What does the Tommie/Johnnie rivalry mean to you? How important is the outcome of this game in your life? How do you feel about all that is U.S.T.? Does your 11 year old think the letters UST stand for something entirely different than the University of St. Thomas? Is the color Purple forbidden in your home? Do your children tell their Mother (when they are not allowed to do something) “Mom, I think you like the Tommies, and I am telling Opa!”
Well, let me share with you the feelings about the whole Johnnie/Tommie rivalry and relationship as it relates to the Hacker Family. And when I say family I am specifically referring to: My Dad, Col.(ret.) H.F Hacker SJU ’62, his one and only granddaughter and future Bennie Erin (age 11) and of course myself. Johnnie Tats, what no mention of your wife, Catherine (CSB ’87)? Read on Johnnie Nation, and you will understand…
In the latter part of 1997 my Dad came to visit us from El Paso, Texas. The main purpose of the visit was not to see Catherine or myself. Rather he was in town to meet his new (and only) grandchild, Erin. Because as all of us who are adult children understand that once we become parents we are in essence irrelevant to our own parents. I say this with some sarcasm, but I am positive that all of the grandparents in the Johnnie Nation are just like my Dad. The world revolves completely around the grandchild or grandchildren. To this day the first words from my Dad when I call are “How is Erin? How is my granddaughter? What does she need? Is she getting everything she wants?” These are the comments from a guy who when I asked for a buck or two as a kid would tell me to get a job! Now it’s a completely different tune when it comes to the grandchild. You know what? I hope I do half as well as my pops when I’m a grandparent because he’s sure as heck has done one GREAT job being Erin’s’ Opa!
However, I digress from the main reason behind the title to this article. When my Dad was introduced to his granddaughter (about the time she was 3 months old) he was quite content in his knowledge that some 18 or so years in the future she would be making her way to CSB to continue our family tradition at CSB/SJU. So, when he tells Erin that Opa cannot wait to see her go to St. Ben’s, my Wife (to this day still not fully comprehending just how deeply in his heart my Dad reveres SJU) says “Fred you never know, Erin can go to any college she wants… she may even want to go to St. Thomas!”
Uh…not a good move Catherine. But then again she is a first generation Bennie and I constantly have to remind her of my family’s appreciation, loyalty and dedication to all that is SJU. At that point I had to take the baby (Erin) out of my Dad’s hands as that vein in his forehead was close to bursting, and then I had to cover her ears as the string of profanity (my Dad cannot verbalize about St. Thomas without a f-bomb or two first) exploded from his mouth about those #$#%&%# Tommies!
Many of you who follow this site know and attended SJU with my Dad, and you all are very aware of his loyalty to SJU and his love of his Johnnie Buddies. Therefore you are well aware of his absolute disdain for all that is the College of St. Thomas (as he still refers to them). To this day I have to call him with updates after every “big” play and keep in him the loop as to how the game is going. He does not listen to the game on the Web or via other vehicles, as this call and update process is a tradition we have embraced. And let me tell you…thank goodness it has been 10 years since I have had to make a call and communicate a Johnnie loss. Luckily in 1997 I could soften an SJU loss with the news of the birth of his grandchild. Nevertheless, he was still quite upset.
Now some 10 or so years later, anytime my wife is mentioned or comes up in any conversation with my Dad that vein in his forehead gets a little too pronounced and he basically loses the ability to speak clearly. Why? Because my wife did what in the Johnnie Nation and Hacker Family is considered unthinkable. My dear wife Catherine dared to mention that a Johnnie/Bennie offspring could possibly attend St Thomas! This is why Erin can go to any college she wants…EXCEPT U.S.T.! This is why to this day my father’s will and testimony forbids any funds from his estate to ever be used to pay for anything to do with St. Thomas. To this day my wife is only known to my Dad as…”THAT WOMAN YOU LIVE WITH”.
Johnnie vs. Tommie 2008…A truly GREAT rivalry… Johnnie Up Everybody!
