Saint Joseph's Hawks
Encyclopedia
The Saint Joseph's Hawks represent the athletic
teams at Saint Joseph's University
. The Hawks compete in Division I in the NCAA and the Philadelphia Big 5
. The school also has intramurals and extramurals, the latter of which compete with the City 6 (the six major universities in Philadelphia). The school is mostly known for its men's basketball
team. The Hawk
became the school's mascot
in 1929. It first flapped its wings at a basketball game in 1956 in a win over La Salle University
.
There are 20 varsity (10 men, 10 women) and 17 intramural sports at Saint Joseph's.
. The Hawks are part of the Atlantic Ten Conference
; because the Atlantic 10 does not include men's lacrosse
, the Hawks play that sport in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
. Saint Joseph's also is a member of the Philadelphia Big 5
, intensifying rivalries with Temple University
and Villanova University
. The Saint Joseph's school colors are crimson and gray.
Fall
Winter
Spring
(1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008) and thirteen NIT Tournaments
(1956, 1958,1964, 1972, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2005, 2006). They have made one Final Four, two Elite Eights, and seven Sweet Sixteens. The team is currently led by coach Phil Martelli
. Throughout the school's history, 29 different players have been drafted into the NBA.
and Delonte West
, both of whom would end up as starters in the NBA. The Hawks ended the regular season with a No. 1 ranking nationally and a No. 1 ranking in the NCAA Tournament. After losing to Xavier University
in the Atlantic 10 tournament quarterfinal, St. Joe's made it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament. They would finally lose to Oklahoma State in the last seven seconds of the game to end their remarkable run. Nelson
was named National Player of the Year
while coach Phil Martelli
was named Coach of the Year
.
's campus during the 2008–2009 season. The team moved into the rebuilt Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse, rechristened Hagan Arena
, for the 2009–2010 season.
Explorers. For decades, though, the main rival has been the Villanova University
Wildcats which is locally referred to as the Holy War
. St. Joseph's also has a heated rivalry with the Temple University
Owls. Because games against Drexel University
are in-city, the two teams are sometimes considered rivals but Saint Joseph's leads the all-time series 43 to 6. The all-time series between La Salle and the Hawks is 63 to 49 in SJU's favor. They are losing the all-time series against Temple 63 to 75 and winning the series with Penn 45 to 32. Overall, the Hawks are 112–83 in the Big 5 which once was the best among Big 5 schools.
Other less intense rivalries include those with A-10 competitors Xavier University and the University of Massachusetts
.
listed that cheer among The 100 Things You Gotta Do Before You Graduate (Whatever the Cost), calling it "the most defiant cheer in college sports".
, has garnered numerous accolades in its 50-year history. It won a "Best of Philly" award from Philadelphia Magazine in 2003–04, has been named the Atlantic 10 Conference's best mascot, and has been selected as the nation's top mascot by The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Street & Smith's Basketball Yearbook, and ESPN College Basketball magazine.
team played its games at Latshaw Field under lights making it the only team in the Philadelphia area able to play home games at night. They compete in the A-10 in the East Division. In 2007, the team was led by strong hitting but no pitchers had ERA's under 5.91. Since 2002, the team has gone 84–227 overall and 47–103 in conference play. The baseball team will play the 2009 season at Campbell's Field
in Camden, New Jersey and hopes to move to the Maguire Campus on Hawk Hill in 2010.
Saint Joseph's played the first game on the Washington Nationals new field, Nationals Park in a loss to George Washington University
in 2008. St. Joe's also played in the first game at the University of Pennsylvania's Murphy Field
on March 23, 2000.
20 SJU baseball players have been drafted in the history of the school's program. Jamie Moyer
'85 holds the records for strikeouts and ERA in a season. His is the only number to be retired for baseball.
.
SJU played many of its home games at Wynnewood Park in addition to 28th Street and Allegheny Avenue in Philadelphia. Finnesey Field, located on 54th and City Avenue, was dedicated on October 12, 1929. The opening game was played that day as Saint Joseph's lost to Pennsylvania Military College by a score of 7–6. Pennsylvania Military College would later become Widener University
.
In 1925–26, Saint Joseph's started to draw up plans for a 70,000 – 80,000 seat neo-classical
(colosseum) style stadium. The plans were put on permanent hold however due to both a lack of funds as well as a growing feeling among the student body that Saint Joseph's would never be able to compete with other schools in terms of football.
