October 31, 2005

Kevin Wildes, SJ was on campus last week and stopped by McDonough for a visit. In a postscript to my first-ever blog entry last August, he reports that he remembers fondly his years at G-town (see smiling photo below) when he could actually sleep through an entire night. Now president of Loyola University in the battered city of New Orleans, he has undertaken a "resurrection tour" to visit the diaspora of his once-populated college campus. The Chronicle of High Education related this informative linked story last Friday. Last Friday's edition of the The Hoya also reported on Fr. Wildes' visit to campus.

Over the past two weeks, I have opined on these pages that Fordham is surely our biggest football rival. However, we may not be theirs, as this web story (about the Rams' defeat of the high-flying Crusaders of Holy Cross last weekend) on the Fordham site might suggest. More significantly though, it warms my heart that the Jesuit school that spanked us early in the season lost to the Jesuit school whom we wondrously beat just one week earlier. Hoya Saxa!

Whenever you get a chance, stop by the newly-renovated Alumni House at the southwest corner of 36th and O Streets. The entrance is through the courtyard entry way on O Street. The facility is open to all Hoyas, family and friends and will serve as a welcome center during your next visit to campus or your next sojourn off of it. One of the really cool rooms, named in honor of W. Dennis Owen, F'51, features caricatures of dozens of involved and committed Hoya alums whose generosity helped to retrofit this home for Hoyas young and old. Many of the drawings carry sports themes and are sure to bring a smile to all visitors. Credit Robert Andrews B'68 with not only the idea for this clever decorative touch but also for the grit and the zeal to line up so many donors for the project. Well done, RA.

Caricatures of former Alumni Association prez Paul Anthony B'64
and Alumni board member Denise Furey F'78 on "the Wall"

My picks for most interesting contests this coming week:

> Football: The 4-4 Hoya grid warriors will seek their third Patriot League win of the season by looking to upset 16th nationally ranked Lehigh (6-2). The Mountain Hawks are coached by Hoya football alum Pete Lembo '92.

> Men's Soccer: The Hoyas (10-8) earned their 13th Big-East post-season bid in the past 14 years. They will play on the road against either Rutgers (Wed.) or Villanova (Thurs.), who both fell victim to the Hilltoppers earlier this season.

> Sailing: The Hoya women will sail in the Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association (MAISA) championships hosted by NY Maritime next Sunday. One of the top fall events for the women sailors, the regatta includes many of the outstanding eastern teams from New York to Virginia.

> Swimming & Diving: It will be a Jesuit swim fest in Baltimore next Saturday as the Loyola Greyhounds (M:1-2; W:1-2) welcome the Fairfield Stags (M:1-1; W:1-1) and Georgetown (M:0-2; W:0-2) in the Hoyas' first tri-meet of the year. Contemplative swimmers in action?

Last week, the Hoya athletic teams posted an overall win-loss record of 2-7 and earned two 2nds, and a 4th place finish in standings competition.