[NU Sports] NU National Champions

[DPENDERG at aol.com]

In congratulatory email I sent to Mark Murphy, I suggested that the  Women's 
Lacrosse Team be honored in a pre-game or halftime ceremony at a home  game 
this fall, a public recognition that would go well beyond a largely student  pep 
rally and also a symbolic statement at Ryan Field that the University  can 
and should aspire to success at the highest level in any sport.  Murphy's reply 
made no commitment, but I think the idea probably will take  hold.
 
I know everyone will insist how much more difficult it is in D-IA football,  
but at the same time for Amonte Hiller to take a team in just four  years from 
club status to national champions in a sport completely and  historically 
dominated by East Coast schools, in my view, rivals Barnett  taking the Purple to 
Pasadena.  Good recruiting, good coaching, good  motivating. It's the same 
formula in every college sport. I'm still waiting to  see if RW and his staff 
can emulate the standard set by their lacrosse  colleagues.