Building a tradition
Frank K. Reilly
Bernard J. Hank
When one thinks about this and how significant it is to all Notre Dame fans and to the history of Notre Dame athletics, I think it is fair to say that this long, hard climb to the top of the women's basketball world is similar to what Knute Rockne did for Notre Dame football 80 years ago. Rockne took a group of young men to a little-known Catholic school in Indiana from virtual obscurity to the top of college football world and helped the University gain an identity that transformed the University in the eyes of the observers around the country. In an era before professional football, college football was the only game in town and "The Fighting Irish" were at the top of the pile and as a result we gained thousands of "subway alumni" who followed our progress in athletics and academics.
In a similar vein, women's basketball is a relatively new sport with intercollegiate competition since the early 1970s and Notre Dame only fielding a team since 1977. Prior to Muffet's arrival before the 1988 season we had a respectable program, but clearly one that was not prominent and had not been to an NCAA tournament. The McGraw era which began in 1988 has produced a record in the subsequent 13 and a half years of 303-115 for a winning percentage of .725. More important than the win-loss record is the national recognition that has followed from being in the NCAA tournament for the first time in 1992, again in 1994 and then every year since the 1995-1996 season including being in the Final Four in 1997.
While it is not known how the rest of this season will evolve, the important fact is that Coach McGraw and her wonderful band of Fighting Irish Ladies have climbed the mountain in women's basketball and taken all of us to the top with them. It is clearly an experience that none of us will, or should ever forget — it is now part of the Notre Dame lore, similar to the accomplishments of Knute Rockne and the Four Horseman. Notre Dame alumni, subway alumni and basketball fans throughout the land will not forget that Notre Dame has clearly joined the elite set of outstanding women's basketball teams. Just as we attribute the beginning of our women's national basketball reputation to our female Knute Rockne, better known as Muffet McGraw.
One final point — the Notre Dame administration and more significantly the athletic administration (i.e. Kevin White), should be congratulated for the recognizing early in the season all the contributions made by Coach McGraw and giving her a five year contract as an indication of the University's support and appreciation. It is notable that Notre Dame provided this significant recognition of the terrific program that she has steadily built prior to the recent success.
Frank K. Reilly
Bernard J. Hank
Professors of Finance
January 31, 2001
All Viewpoint Stories for Tuesday, February 6, 2001
