March 11, 2006
The Game No Longer Mattered
Eric Watkins
VUSports.com Senior Writer
Early in the second half of Villanova's Big East semi-final game with Pitt, the Cats were increasing their defensive pressure in an attempt to dictate tempo and further narrow what had been a double figure half-time deficit. Allan Ray was near the sideline by the Villanova bench and the unimaginable happened – somehow Allan Ray got poked in the right eye and fell to the Garden floor in immense pain. He was helped off the court and rushed to the hospital – he could not see out of his eye – his teammates seemed stunned. Within minutes, word of the severity of the injury was passed via text messages, cell phone calls and word of mouth through the Garden crowd. The Villanova faithful watched the remainder of the game in stunned silence.
The game no longer mattered. The game clock simply could not run down fast enough.
All that mattered was that Allan Ray was going to be ok. Not ok enough to return, ok enough to play next week, or even ok enough to play again ever – simply that he would be able to see clearly out of two eyes again.
Prayers for Allan's health filled the Garden silence.
Normally, win or lose, the post-game scene around the Garden is decorated with Villanova fans enjoying a few laughs and sharing a few drinks while talking about their Cats. This time it was different – everyone was fixated on ESPN coverage of college basketball – waiting for whatever updates could be heard. Cell phones and text messages were commonplace even at 2 and 3 am. Everyone wearing a Villanova shirt, hat or scarf was asking each other "have you heard anything about A-Ray".
As I walked around the hotel lobby this morning taking calls from 'Nova fans and speaking with others, I noticed that people were sharing similar reactions. Many pondered just how difficult it must have been for the Villanova players to finish out that game – having seen their friend and teammate suffer such a traumatic injury and wondering if he was ok. Several people shared with me that they slept restlessly or for only a couple of hours. Others expressed that they felt as if one of their own children or a relative had been hurt. It had to be a thousand times worse for the players, the coaches and their families.
The reports now sound promising for Allan – he regained his vision, he was discharged from the hospital and back with the team around 2:30 am last night – he will likely be able to play again this year. With or without Allan Ray on the court this Friday at Wachovia, this most resilient of teams, this band of brothers, will find a way to regroup and come back strong and the 'Nova Nation will be ready to cheer on the Cats with fervor.
No team can match the attitude and heart of this Villanova Wildcat team – none.
God Bless A-Ray.
