Photo of the Varsity, located on Crouse Ave in the historic University Hill/M-street section walking distants from Syracuse University
On that same trip to Momma Leone’s in New York City, Maryland and Adelphi supposedly sent scouts to watch me play against Nassau Community College on the island. Following the game Adelphi offered me a full scholarship and while Maryland continued to show little interest. I sent inquiries’ to the coaches at Carolina and West Point receiving in turn cordial rejection letters. During this time I learned the skill of how to spot a rejection letter without opening the envelope. This skill would later serve me well as I tried to get my first books published from 2000 to 2009. Syracuse went on to beat Maryland in the NCAA quarter finals that year in the Career Dome. Coach Dino Mattessich resigned as the Maryland lacrosse coach shortly thereafter. I don’t believe one of my many phone calls to the Maryland lacrosse office ever made it pass the secretaries who screened calls; nor did any of the coaches return my calls. In contrast Coach Roy Simmons Jr. reached out to me including a lunch invitation to the Varsity. Coach drove me to the restaurant located on Crouse Ave in the historic University Hill/M-street section in his no frills red Chevy pickup truck which served to cart both his artist related materials and lacrosse stuff. Started in 1926, the Varsity was decorated in orange and blue with large photographs of legendary Syracuse University athletes and sports moments. In addition to its stable, pizza, the varsity is known for its Buffalo wings, salads, BLT sandwiches and other hot and cold sandwiches and “subs.” Like Coach Simmons the Varsity put on no airs and made you relax. It operated like a cafeteria in which you gave your order, watched the cooks prepare your food, and then paid at the registrar before finding a sit. It’s still open and operating the same way. Coach's demonstration of genuine interest in me as person and not just an athlete made the difference in my decision to go Syracuse. I saw every one of the Syracuse playoff games in 1983 and watched the championship game against Hopkins at Rutgers. Shortly before the final game Coach Simmons sent me a scholarship offer which I gladly accepted. How the Lord orchestrated my scholarship to Syracuse, the defending national champions in 1983, is still a faith building memory to me.
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar