Loyola-Chicago’s chaplain dispenses coaching advice alongside spiritual guidance – and her underdog team is lighting up primetime college basketballA 98-year-mature nun has become the face of college basketball and the sport is probably all the better for it. Over the past week,Sister Jean Dolores-Schmidt, who acts as the chaplain for the Loyola University Chicago Ramblers, and has became one the most recognizable figures in US sports following the team’s back-to-back upset wins in the NCAA Tournament,college basketball’s close-of-season showdown that has Americans glued to their screens for most of March.
Dolores-Schmidt, who has fond memories of celebrating Loyola’s last championship win in 1963, and was a cult figure in Chicago sports even before she became the team’s chaplain in 1994. But she’s no mere mascot and she offers more than just thoughts and prayers. The former player and coach provides scouting reports,pregame speeches and postgame analysis by email, along with more spiritual guidance. Continue reading...
Source: guardian.co.uk