Basketball is a very important part of the student culture at Villanova University.  Even though I probably never went to a high school basketball game (not because I am anti-social, mostly because I was a swimmer and our meets were at the same time as Friday night basketball games) I quickly fell into line when I went to college.  Philadelphia is a college basketball haven with the "Philly Five" (Villanova, St. Joes, Penn, Lasalle, and Temple) battling it out every year for city bragging rights.  It was something the campus rallied around for games, partied about in the evenings and just generally a really good time.  Pair that with a Hotty Mchotterson basketball coach (Jay Wright) and you have an irresistible combination.

Whenever I encourage our children to cheer for Villanova I can hear the "cha-ching" going on in Johnny's brain as he adds tuition, room and board, and then calculates out what it will be in 18 years.  Johnny and I will playfully put each child in our respective school's shirts and swear they will be part of the class of 2031 and 2033.  Of course all of you math majors out there will side with my husband and remind me that Villanova costs about $50,000 per year right now while USNA is the bargain price of "$0".  But then I will point out the quotations around that "$0" and remind you that nothing in life is free.  Especially when it comes to paying back your time (and then some) for service academy educations.  But I digress...

College is very important to my husband and I.  Not just so that they can get a higher education.  Both of us are big believers in the college experience.  The dorms, the sporting events, going to class in pajamas (or uniforms in John's case), eating together, learning to deal with roommates, and so on and so forth.  Some of our best friends are our college friends - especially John.  His friendships from Navy are unbelievable and I can honestly say without hesitation that they are all amazing people.  We feel like we really grew up with our college friends - it was our first little baby toe into the "real world" - freedom to do what we wanted and make mistakes, all under the watchful eye of the college, our RAs, and from a distance - our parents.  Obviously my college experience and John's college experience were different.  But we both emerged smarter, more mature, ready for the work force, with great friends, and full of happy memories. 

We want that for our children.  Not just the education - the experience.  As a high school counselor I have been challenged to not give preference toward "going away to college" in a professional manner.  It is not the best choice for everyone.  Some children really do want and need a few years at community college or a few years working under their belt.  A lot of families don't believe in "the experience" that I had.  Some, even if they go to a four year school, want to commute and live at home.  And that is totally, 100% fine.  I would never tell a student or a family that their choice to go to community college or trade school or enlisting in the armed services or even going straight to work was a "bad" choice or an inferior choice.  But secretly, in the back of my mind, I want to scream out how much FUN college was, how I really felt like I learned 10 years worth of stuff (both educational and social) in the span of 4 years, and that I would give my left arm for just a week hanging on south campus at Villanova eating frozen yogurt in the SPIT (a dining hall with an unfortunate name).

Kate has been to a few Navy football games already.  Connor will hopefully get to go this fall when John has his 10 year reunion.  And hopefully this basketball game was the first of many.  The brainwashing has officially begun.