SAINT PETER’S IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL

It’s March Madness all right and that small Division I private Catholic Jesuit School in Jersey City is having a ball making continuous headlines and piecing together the main story of the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

In the Garden State’s second-largest city, there sits Saint Peter’s University down the block from the main thoroughfare Kennedy  Boulevard. And there’s no doubt they are still celebrating after Friday night‘s third-straight magical success down the way, a short hop down the New Jersey Turnpike where their joyous fans packed the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

They are the Peacocks and their faithful supporters know It, but around this country it’s new news as the school, now in its 150th year, is entertaining the biggest news in his history bar none. It has followed this route. Winning the regular season Metro Athletic Association Conference championship and capping it with the conference tournament title. From there, it arrived as the automatic entry in the NCAA men’s Tournament as the 15th-seed.

The 15th-seed? Well, for a program seeking its initial Big Dance win in four appearances, it didn’t sound like much, more like one and done after facing 2nd-seeded Kentucky in the first round. The consensus was that the Wildcats would advance to the next round and Saint Peter’s would be heading back to Hudson County. Wrong, as the 18-point underdog, it instead produced an 85-79 stunner in overtime on St. Patrick’s Day. That’s right, and it meant the Peacocks now had a date with 7th-seeded Murray State in round two, and it figured to be a tough task. Wrong, the 7 one-half point underdog instead became a 71-61 winner.

Staying on the same road except this was Philly where Saint Peter’s took on 3rd-seeded Purdue as the 6-point underdog, won 67-64 after being the first No. 15 seed to gain the Sweet 16. This was highlighted in fact as Peacock Day.

Three times it faced the eventual loss, three times the Peacocks strutted past their highly regarded opponents. Three times they outplayed their victims in every phase of the game. They controlled play on both sides of the ball, moved the ball very well on offense, were alert on defense to force turnovers, and were fierce under the boards versus three teams with more size. They were so impressive, there weren’t any excuses from either teams, instead credit was given where it was deserved, and after each upset, the players, head coach Shaleen Holloway and some of their fans rushed the court to mix hugs, except the celebrating grew more with each game, and against Purdue, there was a big turnout in support of the blue and white Peacocks and their excited fans couldn’t get enough.

It was learned that on the ride back, there was constant horn blowing from the Saint Peter’s supporters on the highways, that they stopped at one of the rest areas and teamed with more supporters in noisy, but happy times.

Not all the news was good. On the Tuesday after the win over the Racers, one of the Peacocks all-time leading players, Elnardo Webster, passed away. I sent notices of this to those who knew Jersey City native Webster, a high-scoring, big rebounding forward who played under legendary head coach Don Kennedy in the late 60s. He might have been following his alma mater before he passed away.

Also, former Saint Peter’s sports information director Fred Cranwell, passed away back in September. He was so faithful and in touch with the school, when it would conclude its season, he would say that’s it, my hoops season is over. Each year he had hopes for the Peacocks’ program and its sad that he missed this biggest of all.

Who knows if they officially decided to change the name Yanatelli Center to “Run, Baby, Run”, But that’s what was learned, maybe from this historic happening or perhaps it was truly done by the school’s administration, alumni or students. “Run, Baby, Run” originated on Kennedy’s teams in the late 60s and continued as its favorite rousing cheer.

I have now known Saint Peter’s University for 60 years, I have switched states many times, but always had great memories and great times regarding the school. And It’s just a wonderful, well-regarded school academically.

How’s about a look at these Peacocks in these historic times:

DOUG EDERT              — 6-2 Junior Guard             From     Nutley, N.J.

DARYL BANKS III         — 6-3 Junior Guard             From     Los Angeles, Calif.

FOUSSEYNI DRAME   — 6-7 Junior Forward          From     Bamako Mali

HASSAN DRAME        — 6-7 Junior Forward           From     Bamako Mali

KC NDEFO                  — 6-7 Senior Forward           From     Elmont, N.Y.

CLARENCE RUPERT — 6-8 Freshman Forward     From     Philadelphia, Pa.

ISAIAH DASHER         — 6-4 Senior Guard              From     Jersey City, N.J.

MATTHEW LEE           — 6-0 Junior Guard               From     San Juan, Puerto Rico

OUMAR DIAHAME     — 6-10 Sophomore Forward  From     Dakar Senegal

JAYDEN MURRAY      — 5-11 Freshman Guard       From     Bronx, N.Y.

LATRELL REID           — 6-3 Junior Guard               From     Willingboro, N.J.

HEAD COACH — SHAHEEN HOLLOWAY

Assistant Coach — Ryan Whalen

Assistant Coach — Rasheen Davis

Assistant Coach — Umar Shannon

Director of Operations — Steven Cruz