Good Morning and Gameday–
As lead-ins to the BC game today, Women’s Soccer clinched the Big East title (again) with a 2-0 victory over Villanova Friday night. Junior Defender Julie Scheidler had a sterling assist for the Irish. She was the most outstanding player on the field. (And she is my niece). Men’s Hockey lost to BC 3-2 in one of the biggest rivalry games of the season.
The forecast for Saturday remains a high of 43 degrees and rain. We are packing for all conditions.
Prior to the ”Athletic Director’s Reception” last at the Monogram Club, we were allowed to see the newly renovated basketball arena (picture attached). The bleachers have been removed in exchange for seats for a net loss of about 2000 seats. It becomes more intimate, like Cameron. Note the subtle shamrock in the two-tone floor.
The highlight of the AD reception was a 1:1 with Jack Swarbrick for easily 15 minutes. As alumni, I registered my formal disappointment for scheduling Western Michigan next year. Jack (Jackie, Jacko, Master Jack, J, Swars) apologized and explained that he had a difficult scheduling bind after TCU dropped the ND game and there choices were to make this a BYE weekend or find a game. Swars stated that mine was not the first response, and he appreciated the feedback. Also next year, one of the logistitical issues they are studying right now if how to configure the ND sidelines for the Army game at Yankee Stadium to accommodate their typical football needs.
As for the game today, Swars stated that BC has demonstrated a toughness and “meanness” the past several years vs. ND and they always come out strong and fast. His theory is that many of the BC players have a “chip on their shoulders” for not being recruited to ND.
He stated we will be proud for an announcement next week—which assuredly will not get much press—that the ND Athletic Department will lead the entire nation for highest GPA and graduation rate for all of its sports. He finds the graduation rate statistic particularly impressive leading institutions such as Navy where almost everyone must graduate.
Lastly, Master Jack offered insight for the three factors making today’s game a challenge:
1. coming off the loss to USC…how will the players respond?
2. the fact that the rest of the Student Body was on break this week and that made for a different week for the players being here with plenty of downtime
3. and the fact that BC has won 6 years in a row
Running out of time here…more later.
GO IRISH!