Though the plans for a stadium ultimately failed, the college would later name its outdoor athletic facility after James T. Finnesey who donated more than half of the original $42,000 that was initially raised to build the new stadium. Finnesey was the president of Finnesey & Kobler which was an auto manufacturer at the time.
Ironically enough, the current mascot for Saint Joseph's got its name from the football team. In 1928, a yearbook editor named Charlie Dunn started a contest in order to find a nickname for the colleges athletic teams. Suggestions from the student body were narrowed down to two nicknames; "The Hawks" and "The Grenadiers." Ultimately, the Hawk mascot won in a narrow margin over the Grenadiers. John Gallagher ('31) was the name of the student who submitted the Hawk suggestion.
The name was appropriate, or so the student body felt, because of the fact that they were used to seeing real hawks frequently flying over and around the campus. It was felt by Dunn that the mascot "typified the fighting spirit of our Crimson and Gray athletes..." and was "...suggestive of the aerial attack which has made our football team famous."
Saint Joseph's college officially discontinued its football program after the 1939 season. This was done for many reasons, not the least of which was the financial burden the program placed on the college as well as "pitifully small" attendance at the games. There was growing sentiment among the student body that athletics should not be placed in front of academics and generally speaking, the football team could not compete talent wise with larger collegiate football powerhouses in the area.
From 1916–1939, the Saint Joseph's College football team played roughly 4–8 games per season. They did not field a team during the '17,'19,'20 and '21 seasons. Common opponents included P.M.C (Pennsylvania Military College) now known as Widener University
, Lebanon Valley College
, University of Delaware
, LaSalle University, Drexel University
, Albright, Manhattan, West Chester University, Washington College
and Villanova University
. Other opponents of note include Boston College
, Seton Hall, Susquehanna University
, St. Johns, Temple University
and Georgetown University
.
During this period, the team's worst record was 0–7–1 in 1930 while the college posted a 6–2 record in 1928 as well as a 6–3 record in 1938. In its final season, the football team beat the City College of New York
(20–13), Lebanon Valley College
(13–2), St. Francis (13–7) and Arkansas A&M (40–17) en route to a 4–4–1 record. SJU holds an overall record of 61–75–13 during the period from 1916–1939.
dropped down to Division II. Now the "league" is referred to as the Soccer 6. Former Hawk Tim Mulqueen coached soccer in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
team had a player, Brooke Darreff, who was leading the nation in batting average (.500). Darreff was also named the Atlantic 10 softball player of the year. Erika Rosenwinkel ended up leading the NCAA in doubles and Darreff finished fifth in batting average and sixteenth in doubles per game.
, a nationally recognized event and the largest collegiate
regatta
in the United States, held on the Schuylkill River
in Philadelphia. The Hawks women and men have taken championships home as recently as 2006 and 1999 respectively.
SJU's boathouse sits on the east bank of the Schuylkill River approximately 2 miles up river from the historic Boathouse Row
, listed among the "100 Things To Do Before You Graduate" by Sports Illustrated (visit Boathouse Row).
Former SJU rower Renee Hykel competed in the 2008 Olympic Games in the lightweight double sculls. She also won a silver medal in the lightweight double sculls at the 2005 World Championships in Gifu, Japan and a bronze medal in the lightweight quadruple sculls in the 2004 World Championships. Ms. Hykel was a five time member of the U.S. National Rowing Team.
In 2008, SJU rower Debbie Bateman won A-10 student-athlete of the year.
competed for Ireland. The Hawks had two women compete as lightweight scullers on the United States Olympic Team – Teresa Zarzecki Bell (Silver Medal, 1996 Games) and Renee Hykel (10th Place, 2008 Games).
Sung to the tune of "When the Saints Go Marching In
"
Mine Eyes
Sung to the tune of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic"
Athletics hall of fame
College athletics
College athletics refers primarily to sports and athletic competition organized and funded by institutions of tertiary education . In the United States, college athletics is a two-tiered system. The first tier includes the sports that are sanctioned by one of the collegiate sport governing bodies...
teams at Saint Joseph's University
Saint Joseph's University
Saint Joseph's University is a private, coeducational Roman Catholic Jesuit university located partially in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia and partially in Lower Merion Township and located in the Pennsylvania Main Line, Pennsylvania, United States.The school was founded in 1851 as Saint...
