There's only one night at the annual B.A.S.S. Nation Championship where the staff gets to relax together, and that's the Yardbird Party.
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The staff and service crew meet in the lobby in the evening after their 2:30 a.m. wake-up call and tournament setup all day.
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Emily Hand, B.A.S.S. Nation coordinator, and Helen Northcutt, B.A.S.S. communications manager, are on the guest list.
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Tony Quick, Billy Myers and Hank Weldon have had a long day, and coffee is keeping them awake after hours in the sun.
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The staff loads up in the Toyotas ...
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... and heads down the road to Fieldhouse Bar & Grill in Monroe, La.
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Jackson Blackett, a member of the University of Louisiana Monroe team, is here, as are other members of the team. They're volunteering this week, thanks to their proximity and generosity.
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Once inside, Alan Pierce, Billy Myers and Max Leatherwood swap stories from the day.
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Brett Preuett, left, is not only a member of the University of Louisiana Monroe team, he's also the college series' representative to the 2015 GEICO Bassmaster Classic. Joe Dee Dycus, center, is the volunteer coordinator for the 2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.
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We're not saying it's a healthy dinner. We're just saying it's good.
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The guys on the service crew are here to help out championship contenders ...
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... who experience a breakdown during their stay in Louisiana. Without these guys, some contenders could be in serious trouble if they have a maintenance issue.
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Blackett, who is known for his beautiful tresses, got ribbed for taking this photo, with the suggested caption: Who has the best hair? Helen, Emily or Jackson?
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The University of Louisiana Monroe team poses for a photo before Blackett leaves. He has studying to do.
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Preuett is excited for the upcoming Classic, and the dream will become even more real later this week when Toyota and Carhartt present him with the boat and truck he gets to use for the next year.
Photo: Hank Weldon
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Don Barone, Bassmaster.com writer, gets to know Preuett before his Classic appearance.
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A game of charades results in staffers acting out blowing bubbles ...
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... and tossing dice.
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Jon Stewart, B.A.S.S. Nation director, and Tyler Craig of ULM play a little shuffleboard ...
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... with Nick LaDart of ULM.
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Hand goes over the next day's schedule with Dycus and with Brian Eaton of ULM.
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And the crew gets together for one big pic before everyone retires for the night, ready for the championship to get underway.
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