Couch burns, but ND students celebrate title quietly
By LAURA ROMPF
Associate News Editor
Besides Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" blasting out a third floor Keenan window, North Quad was silent Sunday night after the women's basketball team won the National Championship. There were no riots, but approximately 20 students set one couch on fire and a six-man in Keenan thought they'd celebrate.
Tom Perez and Mike Christel played Joel's hit song out their window to celebrate, but affirmed they didn't light the fire.
"Of course [we're playing the song] in good humor," Christel said. "It's awesome we just won the National Championship. We watched this game and the last one [the semifinal win against Connecticut.] We're excited."
Notre Dame fire department captain Tim Hoeppner said once the department arrived on the scene the crowd of 20 students dispersed and the fire was quickly extinguished.
Although fans at Michigan State rioted after the Spartans 2000 men's championship, Notre Dame security expected no problems out of students Sunday night.
"We certainly have more people out tonight, but we didn't expect any riots," said Rex Rakow, director of security and police. "We have better students than that."
Rakow said two shifts of officers were stationed at Alumni Circle when the team returned from St. Louis.
"It will be a long night," Rakow said. "But it will be worth it in the end."
Around 150 yards away from the burnt coach, nine screaming girls stood on Stonehenge donning homemade T-shirts supporting their sectionmate Erika Haney and fellow Lewis resident Alicia Ratay. They were making noise to support the women's team they feel takes the back seat to football and men's basketball.
"The girls deserve so much more credit than they get," said Meghan Thomas.
"The student body is always out there supporting the men's teams, no matter how well they do," added Sarah Raehl.
Gail Thompson, Haney's roommate, said she was proud of Haney and the entire team.
"My roommate worked so hard," she said. "It's an injustice more students aren't out here to celebrate."
All News Stories for Monday, April 2, 2001