. The Hawks compete in Division I in the NCAA and the Philadelphia Big 5
Philadelphia Big 5
The Philadelphia Big 5 is an informal association of college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It is not a conference; indeed the five schools that are members of the Big 5 are members of three separate conferences: the Atlantic 10, the Big East, and the Ivy League.The five...
. The school also has intramurals and extramurals, the latter of which compete with the City 6 (the six major universities in Philadelphia). The school is mostly known for its men's basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
team. The Hawk
The Hawk (Saint Joseph's University mascot)
The Hawk is the mascot of Saint Joseph’s University. The Hawk represents the University’s motto, “The Hawk Will Never Die” by flapping its wings non-stop throughout every basketball game...
became the school's mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
in 1929. It first flapped its wings at a basketball game in 1956 in a win over La Salle University
La Salle University
La Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the school was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. As of 2008 the school has approximately 7,554...
.
There are 20 varsity (10 men, 10 women) and 17 intramural sports at Saint Joseph's.
In general
Saint Joseph's University fields teams in 20 varsity sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic AssociationNational Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
. The Hawks are part of the Atlantic Ten Conference
Atlantic Ten Conference
The Atlantic 10 Conference is a college athletic conference which operates mostly on the United States' eastern seaboard. It also has two member schools in Ohio: Dayton and Xavier, located in Dayton and Cincinnati, respectively. Another member, Saint Louis is located in St. Louis, Missouri...
; because the Atlantic 10 does not include men's lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
, the Hawks play that sport in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
. Saint Joseph's also is a member of the Philadelphia Big 5
Philadelphia Big 5
The Philadelphia Big 5 is an informal association of college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It is not a conference; indeed the five schools that are members of the Big 5 are members of three separate conferences: the Atlantic 10, the Big East, and the Ivy League.The five...
, intensifying rivalries with Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
and Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
. The Saint Joseph's school colors are crimson and gray.
Fall
- Men's Soccer
- Women's Soccer
- Men's Cross CountryCross country runningCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
- Women's Cross Country
- Men's Crew
- Women's Crew
- Men's Golf
- Field HockeyField hockeyField Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
Winter
- Men's Basketball
- Women's Basketball
- Men's Indoor Track
- Women's Indoor Track
Spring
- Baseball
- SoftballSoftballSoftball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
- Men's Track & Field
- Women's Track & Field
- Men's Tennis
- Women's Tennis
- Men's Lacrosse
- Women's LacrosseLacrosseLacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
- Men's Golf
Men's Basketball
Men's basketball is the most popular sport at Saint Joseph's University. The Hawks have competed in nineteen NCAA TournamentsNCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
(1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008) and thirteen NIT Tournaments
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
(1956, 1958,1964, 1972, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2005, 2006). They have made one Final Four, two Elite Eights, and seven Sweet Sixteens. The team is currently led by coach Phil Martelli
Phil Martelli
Phil Martelli is an American college basketball coach and current coach of the Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball team. He maintains an impressive resume, having led Saint Joseph's to five NCAA Tournaments and four NITs. He has averaged 20 wins per season in his thirteen years with the...
. Throughout the school's history, 29 different players have been drafted into the NBA.
2003–2004 Season
During the 2003–2004 season, the Saint Joseph's Hawks went undefeated (27–0) during the regular season and are the last NCAA Division I men's team to do so. The Hawks were led by a backcourt of Jameer NelsonJameer Nelson
Jameer Nelson is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the NBA. He played college basketball at Saint Joseph's University and was drafted in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets but was traded to the Orlando Magic, where he has played for his...
and Delonte West
Delonte West
Delonte Maurice West is an American professional basketball player who last played with the Boston Celtics of the NBA.-High school career:...
, both of whom would end up as starters in the NBA. The Hawks ended the regular season with a No. 1 ranking nationally and a No. 1 ranking in the NCAA Tournament. After losing to Xavier University
Xavier Musketeers men's basketball
The Xavier Musketeers team is the basketball team that represents Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school's team currently competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference...
in the Atlantic 10 tournament quarterfinal, St. Joe's made it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament. They would finally lose to Oklahoma State in the last seven seconds of the game to end their remarkable run. Nelson
Jameer Nelson
Jameer Nelson is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the NBA. He played college basketball at Saint Joseph's University and was drafted in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets but was traded to the Orlando Magic, where he has played for his...
was named National Player of the Year
John R. Wooden Award
The John R. Wooden Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding men's and women's college basketball players. The program consists of the men's and women's Player of the Year awards, the Legends of Coaching award and recognizes the All–America Teams.The awards, given by the Los...
while coach Phil Martelli
Phil Martelli
Phil Martelli is an American college basketball coach and current coach of the Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball team. He maintains an impressive resume, having led Saint Joseph's to five NCAA Tournaments and four NITs. He has averaged 20 wins per season in his thirteen years with the...
was named Coach of the Year
Naismith College Coach of the Year
Naismith College Coach of the Year Award is an award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to one men's and one women's NCAA Division I collegiate coach each season since 1987...
