Proud to be a GAEL!

[callahan1984]

This is why I am proud to be a GAEL!

So, I am on the Iona Campus yesterday (Sunday) to attend the final Women's Soccer game of the season (my Iona roommate, Kevin Chandlee (Class of 86)'s daughter, Sara, is a freshman defender on the soccer team).

So, as you can probably guess, my son, Aidan (11), his friend Joey Guida (son of Fred and Cindy Guida, also Iona alums) and I wander into the gym yesterday as the Lady Gaels are just finishing up their practice and the Men's Team is beginning to stretch for their practice. Of course, the kids are thrilled to see Michael Glover, Scott Machado and the crew warming up. The Managers begin taping the windows and I tell the boys that we will probably be asked to leave because it is a "closed" practice. With that, Coach Mark Calzonetti comes over not to throw us out, but to introduce himself and say hello to the boys. The other coaches wave hello as they walk onto the court and Coach Cluess walks in and says hello as he asks the team to line up to start practice. The kids were again thrilled. As we are sitting there, Coach Tony Bozzella comes over as he is walking out and sits down and talks with us about his team and his goals for the upcoming season. He comes back about 10 minutes later with t-shirts for the two boys and a shirt for me. Just to point out ... I had never actually met Coach Bozzella before.

All of this was completely impromptu and unplanned.

I have to tell you that I left the gym feeling so proud to be an Iona alum and also proud to have been part of the Iona Basketball Family (nearly 30 years ago). Iona is a very, very special place and I (like many of you I am sure) am very proud to call myself a GAEL. There is an old expression that John Leykam (a proud Iona Alum who graduated from Iona and who worked for over 25 years at St. Mary's of California who passed away too young) used to say, and which I love; "God is a GAEL." I truly believe that.

Just wanted to share that story with my fellow GAELS!

[GuyF]

Great stuff!

[epatrick]

I've had similar experiences and I too am PROUD to be a GAEL.

[qs]

Couldn't have happened to a more loyal alum!

[Z-73]

Callahan, with classsy guys like Tim Cluess and Tony Bozzella and the staffs that work with them, I am not surprised by your story. Iona is a wonderful place and these folks are a credit to the College.

I remember many years ago going back to the campus. The Hynes Center had just opened and I was walking around. A gentleman who was on the custodial staff saw me and I recognized him from my days at Iona in the early 70s. I wish I could remember his name, but I cannot for the life of me. I do remember his Irish brogue. He took me around and showed off the new facility.

We are indeed fortunate to have so many fine men and women serving our alma mater.

I cannot wait until Iona plays Loyola. Both the men's and women's teams are playing up there on Friday, February 10. I will travel up to Baltimore to see them play. I look forward to chatting with the coaches and some of the players. Lauren DeFalco is a coach on the lady's team. A few years ago, when she was still playing, she supplied me with a number of Iona tee shirts.

Last year at the men's game, Gary (who may as well be an Iona alum) was hard up and asked me to be the half-time guest.

I cannot wait for the season to start. I look forward to cheering on both the men and women.

Go Gaels!!!

[ic59]

Kevin, thanks for sharing. A nice story.

[jcgael]

Cals,

That's a great story and i too was not surprised by the way you and the rest of the guests were treated. Iona always had that family feeling. When you talk to Kevin Chandlee please tell him that I said hello.

Jerry