March 16, 2009
Journey of a Lifetime
I took a journey this past weekend to Geneva, NY. I have fond memories of the town, from visiting relatives there as a boy, to returning there over Christmas break in college with my lacrosse teammate Nick Midey, who resided in the neighboring village of Seneca Falls. I remember visiting Hobart College on that particular journey and stopping in Bristol Gym to pay respects to head coach Jerry Schmidt, the first and only lacrosse player ever to land on the cover of Sports Illustrated. I remember returning again six months later to participate in the 31st annual North-South All-Star Game as a member of the winning South squad. I also remember going back several times to watch the Hoyas earn closely contested victories against the Statesmen. Fond memories indeed.
The reason I went back once more to Geneva last weekend was to serve as scorekeeper for the Georgetown - Hobart lacrosse game. There once was a time, a generation ago, when Georgetown did not belong on the same field as upstate lacrosse powerhouse Hobart. Fortunately, they never met on the field in those days. Now, the two schools compete in the same conference, the ECAC. However, a conference affiliation is not all that Georgetown and Hobart share: GU Law graduate Mark Gearan '90 is the current president of Hobart College; the site of the game, McCooey Field, is named for the family that has sent offspring to both schools, including Dick McCooey '52, founder and once proprietor of the Tombs and 1789 restaurant; and one-time Georgetown coach, Tom Oberdorfer, played his college lacrosse at Hobart. The most significant connection that has bound together Georgetown and Hobart over the past 20 years though is a man named David Urick.
I won't recite Coach Urick's accolades in this space. You can read them here and here. How well is he still remembered at the school that gave him his first coaching job? Within the first hour he arrived on campus with the Hoyas, a lineup of old friends greeted him, including the Hobart trainer, the assistant to the president, the athletic director, assistant coaches, and even a former referee.
The Hoyas will leave the ECAC next year with the addition of men's lacrosse to Big East competition. Sadly, the Hobart rivalry may very well end.
Happily, the fond memories and connections between the schools will not.
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Patrick J McArdle,
Athletic Relations ( more info) |
Pat,
ReplyDeleteThanks for remembering me in your article. I too have fond memories of your visits to my home in Seneca Falls.
My parents were big fans of yours. The most telling aspect of that was the fact that even though my mother never missed any of my high school sports games, my dad rarely attended since he was exceedingly busy as a trial lawyer. Well, both of them attended the North-South game in which you participated. I knew that my mother would cheer wildly when you entered the game and she did. To my astonishment, my very reserved father gave you a boisterous standing ovation, so much so that people in the stands looked at him and wondered who he was!!
As I have always said and always will, when the history of Georgetown lacrosse is written, if you are not in Chapter 1 it will be a fraud.
Thanks for the memories.
Nick Midey
Midfielder C'72