.
Current
The Hawks most recently made it to the NCAA Tournament in 2008. SJU played its home games at the Palestra on the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
's campus during the 2008–2009 season. The team moved into the rebuilt Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse, rechristened Hagan Arena
Hagan Arena
The Michael J. Hagan Arena of Saint Joseph's University is SJU's home court for Men's and Women's basketball. The new arena seats 4,200 which is 1,000 more than the Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse seated...
, for the 2009–2010 season.
Rivals
Historical rivals of SJU are the La Salle UniversityLa Salle University
La Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the school was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. As of 2008 the school has approximately 7,554...
Explorers. For decades, though, the main rival has been the Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
Wildcats which is locally referred to as the Holy War
Holy War (Villanova vs. St. Joe's)
The Holy War is a basketball rivalry game in the Philadelphia Big 5 between Saint Joseph's University and Villanova University, which is considered the most intense of all the Big 5 games. It's called the "Holy War" because both universities have Roman Catholic religious affiliations: Villanova...
. St. Joseph's also has a heated rivalry with the Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
Owls. Because games against Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
are in-city, the two teams are sometimes considered rivals but Saint Joseph's leads the all-time series 43 to 6. The all-time series between La Salle and the Hawks is 63 to 49 in SJU's favor. They are losing the all-time series against Temple 63 to 75 and winning the series with Penn 45 to 32. Overall, the Hawks are 112–83 in the Big 5 which once was the best among Big 5 schools.
Other less intense rivalries include those with A-10 competitors Xavier University and the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
.
Traditions
Fans of the Hawks often chant "The Hawk Will Never Die!". Since the school's undefeated season, this chant has gained familiarity with the team's opponents. In 2003, Sports IllustratedSports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
listed that cheer among The 100 Things You Gotta Do Before You Graduate (Whatever the Cost), calling it "the most defiant cheer in college sports".
Mascot
SJU's mascot, The HawkThe Hawk (Saint Joseph's University mascot)
The Hawk is the mascot of Saint Joseph’s University. The Hawk represents the University’s motto, “The Hawk Will Never Die” by flapping its wings non-stop throughout every basketball game...
, has garnered numerous accolades in its 50-year history. It won a "Best of Philly" award from Philadelphia Magazine in 2003–04, has been named the Atlantic 10 Conference's best mascot, and has been selected as the nation's top mascot by The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Street & Smith's Basketball Yearbook, and ESPN College Basketball magazine.
Retired Numbers
| Player | Number |
|---|---|
| Jameer Nelson Jameer Nelson Jameer Nelson is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the NBA. He played college basketball at Saint Joseph's University and was drafted in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets but was traded to the Orlando Magic, where he has played for his... |
14 |
| Cliff Anderson Cliff Anderson Clifford V. Anderson is a retired American basketball player.He played collegiately for Saint Joseph's University.He was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 4th round of the 1967 NBA Draft.... |
30 |
| Mike Bantom Mike Bantom Michael Allen Bantom is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'9" power forward/center from Saint Joseph's University, Bantom won a silver medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics as a member of the United States national basketball team, who lost a controversial final game to the Soviet... |
44 |
| George Senesky George Senesky George Lawrence Senesky was an American professional basketball player and coach... |
4 |
| Paul Senesky | 4 |
| Bill Oakes | 4 |
| Jim Lynam Jim Lynam Jim Lynam is an American former college and professional basketball coach. He coached at the college level for Fairfield University from 1968–70, American University from 1973–78, and St. Joseph's University from 1978–81... |
4 |
Accolades & Achievements
The Saint Joseph's University's basketball team was ranked 43rd best of all-time by Smith & Street's magazine in 2005. The Hawks have won seven Atlantic 10 regular season titles and two A-10 tournament championships and ranks 33rd all-time in wins with 1,439 and 44th all-time with a .605 winning percentage.Baseball
The baseballCollege baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
team played its games at Latshaw Field under lights making it the only team in the Philadelphia area able to play home games at night. They compete in the A-10 in the East Division. In 2007, the team was led by strong hitting but no pitchers had ERA's under 5.91. Since 2002, the team has gone 84–227 overall and 47–103 in conference play. The baseball team will play the 2009 season at Campbell's Field
Campbell's Field
Campbell's Field is a 6,425-seat baseball park in Camden, New Jersey that hosted its first regular season baseball game on May 11, 2001. The ballpark is home to the Camden Riversharks and the college baseball team of Rutgers University-Camden...
in Camden, New Jersey and hopes to move to the Maguire Campus on Hawk Hill in 2010.
