WM Fall 2016
Traveling Well
Class Notes
From the NAWM
From the NAWM
The Ultimate Road Trip
When I think about Wabash traveling well, I recall away football games in Greencastle, Franklin, Terre Haute, Indianapolis. The “long” trips were to places like Rensselaer, Hanover and Earlham, because our conference was made up of Indiana colleges back then.
I missed the 1977 Stagg Bowl trip to Alabama. I was in law school and couldn’t afford the time off work and class to make the trip. I watched the game on television and saw a strong Wabash crowd supporting the team. Those that made the trip came back with great memories and stories in spite of the loss in the championship game.
When the basketball team made the NCAA DIII tournament in 1982, I was determined to be in Grand Rapids to support the Little Giants. I will always remember two images from that weekend:
• Teddy Parker standing on the rim, arms raised in victory as national champions;
• Chairman of the Board of Trustees John Collett walking into the room where the Wabash fans had assembled with a huge grin, and guys following behind him with bottles of champagne. It was a wonderful celebration.
Since the move to the North Coast Athletic Conference, Wabash teams travel out of state for games in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Virginia, making the “Wabash travels well” observation more impressive because of the distances covered.
For me and my wife, Patti, the Hampden-Sydney trip was the ultimate road trip to date. Great tailgate food and turnout by the Little Giant faithful. The hospitality at Hampden-Sydney was wonderful, even though the visitors stand held only about 200. The Little Giant crowd spilled out of the stand and onto the grass along the Wabash sideline. The parents of a Hampden-Sydney football player stopped me in the concession line and said that they had never seen so many visiting team fans at one of their games.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the contribution made to the last 18 years of away game tailgates by retired Alumni Director Tom Runge and his wife, Carol. They have been a constant presence at road games for the Little Giant football team: Tom coordinating the tailgate locations, then on the sidelines taking pictures; and Carol often managing the food. It’s wonderful to see them at the games this season—we wouldn’t be traveling as well without them!
Why does Wabash travel well? I believe the answer starts with our undergraduate culture. Wabash students support each other on campus, be it a Glee Club concert, theater performance, Moot Court competition, basketball game, or other campus events. That tradition of supporting brothers in their performances I see carried forward into the alumni body, as well by the rest of the College community throughout the academic year.
It is one of the things that sets Wabash apart from so many small colleges.
Wabash Always Fights!
Rick Cavanaugh ’76
President, National Association of Wabash Men