Originally Posted by
upan8th
A mod, one of the more prolific and readable posters on this board, has a quote by Dan Dickau beneath his posts: "Gonzaga is a special place, with special people." When I've repeated the quote, people often respond, deadpan, with something like, "Really" or, "Do tell", because they don't know. How could they? So, then, the question becomes, what makes Gonzaga, and Spokane, special? Gonna try to briefly explain.
Spokane became a "place" only because it was chosen as a nexus of four railroads in the 1880's. The Northern Pacific, the Great Northern, The Union Pacific and The Milwaukee Road decided to join the western terminus of their lines in the burg beside the Spokane River not far from the falls. Arriving workers by the thousands were rough and tumble, as railroad men often were, and many of them were first generation Irish Catholic immigrants. They were know to work hard, live hard, play and pray hard, as one wag put it. But, basically, most were, as the phrase has come to mean, "from the wrong side of the tracks." The city, and the university, has embraced the heritage.
Along with them came Fr. Joseph Cataldo, a Jesuit missionary, to open a school that was originally intended to serve Native American students but in 1887 became Gonzaga University, a mighty grandiose name for the humble original structures. But the Jesuits persevered, the college added programs, students, and grew slowly, until, in the signal year of 1950, lead by Carl Maxey, Gonzaga won it's first national collegiate title in . . . boxing. The sweet science. Sounds right. Tough, hard-scrabble parents, tough kids. Throw in a few crazies from Montana and you've got the makings of a National Champion. The goal of the sport at the collegiate level was to outfox and outbox the opponent, not pummel him into oblivion. Of course, GU had some very accomplished football teams in the first 40 years of the last century, as well, compiling a record of 134-99-20. More tough competitors, punching well above their weight class. That's Spokane. That's the Gonzaga mentality.
So what, big deal, you say. Another little school, overrated athletics. But, wait. Did I mention academics? No, I didn't. There's a reason Zag athletes consistently have ranked at or near the top of the national APG grade point team averages year after year. At how many nationally ranked schools do the coaching staffs allow their athletes to play intramural softball, or take part in an impromptu game of touch football. Is there any other place where elite-eight caliber athletes might be playing horse or two on two in the campus gym when Father _____ (you supply the name) drops by to join in and then afterwards, everyone gathers for a discussion on, say, the logical application of Truth, Reason, Ethics and Equity in our daily lives. Or, the highest percentage of made free throws based on trajectory of the shot; or why, under a loving God, bad things happen to good people (especially Cub's fans).
At Gonzaga, they don't teach students to win. They teach them HOW to win, with respect for the other side, grace and joy, but, above all, humility. Sometimes, that's a problem. Over the last twenty years of basketball, Zag fans have grown tired of the disrespect much of the country, especially East of the Big River, has shown toward the school's unprecedented success. And, I'm afraid, until the team finally breaks through and wins validation, a national championship, much of the country, despite all the stats, the evidence, will continue to regard us as the little engine that couldn't. Haters will hate. I won't, though, because, in Gonzaga, we know what we've got -- and they don't.
You Don't Say . . . (long)
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Being that I've changed professions that required some schooling I've gotten degrees from Wazzu, Eastern and GU. We lived near Whitworth and I got to do a Jan Term there as well - along with taking a course or two in the Spokane Community College schools. The area is a great one for learning! I didn't think much about Gonzaga until starting a masters program there in the early 90s and then it took Adam Morrison to trigger my basketball loving genes (love of the game - can't play worth poo). Anywho, back to Spokaloo .... I like Spokane's remoteness in a state where most people think WA is rain, Seattle and Rainier and I'm kinda/sorta a bit proud when waiting for a flight back home and hear on the speakers, "Flight 345 now boarding for Spo-cane" - I just grin. I was pleasantly surprised when Kimmel got both Spokane and Gonzaga right on his first tries. The fun he's having with GU is amusing. Might not be as much attention on Spokane now as there was since Expo 74! 
