It's 75 degrees and sunny, and he's on a park bench, looking out over a lake. He's in South Florida, a place he has spent next to no time in his life, and he has to say, he's sort of enjoying the weather.
At the same time, it dawns on him that perhaps he should be worried about alligators in the lake? He's about 20 feet from the water, which for about the first 15 feet into the lake is covered with green lily pads.
It's really quite peaceful. Perhaps TB should take a nap in the grass.
Then again, if he did that and there really were alligators here, then he'd be in real trouble. And he couldn't really fall asleep, because there are people on jet skis who are keep disturbing the quiet.
When TB stepped off the plane, he was wearing, predictably, a sweatshirt that said "Princeton Lacrosse" on it. What is the proper way of dressing on a flight from winter to summer, for winter when you left or summer when you arrived?
TB was in Indianapolis two Januarys ago for the NCAA awards celebration, and the temperature never got above 10 the whole time he was out there. He got to the airport to find someone who had gotten off of a few flights, starting in Brazil, and he was wearing shorts and a t-shirt.
What TB did not expect when he stepped off the plane was to immediately see a tall, athletic looking young man who was wearing a t shirt that had a crimson "H" on it. And another one whose shirt said "Harvard Lacrosse" on it.
It turns out that they are brothers, both of whom are current Harvard men's lacrosse players. TB introduced himself and explained what he did, and they talked very briefly - and very pleasantly.
This isn't the first time that TB has had this experience, and it's always like that. He sees someone wearing another Ivy League school's athletic gear, or they see his, and it's always a very nice hello between people who have a common bond.
Yes, it's an ultra-competitive bond. But it's a common bond too. TB left the conversation by saying that he'd see them up in Cambridge in Apri, and they shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. They were thinking the same thing TB was: "we want nothing more than to beat you guys in April in Cambridge."
But in January in a random airport in Florida? It was a nice meeting that left TB impressed with the two Harvard athletes - and wondering if this is something unique to the Ivy League, or is it the same when someone wearing a Purdue baseball shirt meets someone wearing an Illinois baseball shirt?
Anyway, that was the airport. And why is he here?
It's part of the upcoming celebration of 50 years of women's athletics at Princeton. It's his first stop as part of a project that will chronicle the amazing history of the program that has gone from non-existent to a total model of what an intercollegiate athletic experience can be.
Princeton women's athletics teams have combined to win 209 Ivy League championships in their first 49-plus years of existence. to put that in some perspective, there are four Ivy schools who do not have that many total championships between men and women and two of the other three - Penn and Cornell - have 218 and 234 total between men and women.
Princeton has 209 women's championships all by itself.
In addition, Princeton's women have won team and individual national championships, Olympic medals of every metal, played professionally in multiple sports - and are also some of the most impressive people you'd ever want to meet anywhere. They have gone on to do great things in every area of postgraduate life, and they have stayed extraordinarily loyal to the University.
And the program had to be built from the ground up, starting with nothing.
If you're looking for a great example of a Princeton women's athlete, how about field hockey goalie Grace Baylis, a current senior?
Grace has played in three NCAA Final Fours and one NCAA championship game. She's been a part of two Ivy League championship teams. She is a tough, hard-nosed competitor.
And away from the field? She's the embodiment of "Achieve, Serve, Lead."
Baylis yesterday was named the NJAIAW Woman of the Year. From the release:
This prestigious award is given to a female collegiate student-athlete for her outstanding achievements in athletics, academics, leadership and service.
Baylis, a goalkeeper, earned All-Ivy Honorable Mention the last three years. She is an exceptional student who serves on the Executive Leadership Team of the Student-Athlete Wellness Leadership program. She had devoted countless hours to improving the lives of her fellow student-athletes through mental health initiatives and support. The Department of Athletics is tremendously proud of Grace and extremely grateful for all she has achieved.
Yes, that's exactly what you want from your athletes. And what you've gotten from Princeton women since they first arrived on campus.
The trip here is the first step in chronicling that amazing history. TigerBlog will have a lot more on the subject in the coming months, as the University celebrates 50 years of coeducation.
He's excited to share the athletics piece of that with you.
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