Phi Beta Delta: ONU Football in Ireland

Phi Beta Delta, the Honor Society for International Scholars sponsored the talk "Cultural Exchanges on the Gridiron: Polar Bears in Ireland."  The event took place in the Dicke Forum on Wednesday December 4.  

Bill Metz (Sr. Political Science), and Zach Runzo (Sr. Mechanical Engineering) recounted their adventures on the field and in the culture of the Emerald Isle last summer as the Bears took on two Irish teams; one from the University of University College Dublin and the other a club team known as the Meath Bulldogs.  Not all the action took place on the field, and the team had the chance to explore Galway and Killarney during their whirlwind nine-day tour.

The Bears won the contest 35-0, but told the audience that they also practiced a little Gaelic football, with less success.  Culture matters when it comes to success in a sport, and the ONU players had typically been playing our version of football for some ten years, compared to the three or four years that the average Irish player had played.

They also shared their experiences visiting the Guiness brewery, sampling Irish cuisine, and visiting various sites in the country.  Both agreed that the cliffs on Aran Island were a highlight of the tour, and confirmed that they learned a great deal about Irish culture on their trip.

Well done Bill and Zach!