'Sister Jean' offers comfort, prayer and a competitive edge for Loyola basketball
CHICAGO - Twenty minutes before tipoff in a tunnel leading to the Gentile Arena basketball court, towering Loyola players formed a circle around a 98-year-old nun as she quietly prayed.
Music thumped, fans screamed and cheerleaders shook pompoms on the court in anticipation of Wednesday night's game against Valparaiso. But in the tunnel Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt spoke softly, holding hands with players on each side of her wheelchair.
"Dear gracious God," she started. She asked for players to remain uninjured and that they play to their potential. As it has before nearly every Loyola home game for decades, her pregame blessing morphed into advice a coach would give.
"Don't worry about the opponents' height," the 5-foot nun told the Ramblers. "We need your win."
Sister Jean, as seemingly everyone on
