Moran's Impact Endures on Program He Built
by Paul Ohanian |
Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff | NCAA Semifinals Blog
FOXBORO, Mass. -- National Lacrosse Hall of
Famer Richie Moran has a lot of sticks to rub before Monday's NCAA
championship game.
The legendary coach, who guided Cornell to 257 wins and three
national championships before retiring in 1997 after 29 seasons,
still casts quite shadow over the program he helped place on the
lacrosse map. That includes, among other things, taking a hand to
every player's stick to bring a little good luck.
"We see him every day, walking around practice and giving out
little hints here and there," said senior midfielder John Glynn.
"He loves joking around with us. It's always a good time being
around a guy like that. He treats us almost as his sons."
It was hard not to see Moran at every turn during Cornell's
surprisingly lopsided 15-6 victory over Virginia in Saturday's NCAA
Division I semifinal at Gillette Stadium. He was on the sidelines
doing interviews with ESPN, in the stands celebrating with team
parents and alumni, and in the post-game locker room hugging and
congratulating players who were barely in middle school when he
coached his last collegiate game.
"My heart has always bled red," said Moran, who has accompanied
the team since its arrival in Foxboro on Thursday. "This win means
an awful lot to me. It has probably added another 15 years to my
life."
With no disrespect to current coach Jeff Tambroni, Moran is, in
many ways, still the face of the Big Red program. He is the glue
that binds Cornell lacrosse, past and present.
"When you have a legendary coach like that, it would be bad not to
use him as an asset," said Glynn.
Hosting a dinner with the team's seniors has become one of Moran's
annual traditions and an opportunity to impart to the group some of
the lessons he has learned during a lifetime spent in the game. He
mixes one part wisdom with one part superstition to do all that he
can to further the team's success.
"It's easy to see the love he has for the program," said senior
Chris Finn. "He's just a tremendous supporter and the guys on our
team love him."
Moran's bond is so strong with the 16 seniors on this year's squad
that he will officiate at their the impromptu graduation ceremony
on Sunday, held in lieu of the school's official commencement
exercises missed back in Ithaca this weekend. He will present the
diplomas and shake every hand as the stand-in for the university
president.
How did he get such a prestigious role?
"I appointed myself," Moran said candidly.
The only thing that may bring Moran more joy would be a
championship Monday. Cornell's run to this year's title game has
strong similarities to 1988, when Moran's squad also defeated
Virginia in the semifinal and faced upstate New York rival Syracuse
in the championship. The Orange won that game, 13-8.
Moran plans on sharing a few insights gained from that experience.
In addition to his bond with the players, he enjoys a close
relationship with Tambroni and the rest of the coaching staff.
"It's a wonderful relationship," he said. "I knew Jeff in high
school and of course, when he was at Hobart."
Among the pointers he shared with the staff this week was that the
phones to the players' rooms at the hotel should be shut off at 9
p.m.
"One year, we were at a place where the kids got calls at 5
o'clock in the morning," Moran said. "You've got to try to keep the
distractions away. Focus is so important at this stage. You've got
to do everything you can to let the players focus."
Personally, Moran's leaving no stone unturned.
"We'll probably all go to church tomorrow," he said. "I'm the
missionary for the team."
And the Big Red's ambassador to the world.
