Franciscan Way Winter 2003 - Franciscan University of Steubenville

Yet in its short existence the Baron’s
Rugby Team has beaten the likes of Yale,
the Ohio University, the University of
Pittsburgh, and in the first round of the
playoffs, Marshall University, a perennial
rugby powerhouse.
Devin says the bonds of Christian
brotherhood negate size and equipment
differences. “These guys want to be
humble servants. They seek unity and
friendship. And that’s what it takes to play
this game.”
In keeping with the game’s British
Isles’ roots, Devin wears a kilt to each
game. Other team rituals include planting
the American flag, the papal flag, and the
Barons’ Rugby flag on the sidelines.
Inviting their opponents to pray with
t least six times each semester
Acooler
Nile O’Mahony fills up the
with snacks and makes a 400mile
road trip from his New Jersey
home to Steubenville.
He puts his paint contracting
business on hold so he can visit his
daughter Erin, a sophomore, and
reconnect with the sport of his
youth—rugby.
Born in Ireland where he “ate,
played, and slept rugby,” Nile is part
coach, part booster of the Barons’
Rugby Team. He arrives in
Steubenville a day or two before each
game to coach the forwards and help
mold a young team, many of whom
are just learning a scrum from a ruck.
(A scrum, by the way, is that often
misunderstood moment in rugby when
Winter 2003
them at the end of each game has also
become an important tradition. At first
this gave the Franciscan team a “Biblethumpers’
school” image. Now, the other
teams often ask, “Will there be prayer
afterwards?”
Baron “ruggers” as they are known,
recount that collectively, these small
opportunities to evangelize add up. One
opposing player commented, “We love
They Call Him “Papa”
Three cheers for the opposing team.
eight players from each team gather in
a clump and begin kicking the ball.)
Nile calls rugby a character builder.
In the Franciscan team he sees that
character being expressed in manly,
Christian ways. He’s impressed that each
player has a prayer buddy to pray for
during the season. He admires them for
turning down invites from other teams
to post-game kegger parties. And he was
awestruck when, at an away game, the
entire Franciscan team averted their eyes
when a female rugby team started
changing into uniforms on the sidelines.
“That showed me they want to be pure,
strong Catholic men” who want evangelize
others, he says.
“Papa” doesn’t talk much, says
player J.D. Chism, “but his presence is
so inspiring. When he says ‘well done’
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playing you guys because of the way you
act.” Another stated, “You don’t cuss,
what’s the deal with you?” Still another
struggled with the words to the Our
Father during the post-game prayer, as if
relearning a long-forgotten prayer.
Those involved with the rugby
program see it as a manifestation of the
writings of Pope John Paul II on the ideal
Christian athlete, and the value of sports
in its fullest sense.
The team can’t wait for the spring
season to begin, and not just for a chance
to play deep into a national tournament
again. Sums up business major Matt
Schlater, “This has a Christ-centered
influence on the University. And the pain
gives us a chance to live the resurrection.
That’s why I like it so much.”
Nile O’Mahony teaches the fine points of rugby
to a player.
with his Irish accent, that means a lot,
coming from a man who played on
Dublin’s senior team.”
Nile says he’s the one who benefits
most. “I’ve become a better husband, a
better father, just from being around
these guys of faith, and getting to know
Father Brian [Cavanaugh, TOR, team
chaplain], Father Terry [Henry, TOR],
and the other friars. It’s like being on a
retreat.”
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