Clericus Cup. . . What's that?

Greetings sports fans!

Times have been fun here in Rome…maybe a little too much fun. Why do I say that? Because time flies when you’re having it! Several weeks ago something huge hit the Vatican and took NAC-life by storm. That, my friends, was and still is the Clericus Cup. This, as you wonder what it may be, is a Vatican Soccer tournament which was set into motion by Cardinal Bertone the Secretary to Benedict XVI, come to think of it this was Benny’s old position! Anyhoo, this tournament is composed of many of the seminaries of the Vatican. As we at NAC fall into that category we were eligible to field a team for this tournament…and field a team we have done!

As it currently stand we have a stellar record of 3 wins and one loss. As the US is not seen as a Soccer powerhouse we enjoyed an underdog status this is a seat which we enjoyed as we are able to stun our opponents on the field and from the bleachers! We Americans at the NAC have, as far as I have seen, the largest fan base among the teams. Being so strong in the area of fans we are able to bring a little Americana to them with our outrageous bleacher chants and wildly voluminous cheers of support for our guys on Maroon and Black!

Three of our four games have made it onto YouTube and can be viewed at the three following links which happen to be organized in sequential order.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bePZ6qqVOnM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssPk65KHcIE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lqAIBlhHfM

The following URL is the NAC page containing the game schedule and past game results:

http://www.pnac.org/general/clericus/scores.htm

Joe Privatelli is a guy here at the NAC (who also lives on my hall) who used to be a sports writer and columnist at Gonzaga in a past vocational pursuit and he has been covering all of NAC's Clericus Cup games for an Ignatius Press website. Here his write-ups!

Meet the Team
http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2007/jprevitali_meettheteam_feb07.asp

NAC vs. Urbanianum
http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2007/jprevitali_nacvspuc_mar07.asp

NAC vs. Croatia
http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2007/jprevitali_nacvcroat54_032107.asp

NAC vs. France
http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2007/jprevitali_nacvdpcg40_031007.asp

NAC vs. Tiberino
http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2007/jprevitali_nacvtib31_033007.asp

One last source is available to all you Rockfordians and that is our Catholic Newspaper, The Observer. Paul Fasano seminarian of and player for the NAC has been the media link keeping those at home informed of our athletic performances!

All of this information should satiate your appetite for good ol' American in-your-face soccer which has been and will continue to be brought to you at the hands (and feet) of your future priests of America!

Wishing you and yours the best...always!

Jeremy