Bob's Blog

Dear Friar Fans,

Needless to say, it's another great day to be a Friar. Coach Davis won his first game as Head Coach of the Friars with a 100-82 victory over a very competitive Dartmouth Team. Legendary Coach Ray Treacy and the women's cross-country team will make an unprecedented 20th straight appearance in the NCAA Cross Country Championship in Terre Haute, Indiana on November 24th. The men will also be joining the women in the NCAA Championships after finishing second at the NCAA regional meet at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.

You know we talk a lot about what a great honor it is to be a Friar and to represent such a first class academic/athletic institution like Providence College. The pride in being a Friar is perhaps best summarized by an article that was written by Christine Bonagura, a senior on our Swim & Dive Team entitled "The Top 5 Reasons to be a Student-Athlete at Providence College." The following is her piece. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

GO FRIARS!

Bob Driscoll

The Top 5 Reasons to be a Student Athlete at Providence College

Have you ever gone to an away meet, game, match, etc. and left saying to yourself or a teammate, "I'm so glad we go to Providence College"? On a recent trip the swim team took down to Washington, DC, our nation's very own capital, many of us Friars were more than happy to be hopping a flight back to our little school in the heart of New England. During our stay in DC, we swam at Georgetown and American University, two very prominent and very well known schools of our time. Yes, they were beautiful. Yes, they were filled with tons of smart people loving the fact that they go to college in Washington, DC and have such famous campuses. But, did these famous campuses really compare to PC? Not a chance. Sitting in the airport, one of my teammates and I said we would rather sport black and white every day and sit through the cold, dark winters year after year than attend any other school or wear any other color scheme known to mankind. We decided it was only appropriate to make a list of the top reasons why we choose to be, or why we should be, student-athletes at Providence College. Our list can go on for days. But you don't need to read all 20 plus reasons why, you can probably think of twenty yourself. I have narrowed the list down to a mere five fantastic reasons why it is great to be a student athlete here at Providence College. Check it out, you'll find our many reasons scattered amongst the top five and maybe think of some of your own as well.

#5: The Administration

Our administration is the reason we can make a list of the great reasons to be a student athlete. For starters, we have the best dressed athletic director in all of the Big East who loves PC more than all of us do combined. Below him is a staff of coaches that put up with all of our nonsense day in and day out, making us stronger and better in each of our respective sports. Besides the coaches, who doesn't love seeing those consistent administrators like Carl LaBranche and Jill LaPoint who show up to every home match? Hats off to you athletic department, keep up the good work.

#4: The Social Gatherings

Every year we come together as student athletes on a few occasions to celebrate what we do best. Who doesn't love the second Monday night of the semester when we all get to go to 64 Hall and meet five new people in five minutes? People may moan and complain that they would rather do something else on a Monday night, but let's be real, everyone leaves that room at the end of the meeting with a huge smile on their face. How can you attempt to start a successful season without hearing the Friars theme song being sung or shouting GO FRIARS at the top of your lungs? Meeting 1 as Friars is always a success.

Our respective seasons progress from here and we go our separate ways, but not without running into each other in the cafeteria on numerous occasions. Being most sports teams take up at least one or two of their own long tables in Ray, all on the same side of the cafeteria, we are bound to run into each other from one time during the day to another. Besides sitting at long tables, we also have one up on the rest of the student body... The cafeteria workers know all of our names because we are the most consistent meal goers on campus. The track team has to admit they love the occasional potato flying onto their table from the swimming or hockey team, and they love us so much they have to launch one back. So maybe it's not all of the teams at Ray at once, but there are enough of us there at one time to call it a gathering.

Then there's all those in between events... the recent student athlete career night, which was probably the best meal many of us have had in a very long time, the mandatory usually entertaining speakers, etc. By mid year, we have all become pretty well acquainted with one another.

Finally, we get to wrap up our yearly gatherings with the All Athlete Sports Gala, a chance for all of us Friars to see each other sporting clothes other than our uniforms and sweats. We all gather in the lower quad for cheese and Slavin pizza, mostly stand with our teams, but the occasional mingling between teams does occur. Then we pile into the concert hall and get to recognize the most outstanding athletes at our school. And to top it off, we get to capture the year in a picture slide show highlighting every team's service projects, games, etc. How's that for Friar spirit? Thank you Mr. Driscoll for dressing up for us and making this event an event to look forward to each year.

