A regular column by Athletic Director Bill Husak.
Mar. 2004
March is a wonderful time in the collegiate athletic year. For LMU our men and women's basketball programs are finishing their seasons while the spring sports are reaching high gear in their competitive year. This basketball season has been particularly satisfying because the women's team has won its first ever WCC regular season championship while the men's team has had its first winning season in eight years. High caliber individuals who have steadily built successful programs comprised of quality students and athletes coach both programs.
I have just returned from the WCC tournament and I would like to make a few comments of thanks and appreciation. First, the home court advantage that was created by our fans was fantastic. We had the second largest contingent of students, we were the only school that had a band and our cheer squad was outstanding. These factors coupled with the support of the parents, fans and alums allowed us to win a first round game in the men's bracket and win the women's championship. It would not have happened without them.
It is important for you to note how internally we support one another. Our men's team came to Saturday afternoon's women's semi-final game even though they were to play that evening. Our women's team attended both men's games. We were the only school that I noticed whose men's and women's teams attended, cheered and supported each other. We also had coaches, faculty, staff and administrators who attended the tournament to cheer the Lions on. That is special and says a great deal about the relationships that have been formed.
So, congratulations to our basketball teams and I hope that you follow the Lions in the women's NCAA basketball tournament. In addition, good luck to our spring teams who are off to great beginnings in their seasons. Finally, I asked Dr. Dick McBride to write about his experience at the WCC tournament. It is included below. Dick is a long time supporter of our athletics program and a great fan. I hope you enjoy it. Best wishes to you, thank you for all that you do for our student-athletes who represent LMU so well, and as always?
Go Lions!
Bill
Greetings! How do I begin? As I was driving home from the men's & women's WCC basketball tournament at Santa Clara this past weekend, Bill Husak asked me if I would write and share my experiences during the trip. As I had already lost my voice, I responded, "that I could probably write what I couldn't speak out loud". So here goes!
We left Thursday morning, Bill Husak, Dr. Lane Bove and myself and drove to Santa Clara. While on the road, Bill received many phone calls, but one significant one - a call from Bill Plaschke from the L.A. Times. He was writing an article on Coach Julie Wilhoit and the women's basketball program. Plaschke asked many questions about the women's program and lo & behold a major article appeared in last Fridays' Times. As I read the article I experienced great pride in being an Alumnus of LMU. Julie was doing things for the women that she had recruited that just amazed me. This was a great start to the weekend.
We had a little time on Friday morning, so we drove over to Santa Cruz and played a round of golf with Jim Schmidt (a classmate of mine in the 50"s at Loyola) at his course, Pasatiempo. I t was a lovely day and we hoped that our basketball team played better than we played golf.
That night our men's team played Portland in the first round of the tourney. Portland had beaten us twice this year and so we were sure that they couldn't do it a 3rd time. It was a very good game with Portland leading much of the time, but we played a great 2nd half and pulled out the win. Sherman Gay had a super game, 30 points and 15 rebounds. A pleasure to watch. But, during the game, it was an equally great pleasure to see the number of students from LMU that made the trip to the tourney. They, along with our band, were very noticeable and gave our teams - almost like a home court advantage. They were very important to the success of our teams.
The next day was very full. Our women's team - on a 13 game winning streak & WCC champs for the 1st time in history was to play at 12 noon. The women's team also had never been to the NCAA Tourney and needed to win this tourney to go to the Big Dance. The game was very competitive, tied at half. It was nip and tuck till about 2 minutes, when Portland took a 5-point lead. Our next trip down court Rachael Ziemann nailed a 3-point shot as the whistle blew. A foul was called on Portland away from the ball - the shot counted and we got the ball out of bounds. Two seconds later we layed the ball in and we just made 5 points in 3 seconds. The score was now tied - went into overtime - and we won by about 5 in overtime.
Later that night our men played Pepperdine in the Quarterfinals. Pepp had also beaten us twice in league, so we were hopeful that we'd overcome again. It was close again at half - Pepp took an 11 point lead early in the 2nd half and we caught them with about 5 minutes to go, but Pepp made 3 3-pointers pull away and win. But we played very very hard, but not having Chris Ayers for the 2nd half really hurt us on the backboards. We were out rebounded by about 12 or 13.
Side Bar - As the game was about to begin - Betty Werner, our Associate A.D. - came into the stands where I was sitting and placed a tee shirt from one of our students from the "Cage Team". The Cage is the area where our greatest enthusiasm comes from during our home games. They are our teams most important cheering section and noisemakers. The tee shirt is shirt was worn by most of the Cage Members. As soon as I put on the shirt, the entire Cage started yelling for me to come over and join them. So I was encouraged by all around me to go over. Well, I did and they greeted me like a long lost friend. They all introduced themselves to me, told me where they were from, what year in school. Well, we bonded immediately and I joined their team and spent the entire game with them. In the 2nd half, I introduced them to our old famous cheer, made famous by Bob Gallivan and Bob Courtney and other cheerleaders. Your know - L, L, L-O-Y, O, O, O-L-A, L-O-Y, O-L-A, LOYOLA. Well they fell in love with it and cheered it spontaneously the rest of the weekend. I had the time of my life.
Sunday came and our women were playing for the game of their lives (NCAA on the line) and first time winning the WCC Tourney. The "CAGE" came over to me and dragged me back over to them. We started out well and led for most of the 1st half, but Gonzaga scored the last 7 points and trailed by a point. We took charge again in the 2nd half and led, but the Zags kept it close and trailed by 3 points with 18 seconds remaining and the ball. They inbounded - but our gals played the defense of their careers - suffocating them and kept them from getting off a good shot - and the LMU Women's Basketball Team made history. They are going to 'THE BIG DANCE'. The place rocked! The cage and band ran on the court and the team hugged each and every one the student support groups. The team cut down the nets - having trouble doing so - never did it before - but did they have fun.
In closing, I want to tell you that there have been dozens and dozens of times that I have been overtaken by pride and gratitude when I have been at LMU or in the presence of LMU people. Again, for these four days I have been inspired by the depth of commitment of pure goodness, spirit, lack of personal ego and extraordinary strong academic and team work ethic of our student-athletes, and indeed the entire student community. The leadership of their coaches and athletic directors are equally inspiring. Plaschke's article got it right. "The team not only wins, it wins with a lot of class, and respect and pride and desire."
Post script - I had the time of my life - I bonded with the Cage members - danced with them - cheered with them - yelled at the officials with them - just completely lost my voice. One of the questions they asked me was, "when did you graduate from LMU? I said, 1957. They awed, "oh gosh, my parents weren't even born yet! It was great. The kids were from San Antonio, TX, Kansas City, MO and northern California - from all over the country. LMU can be proud of our band - they are terrific and liven up the entire arena. LMU had the only band during the tourney and they were a highlight!! And the women's team will be representing LMU and the WCC in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Go Lions!
Dick McBride - 57"
