THE LEANING CROSS
DIVINE INTERVENTION.
With UConn trailing at halftime for the first time since Feb. 2, 1994 a span of 48 games - Mrs. Auriemma, the coach's wife, got a visitor.
**A man came down and just places this cross in my hand and clasps my hand," Mrs. Auriemma said.
She held on to the small, wooden cross the entire second half.
"I'm really not one to pray all the time for things during a game," she said. "It's not like He has to win one for the Huskies.""
During the second half she spotted the man sitting a couple rows behind her. After the comeback win, she went to return the coss.
**I went over and gave him a hug and I was crying and he was really sweet," she said. "I said 'Here's your cross back." He said 'Take it to Minneapolis with you." **
March 25,1995
33-0 UConn 67, Virginia 63
They all look to you
to give them food in due time
when you give it to them, they gather it:
when you open your hand
they are filled with good things.
Psalm 103: 27-29
March, 1995
The University of Connecticut women's basketball team was on the Road to The Final Four. At the end of the regular season, UConn was 26-0 and went on to win the Big East Tournament with a 28-0 record.
UConn had defeated Maine (105-75) in the first round, Virginia Tech (91- 45) in the second round, and Alabama (87-56) in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. UConn was undefeated with an overall record of 32-0. The next challenger was Virginia.
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma was an assistant coach under Debbie Ryan from Virginia before he came to Connecticut. Virginia had defeated UConn in the 1991 Final Four semi-final game (61-55). Last season UConn lost to North Carolina in the East Regional Final (81-69), losing its bid to The Final Four. The stage was set Virginia stood in UConn's path to The Final Four.
Saturday, March 25, 1995
--
At Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut, UConn (32-0) met Virginia (27-4) in the East Regional Final before a national television audience.
I was sitting in Section 108 watching UConn overpower Virginia, opening up to a 19 point lead (29-10) early in the first half. This was typical UConn basketball all season long big leads, big finishes and always a win. with an outburst, Virginia gained momentum, scoring basket after basket.
UConn couldn't seem to break the string of unanswered points. Foul trouble plagued the UConn bench. The officiating calls seemed to be more against UConn than they could handle. The crowd watched in disbelief as the 19 point lead crumbled. Virginia's tremendous run outscored UConn 34-6 points. At halftime, UConn was down by seven points (44-37). This was the first time since February 2, 1994, a span of 48 games, that UConn trailed at halftime.
At the end of the first half, UConn coach Geno Auriemma protested the officiating to one of the officials, almost getting a technical foul assessed to him. His associate coach, Chris Dailey, grabbed him and quickly got him off the floor to the locker room. The mighty power of the UConn season was shaken!
As the first half ended, my wife, Janet, pointed out to me Mrs. Auriemma, the coach's wife sitting in front of us a couple of rows down and to the right. As she watched her husband being hauled off the court by his associate coach in protest, her watered eyes showed deep concern. Kathy's daughter was hugging her small brother who was crying, trying to console him.
It was all out of control the officiating was not very kind to us. UConn was under an act of perfection.
Was this season about to end in defeat? I just stood there. Compassion tugged at my heart. What could I do? What could anyone do?
Being a Christian and of the Catholic faith, I always carry a miraculous medal of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a small wooden cross in my pant's pocket. I put my hand into my pocket and latched onto the small wooden cross and held it. Thoughts of very deep compassion engulfed me heartbreaking situation that unfolded before me--what could I do?
The second half was two minutes from starting in that moment of compassion I acted! I left my seat and went down to Mrs. Auriemma. I placed my small wooden cross in her hand and clasped it! I didn't say anything to her, just turned around and went back to my seat. Mrs. Auriemma looked startled and apparently didn't know what to think.
--
UConn's Jamelle Elliot inbounded the ball and the second half was underway. During the game, I looked to see if Kathy Auriemma had held onto the cross. Her clasped hand indicated that she had. What did she think of all of this? Was she offended? Was she even Christian?
I held in my hand my miraculous medal.
UConn began to climb back to regain the lead. A crucial block, steal and a five-second out-of-bounds violation assured UConn of the comeback victory. The final score UConn 67, Virginia 63. UConn celebrated. They were going to The Final Four in Minneapolis!
As I watched the victory celebration, someone touched my arm. I turned to see a woman standing there. It was Mrs. Auriemma, in tears, crying! She hugged me and said, "Thank you! Thank you! Here's your cross back." I said, "Take it to Minneapolis with you; I'm going to Seattle."
She left and went down to join her husband in celebration. My wife turned to me and asked, "What did you say to her before?" I replied, "I didn't say anything."
It was of deep compassion that I reached out to someone on this day. It was a gift of hope; a gift of faith; something to hold onto the cross!
