[NU Sports] The Purple in San Diego

[WildElk2 at aol.com]

OK troops, listen up.  I was visiting my brother in  the Naval Hospital in 
San Diego due to ongoing chemo and radiation treatments  for lymphoma (btw, 
treatment going well; 2 more weeks to go), and on Monday,  while my brother was in 
treatment, my sister and I went to the U.S. Olympic  Training Facility in 
Chula Vista , CA ( a suburb of San Diego) and went for a  splendid tour of our 
impressive facility (highly recommended) . All "outside"  summer Olympic sports 
train here.
   Anyway, a very congenial, knowledgeable senior citizen named  Chuck took 
us for a tour, and we learned so much about training, selection  criteria, 
politics of the USOC, etc.
  At the end of the tour, Chuck invited us to a small (seats 20-25)  room to 
watch a short movie on Olympic spirit.  I noticed his last name was  "Single". 
 I asked if by any coincidence, if he was related to Doug Single,  a former 
NU Athletic Director.  He responded, " I'm proud to say, Doug is  my Son."
   I had on my NU hat and 10 year 1995 Anniversary Rose Bowl  T-Shirt, and 
what ensued was a wonderful chat on the hiring of Dennis Green, and  giving GB a 
platform to build on; Chuck was proud to explain that son called the  
administration to task by saying if he couldn't do his job, he would leave  
immediately.   Furthermore, Green and Single steadfastly believed that  NU could 
survive and thrive in the Big 10.  
   Chuck reminded me that his son was known as a "fix it"  guy.  He cited the 
hiring of his son to SMU was after the Death Penalty was  imposed on the 
Mustangs after he left NU.   
   While we can argue that Francis Peay wasn't a positive  experience, and 
SMU has never been a football power since the early 80's, Single  and Green  
started what Rick Taylor and GB finished. 
  Chuck told me that his son lives in the Sante Fe, NM area, and is a  
fund-raising specialist.  For who, was not divulged.  It sounded like  he'd been 
there for awhile.
 
   Comment: I was very thankful for Doug Single.  He was one  of the first 
(post Dark Age) to "believe". For this I told Chuck to Thank him  for me.  I 
sincerely hope he does. 
  So if your at the U.S. Olympic Training Facility in Chula Vista ,  CA. ask 
for Chuck Single.  He'll talk NU with you, and knows "all things  Olympics" as 
well.
 
                 GO  CATS!!!               Eric



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