I moved back to the neighborhood on October 1 for a job I took in Skokie.
First, everyone who is out of town has to know: You have never seen as much Loyola apparel, hats, bumper stickers, window signs, flags, sweatshirts, etc. in a YEAR as you see in a typical week now on the North Side of Chicago.
I remember going to basketball games when we were pretty good-- 2002, 2006, 2007, and there was NEVER any kind of school pride. You'd see more Michigan, Notre Dame, Georgetown, and other apparel than Loyola stuff.
It's astounding. You see it at Whole Foods, Walgreens, on the El, at my new job in Skokie, downtown, etc. It's crazy. And the most shocking thing is you now see people who don't look like they have any relationship with Loyola walking around wearing Loyola stuff.
The other night I was walking down Broadway at the corner of Granville, and looked up at a high rise. On the top floor, someone had a Loyola Ramblers flag they were using as a curtain in their top-floor condo.
The students from my day would have felt gauche if they wore too many Loyola apparel products. Now they seem like they'd be embarrassed if they DIDN'T wear a Loyola logo.
I hope this lasts a little while longer.
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