I had never been to an inauguration. Sure, I have watched countless U.S. Presidential inaugurations on television. The air of formality and tradition was evident, even from the limited views television provided. And it always seemed to be really cold every January when it was time to swear in the leader of our nation.
Since I have knowledge of the U.S. Capitol building from my six month internship in the Houser of Representatives, I always marveled how an entire platform was constructed on the steps of the building, under the supervision of the Architect of the Capitol. The majestic view outward allowed for the President and guests to view the beautiful vista of the DC skyline and the thousands of citizens who braved the freezing temperatures to watch the spectacle so critical to the seamless tradition of power in our democracy,
I have never wanted to be a part of that, largely because of the weather. I hate going to football games in January because of how cold I remain despite the layers of clothing I wear and the number of strategically-placed warmers I secrete around my body.
So, while it wasn’t on my bucket list, when I received an invitation to attend the inauguration of Andrew Rich as the 17th President of my alma mater, Franklin and Marshall College, I thought this might be something I would like to see. After all, it was in April and it would be held indoors at the college’s Alumni Sports & Fitness Center. A win-win in terms of comfort.
I have gotten to know President Rich from a trip to Hudson Yards in Manhattan to listen to him and others speak on Athletics and Greek Life at the college. His invitation to hear from those present on any matter related to the school spurred me to write to him. It culminated in a 35 minute phone conversation in February which gave me greater insight into a man who I believed was ready to take the college to new heights while restoring its place among the more prestigious institutions of higher education.
I figured there certainly would be pomp and circumstances associated with the ceremony. Along with speeches. I wasn’t wrong.
The ASFC dazzled in blue and white, the college’s colors. A stage was set up with supporting video screens behind it—a nod to the age we live in. Yet old-fashioned wooden chairs with the F&M insignia were grouped together on the podium in reverence to the heritage of the school.
For tradition was what the ceremony was about. Colleges in the Northeast sent representatives to the event. Professors marched in along with members of the Board of Trustees, past and present. All were adorned in the robes of their respective colleges and universities. It was a cacophony of colors.
Part of the formal aspect of this installation was the leading of the procession with the College’s mace. It is a replica of the towers of Old Main, the most prominent building on campus, built on the highest spot in the City of Lancaster, where hangings were previously held. What I didn’t know was that mace dates back only to the 1967-68 academic year—the year before I began attending Franklin and Marshall. Inside the metal replica is a portion of a wood beam from the original Franklin College, the forerunner to the present school.
A beautiful collegiate orchestra serenaded the guests. Speeches galore were the order of the day. Some serious and some were light-hearted and anecdotal. The incoming President’s father, a retired academician of some note at the University of Delaware, along with a former F&M graduate, now part of Governor Josh Shapiro’s cabinet, who was associated with President Rich as a Truman Scholar, were especially poignant as well as relevant.
Before the installation, the Presidential Medallion was conferred. Then Andy Rich, as he likes to be referred to, spoke to the the assemblage. He laid out his vision for the future of the college in bold and unmistakable terms.
If his words are true and he is as captivating as he speaks, then Franklin and Marshall absolutely made the right choice as a leader. Even if he might have been campaigning for the job as a guest at a wedding, strategically seated next to a prominent member of the Search Committee.
With the bells of Old Main tolling via tape after a rendition of the Alma Mater, the recessional started. We lunched with friends and guests. I introduced myself to Andy. It was a joyous celebration of the life of a fine academic institution. My wife and I couldn’t have enjoyed it better. I felt comfort and honor for my college.
As the bevy of workers tore down the stage and all the trimmings, the vacant area made me think about how quickly the construction at the U.S. Capitol is removed for another four years, only to be rebuilt anew. While costly to put on, ceremonies last just so long but are seared into memory for a lifetime.
Not to disappoint, there was an extra element to our trip to Lancaster. It was time to see my team play Mc Daniel College in a baseball doubleheader. I call it “my” team because I played for baseball at F&M. I have a team cap given to me by the current coach, a sweatshirt for F&M Baseball, and a retired uniform similar to what we wore in 1970 bearing my number 25. I am always all in on F&M Baseball.
We caught the last three innings of the first game. F&M staged a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning, closing the gap from 11-1 to 11-6, thus avoiding the dreaded 10 run rule and ending the game after 7 innings.
It was breezy and clear, with temperatures hovering around 60 degrees. The field never looked better. The grass was green and lush. The infield dirt stayed finely manicured. It was a perfect setting.
Unfortunately, the Diplomats bats went silent and the 11-6 score became final. The team lost the nightcap 6-1, dropping them to 4-6 in the conference and with a 6-8 record at home.
Nine games remain on the schedule. Home and home Tuesday-Friday contests with Washington College and #21 Gettysburg are sandwiched around two road doubleheaders at Dickinson College and at Muhlenberg. A non-conference game at the nearby Penn Medicine Park versus local rival Lancaster Bible is also to be played.
Currently, the team is tied at the bottom of the Centennial Conference standings with five other schools which include Dickinson and Muhlenberg. Washington College and Mc Daniel are ahead of that group at 5-5. Highly-ranked Johns Hopkins and Gettysburg lead the pack.
