Five Thoughts for Five Overtimes

You don't have to be a Notre Dame fan to understand that any basketball game that goes into 5 overtimes is special. Yes, the Irish defeated the Louisville Cardinals 104-101 in an epic duel that may have ended at 12:35 a.m. the following day, but has had many sports fans still talking. I am one of them. Here are my thoughts...one for each OT.

1.  28 Seconds of Jerian Grant: Many consider this to be the greatest clutch shooting display by one player ever. One Facebook posting said “This 12 points in 28 seconds by one guy is the stuff kids dream about and act out in their driveways and playgrounds. I’ve never seen it before.” And we might never see this again. It was just one of many components that made Saturday, February 9, 2013 an instant classic for Irish Hoops.

2. The Importance of Having Fun: In the article “March Madness” by Rev. Tino writes that “sports can teach us how to have fun. And the business of fun—of play, of laughter, of lightness—is important spiritual stuff. Just ask any of the resident clowns around here.” Every team has its resident clown, or should, but I also think it’s important to see leadership caught having fun. Enter Coach Mike Brey. Every single person who watched this game noticed how much fun he had coaching.  

I never take having fun for granted and many don’t, but enjoying the moment can be a tremendous challenge with the pressure of winning or not losing—choose your poison. However, Brey acknowledged that fun was a reason for their success. “We got over 100 (points) because we played an extra game,” Brey said on ESPN after the game. “We were having fun. It was awesome.”

3. Free Manti: When last cited at Purcell Pavilion, Manti Te’o was on top of the world. What fan didn’t love seeing #5 sweep the floor at halftime or leading the charge as students swarmed the court in 64-50 rout over Kentucky. In just a few months’ time, our vision of him may have changed, but he hasn’t. Met with mixed reactions, he came to support the Irish standing tall and his head held high. He has exercised that endearing humility more than anyone could have ever predicted. He is the butt of many jokes. People question his character. And, Forbes magazine recognized Te’o as one of the most hated American athletes. He shares the same approval rating as Lance Armstrong—15%. My rally cry was and is FREE MANTI! Seeing him be who he is at a great game says even though the world can’t imagine it, he already is free....

4. Never Miss a Free Throw: I grew up in a home that truly regards the foul shot as a “free throw.” “Free!” in our society is a good thing. We welcome free food, free drinks, free merchandise, etc. So why don’t we embrace the “free” throw. My dad watches players in the NBA miss free throws with an air of total disgust (and it happens often!). It’s almost a moral wrongdoing. Missing free throws affects the outcome of games. In this game, it didn’t determine the winner, but it could have. As noted by NCAAB.com “Both teams missed crucial free throws in the last minute. Atkins missed two with 37 seconds left and Montrezi Harrell did the same for Louisville with 24 seconds left. The lead changed hands 26 times and there were 16 ties.” A free throw made is a free point. Folks love to say “defense wins games.” It does, but so do free throws!

5. Why You Gotta Have a Deep Bench: I teach 7 of the 14 varsity basketball players at St. Ignatius, so this year I have paid much more attention to the role of every team member. Some of these boys are starters, others get subbed in frequently and others see no playing time. I know this is a reality in a sport that allows for 5 players on the court, yet I feel for the guys who suit up yet never get called into the game. I wonder how frustrating and disappointing it must be to “ride the pine” (and I hate that expression) or hear from your friends “good luck” knowing you won’t contribute. For those journeyman players, let Sherman Garrick serve as a shining example.  

Dan Martin writes Garrick came “in for Big East Player of the Year candidate Jack Cooley, who fouled out with 6:54 left in regulation. It appeared the Irish would be in trouble without Cooley for the rest of regulation, not even knowing yet that there would eventually be 30 minutes of game to be played.”

In the ten Big East games prior to No. 25 Notre Dame’s five-overtime thriller against No. 11 Louisville, Garrick Sherman had only appeared in six and averaged two points in just over 10 minutes per game. Saturday night, though, he was just what the Irish needed. His 7-of-10 from the floor was the most efficient mark of any Notre Dame player on the night. He will admit he had the game of his life. Not a bad game, one to serve as that distinction.
  
Coach Brey said, “we played an extra game tonight.” When you’re having fun, have great fan support, and get substantial contributions from many players, why not play two....!?  Thank you Irish. Thank you, Coach Brey. An awesome memory....by the way, do freshmen know how good they have it?!

