By Frank Rajkowski, SJU Writer/Video Producer
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The rain that fell early Saturday morning had given way to sunshine by the time Saint John’s freshman Jesus Galvan and junior Jean Boss arrived at St. Paul’s Allianz Field.
And they were standing in the sunshine above the far end zone, awaiting kickoff between the Johnnies and Tommies at the home of Major League Soccer’s Minnesota United.
The game drew a sellout crowd of 19,400 with many others expected to gather outside to watch on video screens.
“I like it – it’s a great atmosphere,” said Boss, who like Galvan is a native of southwestern Florida. “Especially now that it’s nice and sunny. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
“You can really feel the competitive nature of a game like this in this kind of place,” Galvan added. “There’s a real energy here.”
Outside on the stadium’s front lawn, a large crowd of fans clad in red and purple mingled amidst food trucks and other tents.
Among that crowd was Brian Sande, a 1993 Saint John’s graduate who was attending the game with his family and his old neighbors – the Stubbendick’s, whose son Max is a sophomore at St. Thomas.
The Sandes were decked out in SJU colors. The Stubbendicks were representing the Tommies.
“This is always the most fun game of the year,” Sande said with a smile.
“We’re new to this, so it’s exciting,” said Corey Stubbendick, Max’s father. “It’s our first time.”
“I told them they were wearing the wrong colors,” Sande chimed in.
The day was kicked off by the You Matter Challenge, the brainchild of former Saint John’s football and hockey player Lou Raiola ’82. Raiola, who has spent decades uniting nonprofits, for-profit and celebrity influencers in support of worthy causes, was honored with the 2019 Bob Basten Excellence in Leadership award.
The award is bestowed annually upon a former Johnnie football player who has exhibited outstanding leadership traits, has been involved in his community and with his alma mater, has carried a sense of fair play beyond the football field and has demonstrated an overall commitment to excellence.
It’s named in honor of Basten, also a member of the class of 1982, who went to training camp with the Minnesota Vikings before embarking on a successful career as a business executive. He died in 2012 after a decade-long battle with ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Raiola, his former teammate, wanted to use the platform to do something in honor of Basten in the lead-up to the Johnnies/Tommies game. The concept he came up with was an event – held on the front lawn at Allianz Field – in which Johnnies and Tommies fans and alumni competed against each other to see who could pack the most meals.
Proceeds went to benefit The Sanneh Foundation, which assists St. Paul youth, and the Bahama hurricane relief efforts at CSB/SJU.
Raiola said close to 200 volunteers took part.
“I’m thrilled,” he said. “You never know if the word will get out or what will happen the day off. I think we lost a bit of walk-up because of the weather. But I’m really happy to have so many people here.”
Among those packing food were Greg Gunderson, a 1983 Saint John’s graduate, and Pam Feldman and Sue Rockers, 1984 graduates of CSB.
“I got a call from Lou, and when Lou calls, you always answer,” Gunderson said with a smile. “It’s a great way to connect with old friends and classmates.”
“It’s just fun to be part of it,” Feldman added. “We were coming anyway. So why not be part of doing something that helps other people.”
