When the Saint Peter’s College men’s basketball team defeated Iona 62-57 to win the 2011 Spark Energy MAAC Basketball Championship at the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard on March 7, they not only secured the third MAAC Championship in the program’s history, they punched a ticket to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, their first invitation to the Big Dance in 16 years. The team would not be alone on their journey, for they had the unwavering support of Peacock Nation.
On Selection Sunday, the team, family, friends, faculty, administrators and alumni gathered in McIntyre Lounge where the Peacocks learned they earned a #14 seed and would take on a Big Ten powerhouse, the #3 seeded Purdue University Boilermakers, in the second round of the Southwest Regional in Chicago. Basketball fans across the nation wanted to know what our loyal alumni and fans already knew — who were the Peacocks of Saint Peter’s College? Supporters of the small, Jesuit college in New Jersey were ready to show them. Let the madness begin!
Many alumni traveled to the United Center in Chicago for the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Prior to the game, Robert Hopko ’87 and Valerie Hopko hosted a reception at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers in Chicago on March 18, where approximately 40 fans gathered to share in the excitement as well as make predictions for the evening. Later, everyone gathered in the hotel lobby to give the players, cheerleaders and of course, the Peacock mascot, an enthusiastic send-off. 
If one thing was evident, it was that Saint Peter’s alumni are some of the most loyal supporters you will find. For those who couldn’t make the trip to Chicago, viewing parties were held across the United States. Some fans cheered their team on in private homes while approximately 100 fans gathered to watch the nationally televised game at the Village Pourhouse in Hoboken, NJ, and 65 others gathered in McIntyre Lounge for a pizza party. The atmosphere at the viewing parties often took on the feel as though those in attendance were at the live game.
Fans proudly wore newly purchased MAAC Championship and NCAA Tournament t-shirts – keepsakes of a memorable season – and other Saint Peter’s apparel. Local pizza places and stores on Bergen Avenue displayed congratulatory signs in front windows.
Many members of Peacock Nation followed their team throughout the journey, whether physically, emotionally or spiritually, from Jersey City, NJ to Bridgeport, CT to Chicago, IL, yet they were not hanging their heads low when Saint Peter’s fell to the Purdue Boilermakers 65-43. They were not angry or disappointed. Instead they were extremely proud and showed a tremendous amount of pride in their men’s basketball team.
“We definitely did deserve to be on that court…at the end of the day, we’re still champions,” said senior guard Nick Leon, as he reminded everyone during the post-game press conference that the team was still victorious; they were MAAC Champions, the best in their conference, and no one could take that away from them. 
Thank you Peacocks! For bringing alumni and friends together to form one big family, one united community. It was an incredible run and we are grateful to have been along for the ride.
Click here to view the One Shining Moment video montage, which recaps the entire NCAA Tournament. The Peacocks are featured three times. See the highlights at 0:29, 0:55 and 1:44.