Photo Credits
Garrick Sherman
Free Manti
Coach Brey

Manti Te'o: What Fame Does...

I thought it poignant that Manti Te'o story broke one day before the much anticipated Oprah Winfrey interview of Lance Armstrong. If you had asked me at the beginning of the week to compare and contrast them, I would say as far as athletic heroes are concerned, they fall on totally opposite ends of the spectrum. One's character is virtuous, inspiring and as good as I've ever seen; the other's is flawed and inauthentic.  At the end of the week, I still hold the same beliefs.

An hour into the interview, Oprah said to Lance, "You and I both know that fame magnifies who you really are." This truth is why I believe, and still believe Manti Te'o is a living legend, a hero. For me, he is far from the anti-hero many deemed him to be. 

Why is Manti a hero? First, I wanted him to be a hero. Putting my cards on the table, Notre Dame is core to who I am. I love and am grateful for my alma mater in the way that I am for my Catholic faith and citizenship in this country. I know their strengths and concede their weaknesses. Each is far from perfect, but I believe they have done more good for the world and humanity than not. When people tell me things like "I won't be rooting for the Irish because I can't stand Notre Dame," I feel wounded. I think: Why couldn't you have said I’m not an ND fan? Said remarks come with the territory and extend to those associated with it. As a captain of the football team, Manti Te'o is as good as target as any. If my allegiance discredits my claims about his heroism, so be it. My intent however is simply to relay a few examples of what fame has magnified.

Manti as Hero

I have read great things about Manti, that I have only prompted me to tell my students and friends. This one however beat all.

On Oct. 27, 2010, Declan Sullivan a 20 year-old junior died at a Notre Dame football practice, atop a 40-foot aerial lift that collapsed when winds gusted up to 53 miles an hour. A crowd watched the fall, heard the thud, went silent. Pure, utter tragedy.In Manti Te'o Notre Dame's 'special son' I came to learn "when tragedy struck the Notre Dame practice field, it was Manti who charged across the field and climbed over the wreckage? He went to Declan Sullivan and put his arm on him and whispered a prayer in his ear." That's what heroes do.

Manti has said great things about his experience at Notre Dame and in playing football. This one however, beat all.

In the Strong of Heart video series Manti's parents admit that they encouraged their son to turn pro before graduation. His father Brian Te'o said "He was torn between his idea of duty and loyalty to family versus what he truly wanted to do in his heart.  Every year he would say "Mom and Dad, the earliest chance I get, I'm going to get into the NFL and buy you a home." We would say Great! Good job son!  Thank you--just get your education.  

"Well the chance came.  We flew out to Newport Beach for the Lott awards to be with him and support him.  The night before the event we sat down as a family and we talked about his decision, and I said my recommendation was to leave.  If I was your age, in my circumstance  I would leave."

Offilia Te'o added, "We've always encouraged him to take advantage of opportunities that come before you and definitely on paper, the decision should have been for Manti to enter the draft."

When it was time for Manti to speak, he told the audience "I was talking to my sister one time and I asked her what I should do.  She said Manti isn't that your dream to go into the NFL? Since that's your dream, you should leave. And I thought about it. And you know what? The NFL is my goal.  My dream is to have the most impact on the most people as possible and I've found I can do that at Notre Dame so I'll be coming back my senior year."  

I heard his words and thought to myself: Who says that?  

Teaching teenagers for 13 years now, I know exactly who says that. The young man or woman who says that is a gift.  They are heroic in their virtue. They make everyone around them better. They are exceptionally rare--and yes, they are human....they have their moments! But without a doubt, they are recognized for who they truly are. Fame, tragedy, trials, victory and triumph don't change it--only magnifies it.

Looks like there's enough for Part III tomorrow. It will include his human side....

Photo Credits
Lance and Manti

Helmet honors Sullivan

42 and 5

Manti Te'o: Living Legend

What can I say about Heisman hopeful Manti Te’o that hasn’t already been said? Even the most devout ND fan will admit this team would not be 12-0 without him. His journey from Hawaii to South Bend and now from Notre Dame to Miami for the BCS title game has put him on a regional cover of Sports Illustrated and his team on the national cover for the first time since Sept. 30, 2002, (an issue that featured receiver Maurice Stovall after a win at Michigan State). The paradox of his season—tremendous personal loss amidst win after win, week after week is but a part of this story.  What is there to say about Manti Te’o (other than a pronunciation key—it’s man-tie).  It’s what NFL Hall of Fame Tight End Dave Casper said about him—he’s a living legend.

