First and Focused - College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University
First and Focused - College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University
First and Focused - College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University
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gojohnnies.com<br />
9<br />
JoHNNiE SPoRTS<br />
Football <strong>and</strong> Fundamentals: Joe Boyle ’11<br />
by John Taylor ’58<br />
Senior quarterback Joe Boyle ’11 dodges a tackle in last year’s nCAA Division III play<strong>of</strong>f game.<br />
“Fundamentals. That’s what my academic<br />
<strong>and</strong> athletic life is all about,” says Joe<br />
Boyle ’11. A history major <strong>and</strong> political<br />
science minor, Boyle has quarterbacked<br />
the SJU football team since 2008. “From<br />
coaches to pr<strong>of</strong>essors, I am constantly<br />
reminded <strong>of</strong> the importance <strong>of</strong> concentrating<br />
on the really important things.<br />
“Being a starting quarterback for John<br />
Gagliardi has been an incredible experience<br />
for me,” Joe adds. “John is such a calming<br />
influence. When I was injured last fall, it<br />
was very scary, but John was with me every<br />
step <strong>of</strong> the way. I know what Bret Favre<br />
must feel like when a 320-pound tackle is<br />
coming full speed at him. You just have to<br />
wait till the last second, pass <strong>and</strong> hope.”<br />
Boyle has deep family connections to<br />
John Biasi<br />
SJU <strong>and</strong> CSB. His dad is a graduate <strong>of</strong><br />
St. Meinrad <strong>College</strong>, a <strong>Benedict</strong>ine school<br />
in Indiana, <strong>and</strong> a former seminarian <strong>and</strong><br />
board member <strong>and</strong> former chair <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<strong>Saint</strong> John’s School <strong>of</strong> Theology•Seminary.<br />
He has a master’s from the SOT, <strong>and</strong><br />
served in SJU campus ministry. His mom<br />
is a CSB graduate <strong>and</strong> comes from a long<br />
line <strong>of</strong> Bennies <strong>and</strong> Johnnies.<br />
“My Catholic school experience helped<br />
me become who I am,” Joe says. “Fr. Bob<br />
Koopmann was my first-year seminar<br />
leader, <strong>and</strong> he <strong>and</strong> Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Jeff Kaster<br />
were important influences on my faith<br />
journey. <strong>Saint</strong> John’s is an open place. But<br />
they challenge you, they nudge you, they<br />
point you in the right direction.<br />
“I have also been very fortunate in having,<br />
in addition to family <strong>and</strong> friends, pr<strong>of</strong>essors<br />
<strong>and</strong> coaches that helped me center. Coach<br />
Gary Fasching has kept me focused throughout<br />
my career at <strong>Saint</strong> John’s, as has former<br />
SJU quarterback Tom Linneman ‘00, who<br />
coached me in high school.”<br />
Boyle is enthusiastic about pr<strong>of</strong>essors<br />
who’ve helped him stay on track, too. High<br />
on his list are Ken Jones, pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> history,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Phil Kronebusch ’81, pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
<strong>of</strong> political science. “Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Kronebusch<br />
brought in former Governor Al Quie. He<br />
leads an effort to change the way elections<br />
are held for judges in Minnesota to assure<br />
that they are non-partisan. He was a great<br />
lecturer, <strong>and</strong> really challenged the class.”<br />
Boyle took his LSAT tests this past<br />
summer—rather than wait until fall. “Can<br />
you imagine my telling John that I can’t<br />
quarterback the St. Thomas game because<br />
I have to take my law school entrance<br />
exam?”<br />
John Taylor ’58 is senior associate for<br />
institutional advancement at <strong>Saint</strong> John’s.