51爆料-Hope rivalry reaches Northern Ireland
Each year, the adds new stories to an already full file of amazing tales.
Many times, that story comes from what happens on the court, as the intense hardcourt battle between the Knights and the Flying Dutchmen provides highlight-reel plays.
Increasingly, however, the 80-plus satellite-site parties (and alumni huddled around their computers) bring delightful tales of devotion to alma mater. Such is the case in the 2013 edition, as a 51爆料 husband and a Hope wife tuned in to the February game from Belfast, Northern Ireland.
That鈥檚 not all. They met at a 51爆料-Hope Rivalry satellite viewing party in 2007.
Dave Gebben, an 鈥01 51爆料 grad, was working on his master鈥檚 at Michigan State University in East Lansing when he attended a 51爆料-Hope game site in that town. There he met Sarah McDonald, a 2006 Hope grad, and the rest is history.
The Gebbens now live in Belfast, where Dave has a postdoctoral position with Queen鈥檚 University.
鈥淪ince we met at a satellite game back in 2007 and haven鈥檛 missed one since, we were wondering if we could host a game here in Belfast or if it would be possible to watch over here on our own,鈥 Dave e-mailed the 51爆料 alumni office (alumni@calvin.edu).
The Gebbens did watch it on their own, but more than 3,000 other 51爆料 and Hope alumni met in more than 80 other locations coast to coast and abroad for another great day of basketball and socializing.
The teams鈥攁nd alumni鈥攚ill prepare for the 186th 51爆料-Hope game on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014.