I attended a breakfast of past-presidents of the San Francisco Notre Dame AlumniClub. We met to discuss ways to keep alumni involved and increase outreach. But, it’s hard not to discuss Notre Dame football, especially when you have a team with an undefeated season. Casper, a member of the ’73 National Championship team that beat Alabama, joined this meeting/roast and said something I had not considered.  “The University hasn’t had an athlete this beloved by the students and alumni in years. He’s already a legend.” When a man who is a legend himself confers that to another player, it’s hard not to listen.

I was then reminded of what my friend Mike Caponigro ‘90, co-creator of the “Catholics vs. Convicts” T-shirt told me.   “Te’o might be my favorite player of all time.” At the time, I thought he was gushing.  And then I realized he wasn’t; nor are the hundreds of other people I have heard this from.

So what would I like to say about this living legend? 

I love his spirit.  It’s hard not to when I read “if Te’o sees a student sitting alone at dinner, he’ll invite him to his table.”  At 6’2, 225 pounds, I’m not sure I would could “no” to such an invitation. And considering that he is now the most widely recognized student on campus I wouldn’t want to.  But this gesture is both so simple and so rare.  As a member of a school community, I know this happens too often.  Students sincerely and deeply appreciate the student who is able to extend hospitality to a stranger, who can make a peer feel included. 

For Manti, this may be second nature.  He is also known for greeting everyone—cooks, walk-ons and dorm neighbors—by name, but I also have no doubt that same spirit has translated to the chemistry this team has on the field, yielding 12 wins.

I love his spirituality. Named after a warrior in The Book of Mormon, it’s no secret that Manti is committed to his faith—one that is fairly different than the traditional Catholic roots of Notre Dame.  Regardless, it’s hard not to be inspired by his deep love for God and comfort in speaking about what that relationship means to him. 

For one, it’s what brought him to Notre Dame.  In a recent interview entitled “Committed to Excellence: Manti and Skylar” Te’o told Kate Sullivan what it was about Notre Dame that made him choose it.   He said

To be honest, I had to pray about it. I grew up a USC fan—a die-hard USC fan.  All the way up to the day before signing day I was going to go to with USC.  But I sat down and I prayed about it.  Things just started to happen and everything started to point to ND. 

I learned being young and from my parents that whenever you are looking for an answer to a question, and you ask the Lord—the hardest part is not praying, the hardest part is taking whatever answer He gives you…and going through with it. 

Obviously going to Notre Dame wasn’t the answer I wanted but it was the answer that I was given. It was a leap of faith for me.  Now that I’m here, I’m with Skylar Diggins (there’s that spirit!) 

And that leap of faith proved to be a source of great comfort. As reported in “The Full Manti” “On September 12, three days before Notre Dame played Michigan State,  the parents of Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te’o woke him up with a 7 a.m. phone call from Hawaii: His grandmother, 72-year old Annette Santiago had died of natural causes.  Six hours later, while standing at his locker, Te’o got a call from his girlfriend’s older brother, Koa, who sobbed, “she’s gone.”  At the age of 22, Lennay Kekua died of leukemia. In response to the outpouring of love and support from Notre Dame, Manti mustered the strength to address his fans at the pep rally before the Michigan game (a week after the MSU game). He said, 

Four years ago, I made a decision to come here and I don’t really know why. Times like these I know why.  I love and each everyone of you and I can’t thank you enough for all the love.

For all the love you have shown me and my family. I would like to thank my brothers you see standing behind me—my coaches, and the man upstairs. 

We don’t know His plan for all of us but I know one thing for sure: I know I will see them again.  I have faith and I find peace knowing I will spend the next life with them.  I love you guys. Go Irish!

Notre Dame faithful are hoping that Saturday will be the first numerical change to “a sacred pairing.”  With seven Heisman trophy winners and eleven national championships to its name, I will gladly switch 7-11 to 8-12. And it’s fitting, because that’s just a small piece of what legends do—they make small changes seem big and big changes seem small. They bring the joy to the “joyful anticipation” of this season. They say “hello” and “I love you” with the same ease and sincerity. Thank you, Manti, for being you.

Photo Credits
Manti and Sky
SI Cover
#1
Te'o and Toma
Dave Casper