It certainly took long enough.
Despite being one of the most celebrated women’s college coaches
in history, it was not until 2000 that Cathy Rush was nominated for
membership in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
And although she was selected for the Women’s Basketball Hall
of Fame in 2000, she missed the cut for the Naismith Hall after being
nominated that year. Same deal for 2001. And 2002. And 2003. And 2005.
“I sort of didn’t think it would ever happen,” she
said.
But then, two weeks ago, Rush received a phone call that solidified
her standing in college coaching lore. She was told that this year,
she would be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
So after an amazing run of three consecutive national championships
in 1972, 1973, and 1974, the famed “Mighty Macs” of Immaculata
College finally have a member enshrined forever as a permanent reminder
of their dominance in women’s basketball throughout the decade
of 1970.
“I don’t cry too often, but I did cry,” said Rush.
“It is very exciting, but it isn’t all about me. It’s
about what we accomplished as a team. We did so much, especially when
you consider what we had to work with. Our school wasn’t considered
a basketball power, but we were the best team in the country. That’s
pretty amazing.”
However, when you consider some of the great names still out there who
have never been even nominated, and then compound that with the other
six names that Rush is joined by in the 2008 class (NBA stars Patrick
Ewing, Adrian Dantley and Hakeem Olajuwon; five-time NBA championship
coach Pat Riley, Detroit Pistons owner William Davidson, and popular
ESPN announcer Dick Vitale), it’s definitely a testament to the
greatness of what Rush achieved at the “little school” that
hadn’t been anywhere near the national basketball map prior to
her hire.
This year’s Hall-of-Famers will be enshrined during festivities
Sept. 4 through Sept. 6 in Springfield, Mass.
John Knebels can be reached at jknebs@aol.com.