The University of St. Thomas football team fell to No. 10 Idaho 37-30 Saturday afternoon at the Kibbie Dome.
Despite the outcome, graduate quarterback Andy Peters threw for 264 yards, second most in the Division I era, and three touchdowns. Peters also took off for 94 yards rushing.
“I’m so widely proud of (the players) and their effort. They fought,” coach Glenn Caruso told ESPN Radio. “To go into a top (program), to go to their stadium, which is probably one of the most raucous FCS environments, and have a chance at the end to win that is phenomenal.”
So maybe the first U.S. Open final between young, elite rivals Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner wasn’t as long, riveting and dramatic as their matchup to decide the championship at the French Open. Perhaps it wasn’t as seemingly meaningful and plot-driven as their showdown for the Wimbledon trophy.
Still, what the No. 2-seeded Alcaraz’s 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over No. 1 Sinner on Sunday did do was significant. Alcaraz reasserted his superiority over the defending champion, wrested away the top spot in the ATP rankings and left tennis fans eager for whenever their next clash will come.
They are the first two men in the sport’s history to face each other in three consecutive Grand Slam finals within a single season.
Nearly 18 years ago, as J.J. McCarthy strolled out of Soldier Field after attending his first Chicago Bears game, his father stopped to buy them a program for a keepsake to mark their time together that far outweighed the home team’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
The next visit to the old stadium for the McCarthy family will warrant more than a few more souvenirs.
With dozens of relatives and friends in the seats, putting aside their allegiance to the Bears, McCarthy will play in his first NFL game on Monday night for the visitors who just so happened to be the opponent he saw on that first live look at professional football as a 4-year-old kid.
Juan Del Valle can be reached at delv9625@stthomas.edu.