#3: The Motivational Quotes

Where would we be as athletes without those famous motivational quotes? I know in the pool a rough set is brightened up when someone shouts, "CAN I GET A GO FRIARS?" right before you push off, or you hear someone huffing and puffing quoting Coach White saying, "WHATEVER IT TAKES". These quotes are known and common to us all. EVERYDAY IS GAME DAY here at PC, that's not a lie. It's got to be a bit intimidating to an opposing team to see signs and posters screaming, WELCOME TO FRIARTOWN, in big black lettering when entering campus. Having trouble remembering these quotes? Post them in your locker room as a constant reminder of why we are here and what we are doing. Go the 212 DEGREES. And whenever you're COOKED from a tough practice or game, just remember IT IS ALWAYS A GREAT DAY TO BE A FRIAR.

#2: The Facilities

The recent additions to our training and work out facilities can put any other school in the Big East to shame. The beautiful facilities that we now have the privilege of using make me want to start college all over again so that I can utilize them for the next four years.

The training room: I don't think there is a nicer place to get ice wrapped on your shoulder or tape wrapped around your foot. The black and white in the training room is blinding, a sign that we are Friars and everything and anything you use in that room represents us as a school. Even the pillow cases are gray, keeping up with the Friar theme. John Rock and staff are proud to be employees in this wonderful room, and it's pretty cool to have pools somewhere else on campus.

Black couches: Most of us have the pleasure of enjoying a team room, or a coach's office, or a locker room, that sports a big, black, leather, comfy couch. You don't see these black couches in Harkins or the Smith Center do you? Nope, only residing in the offices and places where athletes and coaches alike can gather. If you are not privileged enough to have your own black couch, just hit up the student athlete lounge and sit down for a minute, it will be worth the pit stop.

Concannon: Even though we are in season most of the year, we still get to walk through Concanon each and every day to get to where we belong. Swiping your card in that turn stile should be something you do with pride. Look around, have you ever seen people so happy to be working out?

OAS: Recent additions have given us our OWN study lounge in the library. Now we don't have to sit in those uncomfortable chairs in Moore Hall when our bodies are already sore and can sit in a cozy environment to clock in our study hall hours. If you haven't been to the study lounge yet, take a seat and face the glass, you can see the envy on people's faces when they walk by and realize they aren't allowed inside.

The VARSITY WEIGHT ROOM: I had to save the best for last. Friars, take pride in our weight room. That room is probably the cleanest weight room you will find in all of the Big East, Hockey East, ECAC, ACC, Big 10, Big 12, MAAC, and any other athletic conference in the country. Coach White and staff keep that room cleaner than they probably keep their own houses. Feel the pride when you put the P facing up on your dumbbell. Realize you can't lean against the walls for a reason. Wear a different pair of shoes when you walk to go lift so your sneakers aren't dirty from the outside. Thank them for giving us this privilege.

#1: BLACK and WHITE

Isn't it nice to have an excuse to go to class everyday looking sweaty and dirty but your allowed to because your wearing black, white, and gray all over? The sweatshirts, t-shirts, pants, jackets, accessories, etc. that we wear represent us and who we are day in and day out. Without even telling a teacher you're an athlete they can usually pick you out within the first week of classes. Not only do we wear these clothes to class, to lift, and to walk around campus, but I see student athletes sporting their Friar goods at the mall, on the RIPTA, or any other place in this city.

Having a black and white fan base is key. Those Friar Fanatic t-shirts in the student section at basketball games have to get those players somewhat excited. And all the black and white gear our families, friends, and other spectators sport to cheer us on tell everyone else who is watching that they are proud to be watching a Friar competition. Next time you put on that black and white article of clothing, or write in your black and white athlete agenda, or sport any other Friar accessory, think about who you are representing, and remember what a great day it is to be a student athlete at Providence College.

Written By:
Christine Bonagura '09
Women's Swimming and Diving Team

Providence College Athletics

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