

Each team gets a host to help with everything from restaurant recommendations to finding a place to launder all those sweaty jerseys – anything they want or need during their stay in Spokane.

“As soon as we found out the team, I ordered T-shirts from them for my husband and me, and had them overnighted,” Cleveland said.

Unfortunately, her shirt didn’t fit right, so on Wednesday, Cleveland headed over to NorthTown Mall for a replacement.

Hosts are respected WSU donors and volunteers, said Lori Olson, who is coordinating the effort for the university.

“They do know a lot about Spokane and are passionate about Spokane,” Olson said.

They met before the tournament came to town to share tips and prepare gift baskets.

“I’ve seen hosts get used a lot and I’ve seen hosts not get used at all,” said John David Wicker, the tournament manager for WSU.

Cleveland also served as a host the last time the tournament was in Spokane. The team then was San Diego, which didn’t require a lot of assistance.

Traci Loewen said she and her husband, Dan, had a similar experience with Brigham Young University the last go-round. But she said that Winthrop, the team they’re hosting this year, has been requesting more assistance.

Loewen arranged for the team to get into dinner at the Outback Steakhouse on Wednesday evening.

While Loewen may be the sort that bleeds Cougar Gold, today her team is Winthrop.

“As long as they aren’t playing the Cougs, we can cheer for them.”