Saint Joseph's played the first game on the Washington Nationals new field, Nationals Park in a loss to George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in 2008. St. Joe's also played in the first game at the University of Pennsylvania's Murphy Field
Meiklejohn Stadium
Meiklejohn Stadium is a ballpark in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is on the University of Pennsylvania campus and is the home field for the University of Pennsylvania Quakers varsity baseball team....
on March 23, 2000.
20 SJU baseball players have been drafted in the history of the school's program. Jamie Moyer
Jamie Moyer
Jamie Moyer is an American professional left handed baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. At the time of his last game to date , he was the oldest player in the major leagues and had the most wins, losses, and strikeouts of any active Major League pitcher...
'85 holds the records for strikeouts and ERA in a season. His is the only number to be retired for baseball.
Football
Saint Joseph's College had a football team until 1939. It is unclear however of when the program officially started. One of the earlier recorded games was in 1901 against Fordham College. The outcome was a 0–0 tie. Saint Joseph's hired Edward Bennis in 1909 to coach the team. Bennis was a former football standout at the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
.
SJU played many of its home games at Wynnewood Park in addition to 28th Street and Allegheny Avenue in Philadelphia. Finnesey Field, located on 54th and City Avenue, was dedicated on October 12, 1929. The opening game was played that day as Saint Joseph's lost to Pennsylvania Military College by a score of 7–6. Pennsylvania Military College would later become Widener University
Widener University
Widener University is a private, coeducational university located in Chester, Pennsylvania.Its main campus sits on 108 acres , just southwest of Philadelphia...
.
In 1925–26, Saint Joseph's started to draw up plans for a 70,000 – 80,000 seat neo-classical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
(colosseum) style stadium. The plans were put on permanent hold however due to both a lack of funds as well as a growing feeling among the student body that Saint Joseph's would never be able to compete with other schools in terms of football.
Though the plans for a stadium ultimately failed, the college would later name its outdoor athletic facility after James T. Finnesey who donated more than half of the original $42,000 that was initially raised to build the new stadium. Finnesey was the president of Finnesey & Kobler which was an auto manufacturer at the time.
Ironically enough, the current mascot for Saint Joseph's got its name from the football team. In 1928, a yearbook editor named Charlie Dunn started a contest in order to find a nickname for the colleges athletic teams. Suggestions from the student body were narrowed down to two nicknames; "The Hawks" and "The Grenadiers." Ultimately, the Hawk mascot won in a narrow margin over the Grenadiers. John Gallagher ('31) was the name of the student who submitted the Hawk suggestion.
The name was appropriate, or so the student body felt, because of the fact that they were used to seeing real hawks frequently flying over and around the campus. It was felt by Dunn that the mascot "typified the fighting spirit of our Crimson and Gray athletes..." and was "...suggestive of the aerial attack which has made our football team famous."
Saint Joseph's college officially discontinued its football program after the 1939 season. This was done for many reasons, not the least of which was the financial burden the program placed on the college as well as "pitifully small" attendance at the games. There was growing sentiment among the student body that athletics should not be placed in front of academics and generally speaking, the football team could not compete talent wise with larger collegiate football powerhouses in the area.
From 1916–1939, the Saint Joseph's College football team played roughly 4–8 games per season. They did not field a team during the '17,'19,'20 and '21 seasons. Common opponents included P.M.C (Pennsylvania Military College) now known as Widener University
Widener University
Widener University is a private, coeducational university located in Chester, Pennsylvania.Its main campus sits on 108 acres , just southwest of Philadelphia...
, Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College is a small, liberal arts higher education institution situated in the heart of Annville in Lebanon County, east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
, University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
, LaSalle University, Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
, Albright, Manhattan, West Chester University, Washington College
Washington College
Washington College is a private, independent liberal arts college located on a campus in Chestertown, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore. Maryland granted Washington College its charter in 1782...
and Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
. Other opponents of note include Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, Seton Hall, Susquehanna University
Susquehanna University
Susquehanna University is a liberal arts college in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, United States, north of the state capital, Harrisburg.-Academics:...
