COLLEGE NOTEBOOK:
FPU still celebrating national title win
By: Kris Russell
A Monday spent on the phone isn't normally a favorite activity of
athletic directors.
Not Franklin Pierce's Bruce Kirsh. At least not last Monday.
The longtime Ravens' AD was rooted to his desk all day. Kirsh
fielded call after call wishing to discuss FPU's memorable weekend
at the NCAA Division II Championships in Orange Beach, Ala.
The Raven men won their first national title, beating Lincoln
(Tenn.) Memorial 1-0 in the title game. And the FPU women were the
narrowest of losers in their championship, falling to Tampa on
penalty kicks.
No wonder Kirsh didn't screen his calls.
"We've certainly had a lot of success with our men's and women's
programs, but these past four days were the most memorable and
exciting experience in my 36 years at Franklin Pierce," Kirsh said.
"Everything from the time we got on plane to the return has been
special. Our teams performed at the highest level. I think we all
shared in what may go down as the best weekend in the history of
Franklin Pierce athletics."
Kirsh enjoyed the honor of being the only AD at the event with its
men's and women's teams competing. That FPU narrowly missed
becoming the first Division II school to win two soccer titles at
the same event, and in the same year, didn't diminish Kirsh's
pride.
"We received significant recognition for that. Everyone (at the
site) talked at what an achievement that was," Kirsh said. "The
exposure the university received playing on national TV ... you
can't put a price tag on what that does for a small
university."
College Sports Television broadcast the men's final. When FPU
striker David Clifton lofted the ball into the LMU net with under
two minutes left in regulation, the Raven men had finally achieved
some type of parity with the Raven women.
FPU won five Division II women's titles from 1994-99.
"The men have been in the shadows of the women the last 20 years,
somewhat unfortunately," Kirsh said. "They'd been to one final four
and numerous regional finals and could never get over the hump. We
have to thank those that preceded us and laid the groundwork."
Kirsh was laying his own type of ground work Monday amidst his
phone responsibilities. Having returned to a big snow storm early
Monday morning, Kirsh was working on setting up a proper campus
celebration for both teams.
More phone calls were required. Kirsh wasn't complaining.
