I really enjoyed the Loyola-Tulane men’s basketball game last night. The Wolfpack played with tremendous tenacity. They built an impressive 12 point first half lead, but were not able to stave off the Green Wave down the stretch. Final score: 74-61.

Even as we were building our nice lead in the first half, I knew that this morning I would be writing about how our student body formed an impressive sea of gold and maroon in the home team’s arena. Did I mention that the home team was Tulane? The Loyola students were LOUD in there, dancing and swaying to the pep band and shouting out creative and surprisingly well-coordinated impromptu cheers (I really should not be surprised by this; I am learning that our students are really creative, especially on the spot).

Even as our team was flying around for loose balls, hitting their free throws with calm precision and dropping bombs from beyond the three point arc, I knew I would be telling you the Loyola community comes together like no other. I saw it last night. And I see it every day on the campus, as students have lunch together, study together, walk to class together, fundraise for their various causes together, and, most of all, laugh together on the quads, in front of buildings, along the library, and on the steps, benches, and newly-placed rocking chairs of this big-hearted campus in this breath-takingly beautiful section of this historic city.