(All I did was start the engine and someone else drove!) The game had been won; but it was not for me, that I wanted it. It was for Kathy Auriemma, her family, the team, everyone who loved this team. Something very special had happened on this day in Storrs, Connecticut.
As I drove home from the game, my sister-in-law asked me who that woman was that hugged me. I was reluctant, but I did explain to her what happened at the game. When I retired for the evening, I had such a great peace and smiled as I fell asleep. It was the presence of the Lord!
Monday, March 27, 1995
Monday evening my sister-in-law called me and read me an article from the Journal Inquirer newspaper. Something about divine intervention during the Virginia game.
Friday,March31,1995
I was leaving for Seattle, Washington for the men's NCAA Final Four. I had received tickets through the NCAA computer lottery. My daughter and son- in-law live in Seattle, so we planned to stay with them for a visit.
My stopover to Seattle?Minneapolis! My flight was packed with UConn fans going to the women's Final Four. I spoke to some of them reflecting on the upcoming tournament. I reminded them to "say your prayers."
Saturday, April 1, 1995
In Seattle at my daughter's home, I watched UConn (33-0) play Stanford (30-2) on television. This was the semi-final game. Kara Wolters scored 31 points and UConn cruised to a 27 point victory (87-60). to the championship game with Tennessee. UConn had advanced
UConn had defeated Tennessee, the Number One team in the nation at Gampel Pavilion on January 16, 1995 (77-66). The AP poll was released on Tuesday, January 17, voting UConn Number One, where they remained for the rest of the season.
UConn (34-0) and Tennessee (34-2) was billed as the game of the season: Tennessee, with their experience and confidence; UConn, with their hopes and dreams.
How could UConn beat Tennessee twice in one season? How could they go undefeated? No team had ever had a 35-0 season (Texas had a 34-0 season in 1986). How could they do it? How??
UConn had a very special something that Tennessee didn't know about!
Sunday, April 2, 1995
I watched on television as the UConn-Tennessee rematch developed into a game very similar to the UConn-Virginia game. UConn led, then fell behind.
Again the officiating was not favorable to UConn. Again UConn's top three players were in foul trouble. UConn's top player, Rebecca Lobo, sat on the bench with three fouls during the final 12 minutes of the half. At halftime, Tennessee led by six points(38-32). I didn't know if Mrs. Auriemma had gone to Minneapolis and if she had, whether she had taken my cross with her. I just didn't know!
Just before the second half was about to begin, Geno Auriemma was on national television in a hurried interview. He said, "I need to get a message to my mother. She was saying the wrong prayer during the first half."
The second half was underway and UConn fell behind by nine points.
That's when I held onto my miraculous medal and said the prayer to Mary, our Mother. "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee." I repeated it very slowly as I watched the rest of the game unfold.
Rebecca Lobo made a dramatic impact in the game and scored eight of the next nine points. "I don't know what came over me," Lobo later said. Slowly UConn regained the lead. It was down to the last two minutes. Jen Rizzotti ran the length of the court and scored. UConn held on to win 70-64. UConn was the NCAA women's basketball National Champions of 1995. UConn's record was undefeated at 35-0! Perfection!!
Thursday, April 6, 1995
When I arrived back home, I called Mrs. Auriemma on the phone and spoke to her briefly. She said that she had gone to Minneapolis for The Final Four.
At the Tennessee game." That's when her daughter told her,
"Mom, I think you better use that man's cross.' She took it out of her
pocketbook and held the cross in her pocket during the second half.
This Cross where did it come from? What significance does it have?
I purchased this cross in August, 1978 at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Youngstown, New York. I have carried it with me ever since. It has been blessed. It has been with me to many Catholic lectures. It has been a great comfort to me. The cross was with me during the UConn men's basketball dream season of 1989-1990.
On March 22, 1990, I was at the East Regional semi-final game at the Meadowlands, New Jersey, sitting in section 229. It was the "Sweet Sixteen" game between UConn and Clemson. UConn was off to a flying start, opening up a 19 point lead with 12 minutes remaining in the second half. It was a runaway until Clemson outscored UConn with a tremendous 30-10 run to take the lead (70-69).
UConn had one second remaining in the game. Having positive thoughts for UConn all season, this was the first time I accepted defeat. I sat back in my seat and mumbled to myself, "We need a miracle." I didn't ask for a miracle. I didn't think a miracle would happen. It's not for me to say that a miracle did happen. What happened, happened; and history was made!
Scott Burrell inbounded the ball with a full court pass to Tate George, who caught it, shot, and scored at the buzzer. UConn won (71-70)!
I didn't think too much about the relevance of the cross until the last couple of weeks. I began to reflect on its meaning in my personal life.
In 1981, I was very sick with the flu. I had a very severe allergic reaction to penicillin. I had a near-death experience which involved the divine number "three.
