Pretty inaccurate take if you ask me. Cheshire CT native now living / working in Prov. I jokingly said in another thread how their incredible season is pretty infectious over this way, but in no way will it change my fanship. What it has changed, is my perspective. Great city, great fans, I took A LOT of heat when we lost to them this year…but I don’t generalize about their fanbase (anymore) because of a few donkeys on their fan board or one interaction I had in a bar. Team aside, their fanbase and students are getting national recognition and trust me, that city and those fans are having a LOT of fun. Like I said, I live there and I don’t see this “acting like they’ve been there before” nonsense. I see quite the opposite sense of “wow, I hope something big happens because it might not happen again for a long time”.
You guys might appreciate this, and outside of the few references to God it really capture the essence of why we all love college athletics. This is from the Dean of students at PC who is obviously a nice man.
Dear Friars,
What a whirlwind of the past few weeks it has been! I truly cannot think of one day that has gone by over the last month that someone, internally and externally, has not mentioned their love for our Lady and Men’s Friars. Besides our love for God and His love for us it has been the one constant each and every day.
Moments and momentum: I often mention building memories, making every moment count, reflecting, thanking God, and living your best lives. Well, I say with confidence and conviction that our beloved athletic teams are making this easy for us.
...though there is no doubt it is not easy for them.
We may never truly realize what commitment requires of you, or what tremendous challenges you face day-in and day-out as a college athlete. For just a few hours on Game Day, we dress up and show up in stands, or we turn on our televisions; we gather, and we scream our collective hearts out, cheering you on, joining in song, and rooting for you like the fate of the game depended on it—for just a few hours.
But what do those few hours mean to you?
For those few that bring us together, there are innumerable hours you must experience alone, or in the small company of teammates, making the daily unseen decisions that build the body, steel the mind, and encourage the spirit. There is an amazing depth of valor and integrity to that. How you push yourselves through practice, strength and conditioning workouts, dynamic diet regimens, and travel—while balancing course loads, study, and prayer is nothing short of inspirational. We are in awe of you, and we are grateful that you allow us to celebrate with you and through you.
From this beloved community to all our Friar athletes: thank you.
You don’t just “play” a sport. You create such joy in our hearts, inspire imagination in our minds, and stir our souls. You invite us to feel extreme emotion, sensational highs, and a unity that is unmatched at any other institution of higher learning.
It is true yours is a path of profound preparation known only to those who share the same path alongside you—but know this: when you get out there to do what only you can do, to achieve what only you can achieve, we are right there with you, doing with decibels and achieving what we can with palpable passion and fearless faith.
Friars, you allow us to escape from all else to experience life in some of its most meaningful and uniquely familial ways. You gift us memories that we will unwrap and share for decades to come.
This short message is for you, our athletes: we love you, we are your biggest fans, and we appreciate you!
Being a Friar isn’t a way of life: it is life.
One heart. One heartbeat. One community.
Absolutely your Friar’d up dean of students,
Steve
P.S.: another snow day with advance notice. Wow, now that’s a treat...Below I have provided you with an array of events, programs and extracurricular activities for your consideration. Carpe diem!
