Tag: sister jean

Meet Bud Ossey, the 101-year old Oregon State fan capturing everyone’s hearts

Move over, Sister Jean. Everyone’s talking about Oregon State fan Bud Ossey.

Everyone knows Sister Jean, the 101-year-old chaplain and Loyola Chicago fan that captured the hearts of college basketball fans back in 2018.

But CBS just introduced us to our new obsession, Bud Ossey, a 101-year-old World War II veteran and Oregon State fan who is cheering on the Beavers from home.

Ossey graduated from Oregon State in 1943 and even called Oregon State football games alongside legendary announcer Bob Blackburn for more than 20 years.

Loyola Chicago has been one of college basketball’s favorite Cinderella stories during March Madness, dating back to 2018, and this year is no different as the No. 8 Ramblers battle No. 12 Oregon State in the Sweet 16 round of the men’s NCAA tournament on Saturday.

But the afternoon’s most-heated match-up might not be the one happening on the court. It’s between Sister Jean and Bud Ossey.

This new rivalry has garnered everyone’s attention on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/ConnorM31112007/status/1375883612118208521?s=20

Surely, there’s plenty of room for both Sister Jean and Bud Ossey.

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Loyola’s Sister Jean didn’t ask for a blessing in her pre-game prayer. She mapped out the game plan.

Who had the scout on the Illini? Apparently it was the team chaplain.

Lest you thought Sister Jean’s good luck was heavenly sent, here’s proof that instead she has studied the game and is guiding the Loyola basketball team through strategy, not mere faith.

The 8th-seeded Ramblers are taking on top-seeded Illinois today, and the famed team chaplain was asked about her pre-game prayer. What she unfurled next sounds not like a plea for intervention but instead a purposeful plan of action.

Sister Jean’s looking for some strong rebounding to turn into points the other way, and …sure. That works. Also, she’s leaning on the fact that alllll the pressure here is on Illinois and some early adversity could send the Illini hurtling.

Sure enough, Loyola got an early lead with a 9-2 run and is up 49-36 with just over 10 minutes left in the game. They lead the rebound battle 25-20.

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Loyola Chicago is back in the NCAA tournament, which means Sister Jean is too

Yesssssssss!

This might be the best non-basketball storyline of the 2021 NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

With Loyola Chicago back in it — they’re the No. 8 seed in the Midwest and will play Georgia Tech in the first round — it means one very important thing: Sister Jean is back.

Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt is the Loyola Chicago chaplain who became the darling of the 2018 tourney as the Ramblers made an unlikely run to a Final Four. Her pregame prayers were wonderful. The memes about her were fun. Charles Barkley loved her and got to meet her. She ended up throwing the first pitch at a Chicago Cubs game.

She is, in short, the best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MSTuH0RFao

And she’s 101 years old!

But in 2021, it’s not quite as easy for her to travel to Indianapolis to be there with the team. From the Chicago Tribune:

COVID-19 restrictions limit the number of fans and the size of team travel parties at the NCAA Tournament, which will be held entirely in and around Indianapolis this year to help reduce the potential for virus spread. Although Sister Jean has been vaccinated, other safety and logistical concerns exist.

“They said there’s restrictions,” she said. “You can’t run down on the court. You can’t talk to the young men. I said, ’I’m not going to run down on the court, and I’m not going to cause any disturbance.’ I said, ‘I won’t do things I’m not supposed to.’”

We’re still awaiting word to see if Sister Jean will attend, but you can imagine even if she’s with the squad virtually or in person, she will have her presence felt. And we can’t wait.

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