, St. Johns, Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
and Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
.
During this period, the team's worst record was 0–7–1 in 1930 while the college posted a 6–2 record in 1928 as well as a 6–3 record in 1938. In its final season, the football team beat the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
(20–13), Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College is a small, liberal arts higher education institution situated in the heart of Annville in Lebanon County, east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
(13–2), St. Francis (13–7) and Arkansas A&M (40–17) en route to a 4–4–1 record. SJU holds an overall record of 61–75–13 during the period from 1916–1939.
Soccer
SJU's soccer team used to be a part of the unofficial Soccer 7 until Philadelphia UniversityPhiladelphia University
Philadelphia University, founded in 1884, is a private university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Philadelphia University's student body consists of about 3,500 individuals from all 50 states and over 50 countries...
dropped down to Division II. Now the "league" is referred to as the Soccer 6. Former Hawk Tim Mulqueen coached soccer in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Softball
As May 1, 2008, the softballCollege softball
College softball is softball as played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education, predominantly in the United States. College softball is normally played by women at the intercollegiate level, whereas college baseball is normally played by men.As with other intercollegiate...
team had a player, Brooke Darreff, who was leading the nation in batting average (.500). Darreff was also named the Atlantic 10 softball player of the year. Erika Rosenwinkel ended up leading the NCAA in doubles and Darreff finished fifth in batting average and sixteenth in doubles per game.
Dance
As of early 2008, the dance team was nationally ranked. They dance at all SJU home basketball games and occasionally perform at 76ers home games.Rowing
Saint Joseph's competes in the Dad Vail RegattaDad Vail Regatta
The Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta is the largest regular intercollegiate rowing event in the USA, drawing over a hundred colleges and universities from North America. The event has been held annually on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, since 1953. Briefly in late 2009, it was planned...
, a nationally recognized event and the largest collegiate
College rowing (United States)
Rowing is one of the oldest intercollegiate sports in the United States. However, rowers comprise only 2.2% of total college athletes. This may be in part because of the status of rowing as an amateur sport and because not all universities have access to suitable bodies of water. In the 2002-03...
regatta
Regatta
A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...
in the United States, held on the Schuylkill River
Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
in Philadelphia. The Hawks women and men have taken championships home as recently as 2006 and 1999 respectively.
SJU's boathouse sits on the east bank of the Schuylkill River approximately 2 miles up river from the historic Boathouse Row
Boathouse Row
-Early 19th century beginnings:The history of Boathouse Row begins with the construction of the Fairmount Dam and the adjacent Water Works. The Dam was built in 1810 as part of a lock at the Falls of the Schuylkill to bring coal downriver. The Dam submerged rapids and transformed the Schuylkill...
, listed among the "100 Things To Do Before You Graduate" by Sports Illustrated (visit Boathouse Row).
Former SJU rower Renee Hykel competed in the 2008 Olympic Games in the lightweight double sculls. She also won a silver medal in the lightweight double sculls at the 2005 World Championships in Gifu, Japan and a bronze medal in the lightweight quadruple sculls in the 2004 World Championships. Ms. Hykel was a five time member of the U.S. National Rowing Team.
In 2008, SJU rower Debbie Bateman won A-10 student-athlete of the year.
Field Hockey
In 2007, SJU advanced to the A-10 Championship game but lost to UMass. They won the conference tournament and regular season championship in 1995.Olympians
There have been 10 Hawks who have represented the United States during the Olympic games. Mike Teti competed multiple times. Seán DreaSeán Drea
Seán Joseph Drea is a former rower from Ireland, specialising in the single scull. He won the Henley Royal Regatta's Diamond Sculls three years in a row, and came second in the 1975 World Championships....
competed for Ireland. The Hawks had two women compete as lightweight scullers on the United States Olympic Team – Teresa Zarzecki Bell (Silver Medal, 1996 Games) and Renee Hykel (10th Place, 2008 Games).
Athletic Facilities
- East Norriton Field: Located in East Norriton, Pa., East Norriton Field has served as Saint Joseph's University home softball field for the past 11 seasons. Prior to its move to East Norriton Field, SJU used nearby Belmont Plateau as its primary home field.
