Loyola-Chicago Bashes 'Disgusting' Sister Jean Critics

The team chaplain left her seat minutes before the team's heartbreaking Final Four loss
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 1, 2018 4:30 PM CDT
Loyola-Chicago Bashes 'Disgusting' Sister Jean Critics
Sister Jean Dolores-Schmidt, the Loyola Ramblers Chaplain, holds up number one as fans chant   (Tyler LaRiviere/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Despite what some critics may have said, Loyola-Chicago's beloved 98-year-old team chaplain did not leave the game in the minutes before the heartbreaking Final Four loss on Saturday and the team wants people to know it. "I cannot believe anyone would insinuate she gave up on these kids," assistant athletic director for communications at Loyola, Bill Behrns, told USA TODAY Sports. “How utterly disgusting." After Sister Jean left her seat at the Alamodome with just two minutes left against Michigan, enough viewers seemed to question the move that Loyola felt the need to respond. According to Behrns, Sister Jean was greeting the team as they left the court, as she did every other game. This time, the nun had the added duty of consoling the Ramblers.

Per the AP, she leaned up from her wheelchair to greet each Rambler with a hug and a few consoling words. Loyola-Chicago's improbable run through the NCAA Tournament ended Saturday night with a 69-57 loss to mighty Michigan. Everybody's favorite underdog team and their No. 1 fan had a 10-point lead in the second half, but couldn't overcome a slew of late turnovers and missed shots. While Sister Jean told the men their turn would go down in history, so too will the nun herself be synonymous with this year's tournament. The Ramblers readily acknowledge Sister Jean has become a bigger celebrity than any player on her beloved team. "She's become a huge celebrity, and she's a great part of this team," freshman Cameron Krutwig said. "A lot of people know our name now in college hoops, and her impact has been as great as ours."
(More NCAA final four stories.)

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