Wild Card: Day 1 begins

Hank Weldon, Sr College Manager, goes over last few details before the crew sets up takeoff.
Hank Weldon, Sr College Manager, goes over last few details before the crew sets up takeoff.
Boats start to gather in marina before takeoff.
Boats start to gather in marina before takeoff.
All the boat numbers are lined up and ready for the 80 boats to come through.
All the boat numbers are lined up and ready for the 80 boats to come through.
Max Leatherwood checks boat #1 for all the required paperwork.
Max Leatherwood checks boat #1 for all the required paperwork.
Northwestern State angers, John Ledet and Justin Cooper finish up their tackle prep.
Northwestern State angers, John Ledet and Justin Cooper finish up their tackle prep.
The Drury University teams are patiently awaiting their first college series tournament.
The Drury University teams are patiently awaiting their first college series tournament.
The last team puts their boat in the water.
The last team puts their boat in the water.
As 6 a.m. nears, the boats in the first flight move to the front of the pack.
As 6 a.m. nears, the boats in the first flight move to the front of the pack.
The first flight heads out.
The first flight heads out.
B.A.S.S. Nation Director, Jon Stewart, lines up the boats from the live release boat.
B.A.S.S. Nation Director, Jon Stewart, lines up the boats from the live release boat.
Coaches, family and friends watch as their teams go out.
Coaches, family and friends watch as their teams go out.
Armando Ortiz and Roy Zhang, from Auburn University, pass by the livewell check.
Armando Ortiz and Roy Zhang, from Auburn University, pass by the livewell check.
University of Georgia anglers close up their livewells as they stay in line.
University of Georgia anglers close up their livewells as they stay in line.
The last three boats head out to their first spots just as day breaks.
The last three boats head out to their first spots just as day breaks.
Can’t complain about being up before the sun, when you get to see sunrises as nice as this one! #obligatorysunrisephoto
Can’t complain about being up before the sun, when you get to see sunrises as nice as this one! #obligatorysunrisephoto