Bellarmine Knights–Wide Awake on Sunday Morning

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Bringing it home! Photo: Todd Rhodes

There I sat in my pajamas on a cold Sunday morning. The snow was still on the car tops and lawns. All local news channels were a-buzz with Bellarmine and the homecoming that awaited at Knights Hall shaping up to be a high-five tear-jerker.

I had already gotten all misty when I heard about the championship win of 71-68 yesterday while at the gym. I just stood there in front of the screen with several others when a woman exclaimed, “We won!!! Well, who could that be? It’s March, after all. The “we” was Bellarmine University. Taking the men’s division II NCAA basketball tournament championship was the stuff of underdogs and teamwork. Magical! Within seconds jigs, woops and hugs spread through the building.

I had never watched a single Knights game but kept up with the team as a division win became a possibility. ( I will claim my complete adoration of Bob Valvano.) As I watched the footage of the hard-working young men and their charismatic coach and slowly warmed then overflowed with pride. For the team, the school and our city. On the way home that afternoon, my stops at the bank and the grocery were filled with chatter of the game. I usually don’t pay much attention to brackets and seeds but this time was different. It was March and I wasn’t Mad at all!

Back to Sunday morning. With the team’s bus on its way in from Cincinnati , complete with Oldham and Jefferson police escort, I had about a half hour to spruce up and get down to the campus. If my pastor is reading this, I know she would love to see this kind of enthusiasm about my church. Forgive me but I worshipped the power of player this morning!

I am not a follower of sports, I watch or attend games for all the wrong reasons. For baseball it’s cold beer and people watching. Football is a reason to make chili. Basketball? I love the way the sneakers squeak on the court. Always have. My friend always says, “If you can’t be an athlete, then be an athletic supporter! Lovely visual.

I would now stun ever myself and get a shower, root for my gloves and boots in the recently packed winter bin, dump the last of my coffee in the go-mug and drive a mile or so to the campus.

The parking lot was full but I found a spot. I figured if I got a ticket on a day like today, something was wrong with the world.

The front steps of Knights Hall were sparsely populated,considering the time. The bus was behind schedule so the original 9:15 arrival was pushed back to 10:oo. The cold temps kept most the fans indoors as I discovered as soon as I threw open the door. A sea of scarlet and silver school color filled the lobby area. A podium and mic waited more patiently than the fans.

Alumni donning B.U. caps over silver hair mixed with fresh-faced young students alternately texting and hugging. Many a toddler got the best seat on their daddy’s shoulders, a few young ‘uns clutched signs wrankled by the cold wind, touting triumphant messages in crayon to their heroes. One little one was dressed as a knight and waved his plastic sword at the row of news cameras…and a few little girls, I do believe.

An exuberant fan with a small camera snapped up the action. He chuckled as he analyzed the higher authorities at hand. “It was either the Mormons or the Catholics!” he said. I wasn’t sure how the players for Brigham Young University-Hawaii would have taken that but probably in stride.

The crowd spotted a chopper over Douglass Blvd. so we knew the bus had to be close. Three sets of doors opened and the flow of humanity left the lobby. A Bellarmine staffer gently parted the fans with the effectiveness of Moses and got us to form a path from the curb to the doors. Flashing blue lights and the siren’s wail rounded the corner onto Norris and the cheer went up

The hydraulic hiss of the door revealed the first athlete to step out of the bus. Each of them greeted by Mayor Greg Fischer, who on the day before posted on his Facebook page: “On my way to watch Bellarmine win the national championship.” The team walked through the alley of fans, receiving every kind of greeting and praise possible.

I got to pat each one of ’em on the shoulder, got a sturdy handshake from a few and several high-fives which were not very impressive on my part because of my gloves.

Once inside the building, the assembly of once-roaring admirers was now part of a pin-drop status. With an intro from the Mayor, who reminded the crowd it was not his day and quickly introduced head coach Scott Davenport

“I’ve not slept. The reason, is because I’m afraid I’m going to wake up,” he said. This got a belly laugh from everyone. I think many of us were pinching ourselves as well.

The key elements of each of the team members who approached the microphone were teamwork, positive, faith and thanks.

“The experience with these guys, has been tremendous,” one player said, “We put a lot of hard work into it. These guys are like my brothers. We We’ll be talking about this for ten, twenty….thirty years!”

Coach Davenport gave the ultimate benediction when he asked the gathering to raise their hands toward the center of the room and shout the battle cry of KNIGHTS! We all broke and meandered over to our favorite team member, neighbor, teacher, student. Me? I went on to enjoy breakfast with friends. A convert, indeed. One who was higher on hoops than coffee for the first time in my life. Who knew?

Plans to host a city-wide celebration for the team are in the works. The date is set for Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m.

This was one of the best Sunday mornings I’ve experienced in a long while. Even though I felt like an alien among such passionate basketball fans, it was a wonderful journey around a learning curve about college basketball. I plan on keeping up with the Knights for the next season, ahead of time. Before March. I hope to be on those front steps again next spring.