To understand, we "follow the way of the cross."
*
There are three persons in the Holy Trinity.
Jesus preached for three years in his ministry.
Jesus spoke three times about the prophecy of the passion and his death: around the villages of Caesarea Philippi; on the way to Galilee; and on the road to Jerusalem.
During the agony in the garden, Jesus went to pray three times while his three] friends, Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, slept.
Jesus was denounced three times by Peter.
Jesus, carrying the cross, falls (three times.
There were three) crosses on Calvary.
Jesus was nailed to the cross in three places.
There were three Marys at the foot of the cross: Mary, the Mother
of Jesus; Mary Magdalene; and Mary, the wife of clopas.
Jesus suffered on the cross for three hours.
Jesus died on the cross at three o'clock.
Jesus rose again on the third day.
After the Resurrection, Jesus met Simon Peter on the road and asked
him three times, "Do you love me?" (the third appearance of Jesus).
There are three parables of God's mercy: the Lost Sheep; the Lost
Drachma; and the Lost Son and the Dutiful Son ("The Prodigal").
God made man in his own image. Man has thirty-three vertebras in his spine.
Jesus died at the age of thirty-three
Does the "way of the cross" have relevance to the cross I gave to Kathy Auriemma?
March 2,1990
UConn men's game:
-
UConn, 71 Clemson 70.
The Tate George shot at the buzzer.
-
Score at halftime: UConn, 38 Clemson, 29.
UConn scored 33 points in the second half to win!
February 2, 1994
This game with Georgetown was the first of three games to the
National Championship where UConn trailed at halftime (the other two
games were on March 25, 1995 against Virginia and April 2, 1995 against Tennessee).
-
UConn, 87 Georgetown, 86 (OT).
Score at halftime;UConn[33- Georgetown, 46.
February 2 was the 33rd day of the year. It was also the Feast of the Purification of Mary.
January 16, 1995
UConn, 77
-Tennessee, 66.
Score at halftime: UConn, 41 Tennessee,33
In the second half, UConn scored 36 points and Tennessee scored 33 points.
*
February 5, 1995
Game against Georgetown, Rebecca Lobo scored her career high of 33 points.This was also the team's high.
.
March 1995
Total combined points scored (UConn + opponent) going into the NCAA Tournament.
4,233 points.
Teams UConn played in the NCAA Tournament (records entering The Final Four):
Maine
24-6
Virginia Tech
22-9
Alabama
22-9
Virginia
27-5
Stanford
30-2
Tennessee
33-2
158-33
March 25, 1995
UConn, 67
-Virginia, 63.
I gave my cross to Mrs. Auriemma at halftime.
Jamelle Elliott inbounded the ball to start the second half and had
a dramatic impact. Jamelle also scored the last point of the game.
Jamelle Elliott's number was 33
It was the 33rd win for UConn.
March 25 was also the Feast of the Annunciation of Mary.
April 1, 1995
-
UConn, 87 Stanford, 60.
Kara Wolters, the impact player of the game, scored 31 points in 33 minutes.
Stanford ended its season with a 30+3 record (33) games).
April 2, 1995
UConn defeated Tennessee 70-64 for the National Championship
Player of the Year, Rebecca Lobo, had a dramatic impact in the
second half. Rebecca finished her career with 2,133 career points.
April 2 was the 33rd day of Lent!
NCAA Tournament:
I gave my cross to Kathy Auriemma at halftime.
UConn, 30 Virginia,19. UConn, 87 Stanford 60:Final UConn, 70 Tennessee, 64: Final
143=
330 combined points scored
Scoring during The Final Four:
UConn, 87 - Stanford, 60: UConn, 70 - Tennessee, 64:
UConn won by 27 points UConn won by 6 points 33 points
UConn finished with an overall shooting percentage of 33.7.
I have written the facts and figures about the events as they happened. Miracles? Divine intervention? What I will say is this. Something very, very special happened! The prayers from many, many people were answered.
UConn was perfect! Perfection is a gift from the highest authority. The significance of what the cross means makes all things possible! It is my belief that the Lord's compassion, heart and outstretched hand, reached out to Mrs. Auriemma and graced the outcome of this very special season!
Footnote: On June 9, 1995, my wife, Janet, and I will celebrate our It will be our/33rd anniversary.
If it is the will of the great Lord,
He will be filled with the spirit of understanding,
He will shower forth words of wisdom,
And in prayer give thanks to the Lord,
He will grow upright in purpose and learning,
He will ponder the Lord's hidden mysteries,
He will display the instruction he has received,
Taking his pride in the law of the Lord's covenant.
Ecclesiastics 39:8-11
May 30,1995
Robert J. Varrick
rjvarrick@gmail.com