- Elmwood Park: The home of Saint Joseph's University baseball is Elmwood Park's Latshaw/McCarthy Field in Norristown, Pa. Originally laid out in 1938, the field was being rebuilt when the Hawks moved in for the 1990 season. The park's dimensions measure 328 feet to the foul poles and 393 feet to center field.
- Robert Gillin, Jr. Boathouse: Saint Joseph's University celebrated its sesquicentennial anniversary in 2000–01. In conjunction with that celebration, the SJU Rowing Program, along with Saint Joseph's Prep, kicked off a capital campaign to finance the construction of a state-of-the-art boathouse on the Schuylkill River. The boathouse provides a permanent home for the Hawk rowing programs. In addition, it provides the University with a significant presence on Kelly Drive. Named in honor of Robert Gillin, Jr., groundbreaking for the facility took place in the fall of 2001 with construction expected to be completed in time for the 2002–03 academic year. The total cost for the project was approximately $3 million dollars, plus an endowment fund to support ongoing operational costs.
- Finnesey FieldFinnesey FieldFinnesey Field is a multi-use sports facility on the Saint Joseph's University campus which opened in 1929 and was originally planned to be the centerpiece to a 70,000 seat football stadium in the natural bowl of the campus....
: Laid out in a natural bowl in the center of Saint Joseph's campus, Finnesey Field has been the home of Hawk athletic teams since 1929. Originally constructed for football and opened in 1929 with plans for an eventual 70,000-seat stadium, the field has undergone numerous changes over the years. - Finnesey Courts: Adjacent to Finnesey Field stand the Finnesey Courts, home to the Hawk men's and women's tennis teams since the late 1940s. Prior to that SJU primarily played its home matches at the nearby Narberth courts. When courts were first built on campus, they were located where Bellarmine Hall now stands. Due to Bellarmine's construction in the summer of 1960, however, the Finnesey courts were torn down and rebuilt in their current location.
- Alumni Memorial FieldhouseAlumni Memorial FieldhouseAlumni Memorial Fieldhouse was a 3,200-seat multi-purpose arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The arena, home to the Saint Joseph's University Hawks basketball opened in 1949 and was inaugurated on November 26 with a loss to the University of Rhode Island. The first women's varsity home game was...
: The on-campus home of the Hawks, was named for the Saint Joseph's graduates who gave their lives in World War II. The building was officially dedicated on November 11, 1949 and two weeks later, played host to its first basketball game, a 62–46 loss to Rhode Island on November 26. Following that initial setback, SJU would go on to win the next 23 games in the friendly confines of the Fieldhouse. Overall, the Hawks have compiled an impressive 305–76 record (80.0 winning percentage) on Hawk Hill. Among the highlights of the Hawks' homecourt advantage was a 34-game winning streak from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, an 11–0 record in 2000–01 and the unbeaten 11–0 mark as the Hawks made their perfect season run in 2003–04. All told, SJU has had only two losing records in the Fieldhouse over 57 seasons. The Fieldhouse currently can hold 3,200 fans but will soon be renovated to add another 1,000 seats. After the renovation is complete, it will be renamed Michael J. Hagan Arena. Until then, the Hawks will play their home games at the PalestraPalestraThe Palestra, also known as the Cathedral of College Basketball, is a historic arena and the home gym of the University of Pennsylvania Quakers men's and women's basketball teams, volleyball teams, wrestling team, and Philadelphia Big 5 basketball. Located at 215 South 33rd St...
on the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of PennsylvaniaThe University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
's campus. This temporary relocation will be during the 2008–09 season. - Maguire Campus: Eventually, fields and courts on the new Maguire Campus will be homes to the baseball, softball, tennis, and field hockey teams.
Fight Songs
Oh When the Hawks Go flying In!!Sung to the tune of "When the Saints Go Marching In
When the Saints Go Marching In
"When the Saints Go Marching In", often referred to as "The Saints", is an American gospel hymn that has taken on certain aspects of folk music. The precise origins of the song are not known. Though it originated as a spiritual, today people are more likely to hear it played by a jazz band...
"
-
- Oh when the Hawks, go flying in,
- Oh when the Hawks go flying in,
- I want to be in that number,
- When the Hawks go flying in.
- (Repeat above)
- Let's Go St. Joe!
- Lets Go St. Joe!
- Let's Go St. Joe!
Mine Eyes
Sung to the tune of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic"
-
- Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Hawk,
- He is flying through the doorway 'cause he never, ever walks,
- He is flying through the rafters like a loyal, loyal Hawk, The Hawk will never die.
