St. Joe’s magical season over

I’m still having a tough time coming up with something to say about what happened Saturday night. Other noble efforts have been made to look back on the phenomenal regular season and tournament run by our beloved Hawks -- see Middie Back! and Shallow Center for their takes on the game. I had the extreme privilege of being front and center at both of the games Saint Joseph’s played in East Rutherford -- against Wake Forest very late Thursday night in the Sweet 16 and against Oklahoma State on Saturday evening in the Elite 8 (sitting in the 8th row behind the Hawks’ bench, no less! Thanks again, Joe!). Perhaps the best way to sum it all up would be to relate what happened after the loss on Saturday night. There were scores of family, friends, and university employees packed into the lobby of the hotel where the team was staying. The much-needed alcohol was flowing freely with nary a drop of melancholy added to the mix. When the team finally arrived, they were greeted as returning champions -- as if they had won. Of all of the great basketball moments this team provided us with, I think my lasting memory of this season will be what we fans provided the team. As they entered the lobby and made their way to the elevators, the team was stopped and cascaded with choruses of “Thank you, St. Joe’s” that were so loud I would swear I was in the Fieldhouse. For everything this team did -- and, by the way, that’s exactly how they should be remembered, as a team. As perhaps the greatest team ever to play any sport in this city. For everything this team did for each other on the court and for us off of it, thank you indeed.