A note from Fr Hart

Who is CDr McBrian?

That one sentence stands alone in the letter. Fr Hart, BTW, had beautiful handwriting (script with fountain pen). He also proofread whatever he wrote, I am sure.

I believe he would not have made such a statement unless there was something behind it.

I have a very vivid memory of Dr. McBrien, who indeed was the head of the Mathematics department when I arrived at Holy Cross in September 1965. He is an indispensable part of a story I like to tell on appropriate occasions (mainly as a tribute to one of my high school math teachers; see following paragraph). I also recall him writing at some point in some publication (date and place not definitive in my memory) saying something to the effect that "Holy Cross should not give a damn" about some athletic event (perhaps even the NCAAs or the NIT) or perhaps even athletics in general.

I had relatively good math scores on the standardized tests used for college admissions (both SAT and achievement tests). Upon my arrival on campus, I went to see Dr. McBrien to see if I could be admitted to an advanced math seminar for freshmen even though I was a history major. He was reluctant, based on my much more pedestrian verbal SAT results, but eventually I persuaded him to let me into the seminar. (In 9th grade, I had an algebra teacher who was in his first teaching position after a previous career outside of education. In 10th grade -- and again in 11th grade -- I had an excellent math teacher for geometry and trigonometry. In the early weeks of 10th grade, he recognized that the students in his class did not have adequate knowledge of algebra, so he put geometry on hold and spent several weeks giving the class an education in algebra. From there, he went on over the next two years to give us an intense education in geometry and trigonometry. I have no doubt it was his teaching that enabled me to score in the 700s in the Math SAT and Achievement test.) 

After Dr. McBrien reluctantly let me enter the advanced math seminar for freshmen, I was amazed to find that everything discussed in that seminar during September, October and November were topics that my high school math teacher had covered in high school. Only in the last two weeks of the seminar was the subject matter new to me. At the end of the seminar, Dr. McBrien tried to convince me to switch to a math major; when I did not do so, he became visibly angry with me. I never took another math class during my years at Holy Cross.

I do not write this to denigrate Dr. McBrien. He was an excellent member of the faculty with a perspective on academics that, in his view, should take precedence over any commitment to athletics. My experience with him was regrettable but he was a man of principle.

Dr.McBrien was an influential voice among faculty critics of big time HC sports.
He took many public stands on this position. I do not recall specifically if he spoke out about the Big East, but it certainly would have been consistent with his view.

Obit.
www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/vincent-mcbrien-obituary?pid=3130194

No date, but seems to be Feb 2005.

Thanks for that. I don't remember seeing any if that back in the day....or I saw it and just chose not to believe it.

If HC was opening today, D-3 would be logical. But what type of Crusader rides his horse backwards after qualifying for a D-1 national tournament in FB three years in a row? Let's bring the other sports up to FB's level.

IIRC Dr. McBrien favored HC aligning with schools of the same size that would not have agreed to align with us. Starts with a "N" and ends with a "C". Nothing bad about that, but it wasn't going to happen.

He was a real stubborn SOB when it came to one basketball player. Flunked him or close to it; kid would have been ineligible except that someone (Brooks or someone else pretty high up) stepped in. And, the funny thing is the guy went on to a career that certainly would be considered numbers-oriented.

The only word beginning with N and ending with C that I can come up with is Nipmuc. One more hint please.

Oh, never mind. I just guessed NESCAC and assume that is correct. The good professor placed no value on and felt no pride in HC's D-1 athletic history unlike most of us, but maybe he was also the type that liked to "fight against the machine," for the sake of having a battle to wage. Some people need a good fight over something to truly feel alive.

Just added that to my post above when the five watt bulb in my head flickered.🙂

I clearly remember Dr. McBrien advocating for athletics on a par with other small liberal art colleges, in part, in order to improve the status of our academic reputation.

If HC had gone D-3 we likely would be playing in what is today the NEWMAC with Clark and WPI. A good league probably on par academically with the Patriot League. But no other league member would have HC's athletic tradition with BC in football, the NIT and NCAA in BB, etc. Much of that has disipated over the decades (except on Crossports) but Chesney has reignited the embers and a new era of D-1 athletic success has begun.