It has been three years since former GW men’s basketball coach Mike Jarvis departed Foggy Bottom for Big East Conference powerhouse St. John’s University in Queens, NY. By now the only trace that Jarvis ever coached here are the players he recruited.
In fact, aside from his former GW players, who are now seniors, the only real hold he has on GW is apparent in the students who boo him for leaving. Jarvis left for St. John’s in 1998 after eight winning seasons at GW and one appearance in the Sweet Sixteen in 1993.
GW will play St. John’s in the first round of the BB&T Classic Saturday inside the MCI Center, and GW students will be there to meet him.
It’s a good thing for Mike Jarvis that he isn’t playing us in the Smith Center because he would be booed out of the place, senior Frankie Cerullo said. Although Jarvis’ contribution was a positive one, I feel much better with Tommy Penders on the sidelines than I ever did with Jarvis there. Stay in New York Mike, we got TP.
Roric McCorristin said Penders will make sure the crowd is tame for the game.
It would be nice to hear everyone boo him, but I know Penders will want everyone to treat (Jarvis) with respect so I’m sure the crowd will do so, McCorristin said.
Students said they like their coach too much to worry about Colonial past.
I have mixed feelings about it, senior Chris Loscal said. I really want to boo Jarvis but at the same time I prefer Penders as a coach. I feel like Penders created a real up-tempo offense.
Jason Coburn, former student manager of the men’s team, said the game should attract attention because the seniors will face their former coach.
It’s a story within a story, he said. The seniors definitely have a lot to play for because they were all recruited by Jarvis. It will be interesting to see how Jarvis prepares St. John’s against his old players. He knows all their weaknesses.
Students anxiously await the clash between the 19th-ranked Red Storm and a GW team that hopes to bring back past dominance.
It will be a really interesting game, senior Christine Penderson said. I don’t want to miss the dynamics in the crowd. Something interesting and maybe unexpected will definitely happen.
