It's A New Year

Here is something that TigerBlog did not mention yesterday when he wrote about new Ford Family Director of Athletics John Mack: He used to be a student worker in the Princeton Office of Athletic Communications.

If that sounds familiar, it should be, because Mack's predecessor, Mollie Marcoux Samaan, was also an OAC student-worker during her undergraduate days. 

Does that mean the road to being the Director of Athletics starts in the OAC? If history repeats itself next time, you can look to a short list that includes former women's basketball players Maggie Langlas, Kate Thirolf, Tessa Ho, Lauren Rigney, Andrea Razi and Susan Rea (who also played soccer), softball player Katie Bay, soccer player Romy Trigg-Smith and rower Dave Mackasey. That's off the top of TB's head, and he knows he's forgetting a few people.

In all seriousness, the fact that the two most recent ADs are OAC alums is a great source of pride to TigerBlog. Is there something to it, or a coincidence? 

Well, at the risk of stretching things just a bit, maybe there is something about being in the office that is the most public facing that either appeals to someone like Marcoux Samaan or Mack, who both so clearly developed a love for Princeton Athletics at a young age. Or, possibly, maybe the OAC is where that love was born and allowed to grow.

When TB says "public facing," what he means is that the OAC is responsible for producing content that is shared with all of Princeton's many constituents. It's a clearinghouse of Princeton Athletics pride, and that pride is something permeates through Mack and Marcoux Samaan. Make no mistake, Mollie may no longer be the AD here, but her love for Princeton will only continue to grow. The same is true of Mack as he becomes the AD.

Someone else who feels a great source of pride about Mack's new role is men's track and field coach Fred Samara. He was definitely emotional Wednesday when Mack was introduced, with a sense of fatherly pride at the achievement of someone he mentored so deeply. 

There have been six ADs in Princeton history. All six have been former student athletes. Samara is the first active head coach to have an alum become the AD. Yes, that is good reason to be emotional in the moment.

It's also a statement on just how amazing a career Samara has had, but hey, you already knew that and TB has written about that many times. TB spoke to Samara just before Mack started to speak and again later in the day. It was easy to see how much this was impacting him, and in such an amazing way.

TB heard from a ton of people after the announcement Wednesday. Those texts and emails fell into two categories. 

First, there were the people who don't know Mack who said they were impressed by his introductory remarks and the things people said about him. Second, there were the ones who do know him, and they were simply thrilled about the hire.

Mack is still transitioning into his new role. By the time he moves into Room 1 of Jadwin Gym, the new academic/athletic year will have begun. Actually, by the time today ends, the new athletic year will have begun.

The women's soccer team gets things started tonight, when the Tigers host Loyola at 7. There is another women's soccer game Sunday at 11 against St. Joe's.

This is from the preview story on goprincetontigers.com: 

The Tigers, who have won two of the last three Ivy League titles awarded, have 12 players on the roster of 28 who could see their first collegiate competition this weekend. Among the returners, the scorers of 14 of the team's 23 goals from the 2019 season are back, as are previous All-Ivy honorees in 2019 first-teamer Madison Curry, three-time All-Ivy pick Lucy Rickerson and 2018 honorable mention Emma Davis.

Remember, the men's and women's soccer teams are playing on Sherrerd Field this season during the construction of the new stadium. Also, admission to regular season soccer games is free.