A newsletter for the faculty and staff of the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University December 2003 Values Bolster Gagliardi’s Winning Tradition prepared by Glenda Isaacs Burgeson Community editor Communication and Marketing Services By now, readers of the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times know what Central Minnesotans have known for a long time. SJU has a grand football tradition, led by a great and decidedly untraditional coach, John Gagliardi, and his dedicat- ed coaching staff. In the barrage of press coverage (See Page 2 for a summa- ry.), reporters gave ample attention to Gagliardi’s now famous coaching philosophy of no — no hitting during practice, no yelling at players, no practice if it’s too darn hot or cold or too many gnats, etc. Many also mentioned his emphasis on char- acter and integrity. His colleagues suggest, however, that his philosophy of no, along with his respect for his players and his attention to char- acter development are more than just charming quirks of a lucky coach. In fact, they may be the keys to the success of col- John Gagliardi was honored at a ceremony at the White House. lege football’s most victorious coach. Fr. Timothy Backous, interim athletic director, discussed Gagliardi also maintains a balanced perspective. the importance of character development in Johnnie football. Fr. Wilfred recalled how once, just prior to a championship “John works as much on character building as he does on game, a player had a scheduling conflict between an interview athletic prowess,” Fr. Timo said. “He tends to emphasize more for medical school and football practice. Gagliardi did not hes- enduring qualities.” itate to let the student know what his priorities should be. “He For example, he explained, when a student athlete per- told him to go to the interview.” forms well during practice or in a game, Gagliardi tends to Those priorities are practiced by all the coaches in the ath- praise the effort rather than the expertise. letic department, Fr. Timo said. “He might say of the player, ‘He’s a hard worker,’ or ‘He’s “Overall, I do know that academics is the top priority for dedicated.’” Fr. Timo said. Values of hard work, dedication and these coaches,” he said. “They have a perspective about what perseverance become team aspirations, he said. is really important.” “We have some wonderful kids playing here. They are The students understand those priorities as well. Fr. Timo smart, involved. John recognizes that.” frequently travels with SJU teams and said that, regardless of In fact, Gagliardi considers himself a teacher, rather than a the sport, he observes during travel that “kids have their noses coach, according to longtime friend, Fr. Wilfred Theisen, pro- buried in books. Half their luggage seems to be homework.” fessor of physics. Often, athletics serve as a portal to the university itself. As a teacher, Gagliardi focuses on the mental aspects of the “Forty-three percent of our current SJU freshmen class game, on attitude and motivation. He builds confidence. were recruited by a coach, and 78 percent were interested in According to Fr. Wilfred, a pre-game Gagliardi pep talk will be SJU because of its athletic programs. That’s an amazing num- something like this: “Keep doing what we’ve been doing all ber,” Fr. Timo said. “Does that mean that 43 percent of our stu- week. You know what to do.” dents are here because of athletics? No, they’re here because “Somehow he motivates the kids to play well, to take pride of the contributions our athletic department makes to our in the way they play. He builds that pride.” overall mission.” 409th Victory Season Attracts November 2, 2003 Record-Searchlight, CA Times Record News, TX Attention to Campus New York Daily News, NY Campus News Peninsulaclarion.com, AK South Bend Tribune, IN Times Picayune, LA CSB Campus Ministry prepared by Glenda Isaacs Burgeson Chicago Daily Southtown, IL Community editor Chicago Daily Herald, IL Advisory Board Formed Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH Communication and Marketing Services Billings Gazette, MT St. Petersburg Times, FL Submitted by S. Eunice Antony At the SJU Bookstore, planning for this year’s Indianapolis Star, IN Philadelphia Inquirer, PA Benedictine Values Consultant historic football season began long before the open- Lexington Herald Leader, KY CSB Campus Ministry ing kickoff. Last year, staff at the bookstore began November 8, 2003 Helena Times, MT The CSB Campus Ministry considering commemorative merchandise when Boston Globe, MA Advisory Board met for the first time Atlanta Journal Constitution, GA John Gagliardi reached his 400th victory, according Wichita Eagle, KS on Nov. 14. Board members were Biloxi Sun Herald, MS to Cindy Ann Van Vickle, general product buyer. Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL invited by the director of Campus “At the beginning, we tried not to focus on any Miami Herald Tribune, FL Ministry, Patricia Cespedes- Bradenton Herald, FL one particular item that would outdate itself,” she Times Daily, AL Schueller, to be the “eyes, ears and said. San Francisco Chronicle, CA voice” of the broader community to The Missoulian, MT Pennants and football helmets have been big Arizona Republic, AZ the Campus Ministry staff, and also Monroe News Star, LA sellers this season, along with the Gagliardi com- Richmond Times Dispatch, VA to be the voice of Campus Ministry memorative bobblehead. Knoxville News Sentinel, TN in their respective areas. Durham Herald Sun, NC At home games, the bookstore operates the Bradenton Herald, FL Members of the Advisory Board Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, IA are David Arnott, assistant profes- Johnnie Stadium Shop that is popular with fans. Rapid City Journal, SD The Porterville Recorder, CA sor of strings/orchestra; Karen Sales were especially brisk on the 409 game day. North County Times, CA Cindy Dirkes, assistant director, enjoyed the excite- Lodi News-Sentinel, CA Backes, associate dean of admis- Baltimore Sun, MD sions; Barb Fahnhorst, associate ment of working at the shop that day. “It was fun try- Santa Maria Times, CA Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL director of financial aid; Dan ing to watch the game,” she said. Atlanta Journal Constitution, GA McKanan, assistant professor of Don Forbes, bookstore director, said the com- Times Daily, AL Miami Herald, FL theology; Ron Pagnucco, assistant memorative merchandise has helped boost other Biloxi Sun Herald, MS FOX Sports professor of peace studies; Adeline sales as well. On game days, people come into the Washington Post, DC Spitzer, director of international stu- store to buy a souvenir and wind up browsing the Bradenton Herald, FL Wichita Eagle, KS dents; and Katie Hayes, CSB sen- aisles. The store also has benefited from exposure The Herald News, MA ior and member of the CSB USA Today on the gojohnnies.com Web site. New York Times Senate. Trish Givens, office coordi- “On Monday, after the big game, we were getting Boulder Daily Camera, CO Rocky Mountain News, CO nator for student activities/leader- hits on the Web site,” he said. ESPN ship development and support staff CNN/SI Media anticipation of Gagliardi’s historic “March ABC12.com, MI for campus ministry, graciously to History” began with preseason coverage and KSTP, MN WXXA, NY served as secretary. advanced steadily. Local, state and national cover- The Advisory Board members age has been extensive, and international press cov- November 9, 2003 Peninsulaclarion.com were introduced to the mission and South Bend Tribune, IN erage included a Nov. 7 story in the International South Florida Sun Sentinel, FL vision of CSB Campus Ministry. Nashua Telegraph, NH — “AM Sports Herald Tribune, France, and a Nov. 10 story in the Report” Topics discussed at this first meet- Taipei Times, Taiwan. For the 409th victory game, Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH ing included the interface of the Baltimore Sun, MD 87 media credentials were issued by Michael Contra Costa Times, CA faith life of students and its impact Chicago Daily Southtown, IL on their daily lives and decisions, Hemmesch, sports information director and direc- Louisville Courier Journal, KY Record-Searchlight, CA the interaction of Campus Ministry tor of communication, Communication and Market- The Desert Sun, CA ing Services. Billings Gazette, MT with faculty and staff, and the rele- Salt Lake Tribune, UT vance of Campus Ministry to non- The following is a partial list, focusing primarily Jackson Clarion Ledger, MS Oakland Tribune, CA Catholics and non-Christians. on the record-tying and record-breaking weekends, Alameda Times-Star, CA Patricia Cespedes-Schueller intro- of out-of-state media outlets that carried SJU St. Petersburg Times, FL Provo Daily Herald, UT duced a new Campus Ministry pro- reports. Links to much of the press coverage may be Chicago Daily Herald, IL Biloxi Sun Herald, MS posal, “Understanding Women’s accessed at gojohnnies.com/football. Ventura County Star, CA Lives and Contributions in the Philadelphia Enquirer, PA November 1, 2003 Los Angeles Times, CA Seattle Times, WA Global Context,” which is in the Southeastern Missourian, MO Lexington Herald Leader, KY Athens Banner-Herald, GA embryo stage. Denver Post, CO Dallas Morning News, TX Indianapolis Star, IN The next meeting of the Advisory Coos Bay World, OR Fresno Bee, CA November 10, 2003 Las Vegas Sun, NV Board will be in January. One topic South Florida Sun-Sentinel, FL Times Record News, TX will be the role of Campus Ministry Washington Post, DC Knoxville News Sentinel, TN Billings Gazette, MT Minnesota Public Radio in addressing the Catholic Social Philadelphia Enquirer, PA Gwinnett Daily Post, GA ABC12.com, MI Teachings and their implications for The Ledger, FL KSTP, MN The Birmingham News, AL the upcoming political elections. WTNH, CT The Arbiter Online Denver Post, CO Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PA Taipei Times CSB 2 SJU Monastic Tradition: Leisure and Wholeness The Welcome Mat by Br.