She emerged from an arena portal after the final television timeout, when the unthinkable appeared well in hand, Loyola-Chicago headed for the Final Four for the first time since 1963. Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt was draped in a maroon and black Loyola letter jacket. On her left wrist was what appeared to be a balloon sculpture in the shape of a flower, a corsage.
Even as the lead climbed to 17 points with 2:33 to play, the Ramblers’ team chaplain betrayed no emotion, her hands clasped. Seated in her wheelchair behind the baseline, not far from the Loyola bench, she didn’t join the pandemonium that scarf-adorned Ramblers fans were unleashing in Philips Arena. An old coach herself, perhaps she wasn’t quite ready to rule out a Kansas State comeback in Saturday’s South region final of the NCAA Tournament.
Finally, at a timeout with 1:24 left and the lead at 14 points, she allowed a smile. With 60 seconds remaining, with the lead down to 11 after a Kansas State 3-pointer, she was asked her thoughts.
“I’m thinking they’ll probably call about five fouls,” she said. “It’s the longest part of the game.”
Not a second elapsed before the first whistle.
“See, there’s one,” Sister Jean said.
Down inside a minute. Her right hand was folded against her cheek. She clapped after both of Ramblers guard Clayton Custer’s free throws pushed the lead back to 14 points, and again when guard Donte Ingram made his free throws to get the lead to 16 with 34.6 seconds remaining.
Loyola coach Porter Moser emptied his bench, theatrically subbing out the players on the floor one at a time to allow each his moment.
The clock wound down to zero, and Sister Jean was wheeled onto the Philips Arena floor. A volunteer brought her a Final Four cap and t-shirt, which she posed with for a phalanx of media. Music blasted from the arena speakers, and she tapped her feet, shod in gray sneakers with velcro straps.
There were to be many interviews, many photos, many hugs. A woman of 98, she joined the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1937, giving her life to serving God and helping others. For decades, she accepted the high calling of teaching children and young women. Since 1994, she has helped shepherd young men on a basketball team that this March has captured the imagination of the American sporting public. She absorbed the spectacle unfolding before her.
Said Sister Jean, “I’m just thinking it’s like a miracle.”
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