Loyola’s Sister Jean Snub: Well…maybe it’s time for a new era

Alright, let’s just get it out there: the Sister Jean snub is making waves on the internet, and honestly? I don’t hate it.

Go ahead and cry all you want. I actually respect everything Sister Jean has done for Loyola basketball. The Final Four run was nothing short of legendary. The vibes back then? Immaculate. But at some point, you’ve got to ask if the program’s reliance on Sister Jean has gone from charming to… kind of stifling, ya know?

Loyola Snubs Sister Jean:

Sister Jean didn’t carry Loyola Chicago all the way to a Final Four just to be treated like this

pic.twitter.com/CZrF7uSiQO

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 4, 2024

Blah blah blah. Of course the internet is going to be mad at me for going against Sister Jean but at the same time, when has the internet ever been right about anything? When have I ever been wrong about anything?

Two important questions and the answer to both is a single word: never.

I mean seriously, let’s not pretend that dapping up Sister Jean is some magical formula for wins. Basketball is about talent, preparation, and execution—not about making sure you high-five the 104-year-old team chaplain on the way out. And maybe, just maybe, this snub is less about disrespect and more about Loyola’s players saying, “We’ve got this.”

Sister Jean’s Overblown Legacy

Sister Jean is great for a narrative. The cameras love her. The media loves her. But do the players need her to succeed? I’m not so sure. Loyola’s Final Four run wasn’t because of some pregame prayers; it was because of guys like Clayton Custer, Donte Ingram, and Cameron Krutwig putting in work. Sister Jean got the spotlight, but it was the players who grinded on the court.

At a certain point, you have to wonder if the constant focus on her is doing more harm than good. Loyola isn’t just “that team with Sister Jean” anymore. They’re trying to build a sustainable program, and maybe part of that involves stepping out of her shadow.

Drew Valentine is trying to establish his own identity as a coach. The players are trying to make a name for themselves. And here’s the hard truth: Sister Jean’s presence, while iconic, can overshadow those efforts. Every time the cameras pan to her, every time the storyline becomes about her instead of the team, it subtly undermines what they’re trying to build.

By snubbing Sister Jean, the players might actually be sending a message: this isn’t about the past anymore—it’s about us. And frankly, I think that’s a message worth sending.

Of course, the reaction to this is predictable.

People are already saying the team is doomed, that they’ve cursed their season, that the basketball gods will punish them. But let’s be real: losing a game has nothing to do with daps and everything to do with execution.

Loyola has two tough matchups ahead—South Florida and San Francisco—and whether they win or lose will depend on how they play, not on whether Sister Jean feels slighted. The idea that the program hinges on her approval is outdated and, frankly, a little ridiculous.

Look, I’m not saying Sister Jean should be tossed aside entirely. She’s a legend, and her contributions to Loyola basketball are undeniable. But at some point, the program has to evolve beyond her.

Maybe this snub is part of that evolution. Maybe it’s time for the players to take the spotlight and make the program about what they’re doing now, not about what happened in 2018.

This could be the start of a new chapter for Loyola basketball—a chapter where the team isn’t defined by a single figure but by the collective effort of everyone involved. And if that means skipping a dap or two along the way? So be it.

The players aren’t being disrespectful—they’re moving forward. And honestly? That’s exactly what Loyola needs.

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