Winning One For All Of Us

Thanks Rob!

No it’s not Friday, but this special edition of the Empathetic Fox was a must. So this week you get two great stories, this one, like this Friday's piece, is about family, just of a different kind.

There are many formulas for success in sports. Obviously, talent is a crucial element. You can’t win without ability. Good coaching is also necessary for a team’s success. But if you don’t know how to use the talent you have, well, then what’s the point of having it? Maybe more important than both is the existence of belief. Something that was on full display for the entire nation last night courtesy of my good friend and former teammate, Rob Krimmel, and his Red Flash Men’s Basketball Team when they did what no one–besides those in their locker room and a few of us St. Francis lifers–thought was possible and punched their ticket to the Big Dance.

I could write a lot about my friend Rob. There is so much the public should know about the kind of person he is. He is usually the first person to text me saying he enjoyed the week’s topic every Friday morning. Since his recruiting visit in 1995–I was his host back then–to today, no one has represented the little college among the pines better than him. No one has brought more pride to our very loyal alumni base. And through all the success, he has shown humility and gratitude that would make St. Francis of Assisi himself extremely proud. A recent example of this was when he bought our amazing pep band dinner from Amici’s in Ebensburg on his own dime as a thank you for them coming to the quarterfinal game against Wagner over their spring break—there are at least 50 band members, and Amici’s isn’t exactly McDonald’s! But I wasn’t surprised when I heard this, its the kind of stuff he has always done.

Rob has always understood that in order for great things to happen the first thing that needs to be established is hard work. His life has been an example of it for as long as I have known him. No one outworks him. It isn’t necessarily that he spends countless hours honing his craft, no, he understands that quality preparation is more important than the quantity. He gets that for his players as well. It’s about striking the right balance, and that’s just one of many reasons for 13 years the overwhelming majority of his players would do anything for him, and still would to this day. He cares for his guys and knows there is so much more to life than a simple game.

Making sure his players spend time with their families is priority for Rob and the staff. After all, Rob is who he is because of the love and support he gets from his own family, especially his wife, Aileen, and his boys Alex and Tommy. What a moment he had with them last night. All those who watch in what has been dubbed “Krimmel Korner”–especially his parents, Bob and Chickie, are certainly loving every second of this magical run, but Rob would be the first to tell you, none of it is possible without them.

Above all, Rob has a strong faith in God. It’s at his very core. Yesterday, after texting him good luck he replied, “God’s will be done.” He has had that mentality throughout his life. He has given the end result to God before every game, and last night, he was rewarded with a trip to the Big Dance for putting his trust in the Almighty.

In the current culture of college sports, where players chase dollars and coaches poach players, or dump those who aren’t producing in order to make room for someone better, Rob Krimmel and his staff have embraced developing the men they are blessed to have at St. Francis. He has stuck with the formula that so many of us knew before the “wild west” of NIL and the transfer portal. I can’t tell you how refreshing that is!!! And to see it finally pay-off after 13 years is easily the greatest sports moment for so many of us who played our college ball in little Loretto, PA! I’m not sure if my feet have touched the ground since that final buzzer rang.

As is the case with most folks, there are certain text chains on my phone that seem to get busy at certain points of the year. My “Red Flash Fam” chain has been very active of late as I’m sure you can imagine. The joy we all have for Rob and Luke McConnell, his associate head coach and son of the man who coached all of us on that chain, Tom McConnell, is truly immeasurable. That championship win had to be Coach Mac’s Mr. Miagi Moment–you know, like the scene at the end of the Karate Kid, after Daniel lands that crane kick on Johnny, and the camera pans to his mentor who is smiling with that awesome look on his face! He must be so proud of Rob. Probably the best summary of the improbable win SFU pulled off last night was given by my old teammate and friend, Terrence Martin, who commented, “Feels like we all won.” Well, you're right about that, TMartin, it sure does! On to Dayton!

-Tommy O’Sionnach