-
- Glory, glory what a helluva way to fly,
- Glory, glory what a helluva way to fly,
- Glory, glory what a helluva way to fly,
- The Hawk will never die!
-
- We have been to Cincinnati and we've been to Buffalo,
- We have been to Carolina flying high and flying low,
-
- And when we get to Maryland(substitute final four destination) let everybody know,
- The Hawk will never die.
-
- Glory, glory what a helluva way to fly,
- Glory, glory what a helluva way to fly,
- Glory, glory what a helluva way to fly,
- The Hawk will never die!
Athletics hall of fameHall of FameA hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
- For men's baseketball inductees, see Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball #Men's basketball in Saint Joseph's athletics Hall of Fame
Men's Basketball
- Jameer NelsonJameer NelsonJameer Nelson is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the NBA. He played college basketball at Saint Joseph's University and was drafted in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets but was traded to the Orlando Magic, where he has played for his...
- Eric Rugen
- Delonte WestDelonte WestDelonte Maurice West is an American professional basketball player who last played with the Boston Celtics of the NBA.-High school career:...
- Mike BantomMike BantomMichael Allen Bantom is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'9" power forward/center from Saint Joseph's University, Bantom won a silver medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics as a member of the United States national basketball team, who lost a controversial final game to the Soviet...
- Matt GuokasMatt GuokasMatthew George "Matt" Guokas, Jr. is a former American professional basketball player and coach.-Playing career:...
- Dwayne JonesDwayne JonesDwayne Jones is an American professional basketball player.-College career:Along with senior Jameer Nelson and juniors Delonte West and Pat Carroll, Jones was an integral part of the undefeated Saint Joseph's team during the 2004 regular season. The Hawks earned a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament...
- Jim LynamJim LynamJim Lynam is an American former college and professional basketball coach. He coached at the college level for Fairfield University from 1968–70, American University from 1973–78, and St. Joseph's University from 1978–81...
- Jack McKinneyJack McKinney (basketball)Jack McKinney is a former college and professional basketball coach. He has served as head coach for three NBA teams--the Los Angeles Lakers, the Indiana Pacers, and the Kansas City Kings...
- Jim O'Brien
- Jack RamsayJack RamsayJack T. Ramsay is an American former basketball coach, commonly known as "Dr. Jack" . He is best known for coaching the Portland Trail Blazers to the 1977 NBA Title, and for his broadcasting work with the Indiana Pacers, the Miami Heat, and for ESPN TV and ESPN Radio...
- Pat CarrollPat Carroll (basketball)Pat Carroll is an American professional basketball player. He is a shooting guard who is a three-point specialist....
- Bruiser FlintBruiser FlintJames "Bruiser" Flint is an American men's basketball coach. He is currently the head coach at Drexel University, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he was born.-Collegiate playing career:...
- Bill PhillipsBill PhillipsBill Phillips may refer to:*Bill Phillips , fitness and nutrition author*Bill Phillips , Canadian baseball player...
- Pat CalathesPat CalathesPatrick Sean Calathes is a Greek American professional basketball player...
- Ahmad NivinsAhmad NivinsAhmad Naadir "Slim" Nivins is an American professional basketball player. A power forward, he was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 56th overall pick of the 2009 draft. He was quickly released and is now playing in Europe for Bàsquet Manresa in the Spanish ACB...
- Dan KellyDan KellyDaniel, Danny or Dan Kelly may refer to:*Dan Kelly , brother of Australian Ned Kelly*Dan Kelly , American ice hockey defenceman*Dan Kelly , Australian musician...
- Mike Hauer
- Marty Ford
- Tom DuffTom DuffThomas Douglas Selkirk Duff is a computer programmer. He was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and grew up in Toronto and Leaside. In 1974 he graduated from the University of Waterloo with a B.Math and, two years later, got an M.Sc...
- Chuck McKenna
- Cliff AndersonCliff AndersonClifford V. Anderson is a retired American basketball player.He played collegiately for Saint Joseph's University.He was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 4th round of the 1967 NBA Draft....
Track and Field
- Vince PapaleVince PapaleVincent Francis Papale is a former professional American football player. He played three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League following two seasons with the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League...
- Donna Stewart
- Karl Savage
- Andre Laboy
- Mike DiDio
- Thadeus Meyers
- Bobby Staten
- Andrew Thomas
- Matt Pettroci