How proud I was the last weekend of September watching our Gael men and women's soccer teams play well against name national opponents, Columbia and Stanford, respectively.

At about the same time, deserved national recognition came to two members of the Saint Mary's athletics family. Basketball Times described the resurgence of the Gael men's basketball program under head coach Randy Bennett in a lengthy article appearing in both its print and on-line versions.

Assistant head football coach Derek Mason was one of only 20 men nationwide selected to take part in the inaugural NCAA Advanced Coaching Program next year in Orlando, Fl. The intense program will help equip these minority coaches with wide- ranging skills needed to succeed as head coaches.

National acclaim has rained on Saint Mary's intermittently starting with the golden ages of football and baseball early in the last century. Each shower of good press rejuvenates the Gael faithful and affirms their resolve to do what is necessary to earn further limelight.

The achievements of Bennett and Mason are "feathers in the caps" of two fine individuals charged with helping Gael student-athletes be their best. Bestowing of individual honors on people involved with team sports is not a contradiction but a logical consequence. Individuals - coaches and players - give their best so that their teams can win. Recognizing coaches and players for such good performance is right and just.

Plaudits for our coaches - many of them like Bennett, Mason, and Head Women's Volleybally Coach Jon Stevenson, new or relatively new to the College - are one indicator that our intercollegiate athletic program is on the right track. The graduation rate of our student-athletes and won-loss records are other key gauges that warrant ongoing attentiveness.

I believe the adage "a win is a win." I also adhere to the belief that "you are judged by the company you keep" when it comes to hiring and scheduling.

Go Gaels!

Carl R. Clapp
Director of Athletics