The star of this year’s NCAA tournament is not a basketball player, team or coach. The March Madness superstar is 98 year-old Sister Jean, Loyola Chicago’s Chaplain. This well-spoken nun has gained national attention from her sweet words of wisdom and the obvious love that her team has for her.
Sister Jean caught our attention the first game of the tournament when she was interviewed after their win over Miami University. She prays with the team before each game and offers hugs afterward. If ever a team has had God on their side, it is Loyola Chicago!
Tennessee fell to the nun’s team in the second round. After beating Nevada in the third round of the tournament, the boys came over and apologized to Sister for busting her bracket. Yes, Sister Jean had filled out a bracket and only had Loyola Chicago winning the first two rounds. She smiled from ear to ear and said she didn’t mind at all.
This Cinderella team won the first three games by a total of only four points. Every play counted and added up to victory. Loyola Chicago is definitely on a win streak, having lost only one game since January.
The nation watched as Loyola Chicago beat Kansas State last Saturday to proceed to the Final Four. At times it did seem like an invisible force was pushing the ball out of the basket on one end of the court and knocking it back in on the other. #SisterJean has been trending on Twitter and Loyola-Chicago has licensed her name (with her blessing, of course).
This Saturday, the Ramblers will play against Michigan. As Sister Jean said in an interview, “Things turn out well when you work as a team, when you share the ball and you’re so kind to each other. That’s what happens with these young men, they really like each other.” She went on to say, “They’re having what I call fun on the court. If you don’t have fun when you’re playing, you’re not relaxed enough to get the ball into the basket.”
Keep that in mind, Loyola Chicago, and continue to have fun. You are America’s team and your Chaplain is leading the country to God through a basketball tournament!