Kylie McGovern, Editor

One could feel the nervousness and tension on the afternoon of Jan. 29 on La Salle University’s campus before the Philadelphia Eagles game commenced. Students gathered to watch the game both on and off campus. The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-7 which won the Birds not only the NFC Championship but also a spot in the Super Bowl. 

Around campus, there were lots of cheers and  excitement which continued throughout the evening. La Salle Students flocked to the Olney Transportation Center just a few minutes away from campus to head downtown and celebrate the win with the greater community in the City of Brotherly Love. 

Hugs and High fives were exchanged in the station, as well as upward to ten repeats of the Eagles fight song. Many La Salle Students got off the Broad Street Line at the City Hall stop to join their fellow Philadelphians in the heart of the city. Fireworks painted the sky and the music of rappers from Philadelphia filled the air with a spirit of hope and community. This spirit of hope seems to be a quintessential part of being a Philadelphia sports fan, but the spirit of community is a quintessential part of being Lasallian. 

Although these celebrations of sports victory seem fairly surface level, riding back up to campus with fellow students, some who knew each other well and others who were practically strangers, showed a deeper meaning of community. Everyone celebrating on Sunday certainly had their differences: different grades, different hometowns, different majors, different interests, different friendships and even different worldviews, but they all had a few things in common: their Lasallian ties and a love of the Philadelphia Eagles. This aspect of finding community and commonality among differences is something that truly upholds the pillars of Lasallian identity of the spirit of faith, zeal for service and communion in mission. This might be a stretch but La Salle students have faith in their team, a zeal to help out people along the way by helping other students navigate the subway system for example and a commission in the mission of coming together to support a common goal. 

 As students walked back to campus together and everyone parted their ways for the night, students exchanged “good-nights,” “be-safes” and “Go Birds.” In Philadelphia, “Go Birds” means a few different things like “have a good day/night,” “you’re the best” and even “I love you.” While from an outside perspective this may sound like some sports community fantasy, the spirit of the Lasallian and Philadelphian community was alive and well on Sunday evening. 

Editor’s Note: Go Birds!