Peter Somers – Class of 2002

 

This memory comes from my sophomore year, in the spring of 2000.  I was not yet a member of the track team–that didn’t happen until Junior and Senior years.  However, I already knew the legend of Coach Thornton because I had him for archery class, where he was the self proclaimed “Arrow Nazi.”  He ran a tight ship in the Skogland fieldhouse for phyed classes and was apparently just as strict as leader of the thin clads.

One Saturday morning as I was walking from Thorson Hall to breakfast at Buntrock, I heard a voice come over the PA system. “Good morning, this is God.  There will be no fish in the steeplechase pit today. I repeat, there will be no fish in the steeplechase pit.  Let me remind you, this is God.” It was in a deep, serious tone that these words were uttered. Only a daring person would challenge the person or deity behind that microphone.

Indeed, I do believe the fish were unable to find their way upstream to the Manitou pond that morning.