It’s going to be tough for the Diplomats to make the playoffs, as Mc Daniel and Swarthmore hold tiebreakers over F&M. F&M must win the six games against Washington, Dickinson and Muhlenberg to securely make the playoffs.
With what appears to be a muddled pitching staff which has a cumulative 6.50 ERA, that makes the chances more problematic, given that eleven F&M players sport batting averages well over .300. It is not insurmountable, but the odds aren’t in favor of F&M unless the pitching warms up with the weather as April heats up.
Less that 24 hours later, we were seated on the outfield bleachers at renovated Bainton Field, the home of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The place looks more collegiate and at a DI level, although it pales in comparison with other Big Ten rivals home fields.
The attraction this day was the final game of a three game series with #1 UCLA. It is rare that any #1 team visits Piscataway for games. I can recall #1 Purdue coming to Jersey Mike’s Arena this fall for basketball. #1 Ohio State came to SHI Stadium in 2023. I am confident that RU has played against #1 teams in men’s lacrosse before.
But this was the first time I can recall that a number one baseball team would be playing at RU. So I had to be present to take it all in.
The temperature was in the upper 50’s and the skies again were clear. There was a slight breeze blowing in and towards right field.
When we arrived, UCLA was ahead 1-0. This was unsurprising since the Bruins won Game 1 by a score of 4-1 in 14 innings.
What made the series opener remarkable was the strikeout totals for Rutgers. The starter, a transfer from San Diego where he was a first team WCC selection, pitched 8 innings. He struck out 18 RU hitters while only allowing the one run. In total, RU batters were fanned an incredible 30 times.
Game 2 was no better for the Scarlet Knights. They lost 7-1. At least UCLA registered only 10 RU strikeouts in that contest.
From what I saw of UCLA in Game 3, the hitters were better than RU and the pitching was far superior. One relief pitcher for UCLA consistently registered 98 mph on the speed gun for his pitches. That’s MLB level talent.
It was no contest in the finale. RU did score 2 runs, but on only 2 hits. They did commit 3 errors while surrendering 14 hits.
Totals for the weekend: UCLA 20 runs scored; 37 hits; 4 home runs and 8 extra base hits; 0 errors. Meanwhile, Rutgers managed to score 4 runs with 11 base hits, 1 home run and 3 extra base hits; RU committed 5 errors.
The disparity was great in all facets of the game. I am guessing that there were a number of future pros in the Bruin lineup, starting with their shortstop Roch Cholowsky, believed to be the number one pick in the next MLB Draft. Cholowsky went 2 for 12 against RU with a couple of walks and 1 RBI. I know he was the collegiate player of the year in 2025. I know he is hitting .332 with 13 home runs and 32 RBI. He did not impress me at all.
UCLA now sports a record of 33-2 and is 16-0 in Big Ten action. The Bruins have won 27 straight games. RU fell to 17-18 and 5-10 in conference.
Rutgers gets a breather with Marist coming to town. UC Santa Barbara is UCLA’s next likely victim. RU has to go to Los Angeles soon to play USC. UCLA has one more out of time zone road trip to Michigan State.
Look for UCLA to be in Omaha for the College World Series. Look for Rutgers to try to make better strides as the season progresses.
Then there’s the Yankees. Off to a blazing start, the Bombers fell off the table once they played the A’s. And it followed with a clunker of a series at Tampa Bay. Five straight losses, six out of seven total.
It took a crazy game on a crazy night to stop the bleeding. Barely. On an unseasonably warm April night, the somnambulant Yankees bats came alive. To the tune of five home runs, two each by Aaron Judge and Trent Grisham, the latter coming off the bench to spark the team twice, including a game-tying blast in the ninth inning. NYY had to overcome shaky pitching, two homers by the Angels’ Mike Trout, who is back to being one of the best players in the game after having been beset with injuries and then relied on a wild pitch to score the winning run. Of note, many M.V.P. winners took part in the game—Judge, Trout, Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton and Paul Goldschmidt
One game hardly makes a season. Maybe this kind of nutty game can be the jolt which the team needed. What the Yankees still require are productive at bats from guys not named Judge, Ben Rice or Giancarlo Stanton. And more reliable relief pitching—Jake Bird was sent to the minors after his disastrous game last night.
By the way, nine players hit multiple homers on Monday. That is amazing. What’s more amazing is that the record is an incredible ten players accomplished that feat on September 10, 2019 and that nine players have hit multiple home runs on five other occasions.
Finally, a few comments about the Masters. Rory McIroy, the Northern Ireland golfer, took home his second consecutive green jacket with his win on Sunday. He joins Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods in that rare company.
McIlroy leaped out to a sizable lead on Thursday. That lead kept getting reduced until during Sunday’s final round, he found himself trailing a couple of golfers at a number of different holes.
Then Mc Ilroy did what champions do. He hit shots that catapulted him into the lead while others fell off the pace. And he survived his near-undoing from a bad shot on the final hole to survive by one shot over a hard-charging Scottie Scheffler.
It was good theater on the most picturesque golf course in this country. I enjoyed the drama and the artistry. This is the one tournament which, to me, outshines the others.
This was an April snapshot. An Inauguration. Baseball. And The Masters.
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