MTA Celebrates Red Storm’s Historic Season Ahead of BIG EAST Tournament

St. John’s University brought Red Storm spirit into Manhattan, NY, on Tuesday, March 11, in an event designed to celebrate the Men’s Basketball team’s historic season, while encouraging fans to use mass transit to attend BIG EAST Conference Tournament games at Madison Square Garden (MSG).   

Members of St. John’s spirit squads and the Red Storm Pep Band joined mascot Johnny Thunderbird and dozens of fans in a Long Island Rail Road caravan from Jamaica Station to Penn Station, home of MSG. The BIG EAST Conference Tournament begins on Wednesday, March 12, with first-round games; the top-seeded and regular-season champion Red Storm play the winner of Wednesday’s Butler University–Providence College game at noon on Thursday.

“We are all honored to be here,” said Cheerleading team member Amanda Erlichman. “For me, it is so meaningful because the last time we were BIG EAST champions in 2000, my mom was in college. Now, I am here so many years later cheering on the Johnnies."

“It is a pinch-me moment for sure,” added Cheerleading team member Karina Licitra. “It is such a wonderful opportunity to represent the school at such a historic time.” 

Enthusiasm was evident early as chants of, “Let’s Go, Johnnies,” rang out amid band music in the rail car throughout the 20-minute ride to Manhattan. The St. John’s contingent then assembled near Penn Station’s 33rd Street entrance as Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officials acknowledged the Red Storm’s 27–4 season. St. John’s is ranked sixth nationally in the Associated Press media poll and fifth in the USA Today coaches poll. 

MTA officials dimmed the traditional white lights in the station and counted down from five before illuminating the station in St. John’s red and white. 

Phil Impastato, assistant director and saxophone player for the Pep Band, said St. John’s energy is percolating across the New York City metropolitan area and beyond. “It is an incredible time to be a St. John’s student,” he said. “It is the hottest thing, not only on campus and in the city, but in the entire northeast. My grandparents—who have not watched basketball in their entire lives—are tuning into every game.”   

“To see enthusiasm for St. John’s grow from something that was on campus only to something that is impacting the whole city is incredible,” added Chris Marino, who plays the snare drum for the Pep Band. “You can feel the enthusiasm. It is great to be a part of it.”

St. John’s spirit bubbled over to fans across Jamaica station. Seeing the St. John’s contingent waiting for their train, Long Islander Al DaLomba jumped from his car bound for Grand Central Terminal to shake hands with Johnny Thunderbird. Mr. DaLomba, whose son, Nicolas, graduated in 2015 from The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies, was on his way to serve as a lector at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan and promised to pray for the Johnnies.

“What a great school—and what a great time to be at St. John’s,” Mr. DaLomba said before hustling back to his Grand Central-bound train. 

MTA officials rekindled the feeling of St. John’s glory years, introducing David Cannon ’85CBA to fans gathered at Penn Station. Mr. Cannon, who recently retired after 38 years at the MTA, was the senior student manager of the 1985 Men’s Basketball team, the last St. John’s team to reach the Final Four of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament. Mr. Cannon had a front-row seat to the heroics of Mark Jackson, Bill Wennington, Chris Mullin, and, of course, Head Coach Lou Carnesecca ’50C, ’60GEd, ’00HON, who died in late November at age 99.

“I always knew it could happen again, that St. John’s basketball would be back like this,” Mr. Cannon said. “I just did not expect it would happen so quickly. To be this successful after only two years under Head Coach Rick Pitino is incredible.”

The Red Storm have won 22 of their last 24 games and finished the BIG EAST regular season with an 18–2 record, making St. John’s the ideal ambassador of the MTA’s goal of encouraging fans to use mass transit to the conference tournament.

"St. John's University is New York City's team and real New Yorkers know the best way to get to Madison Square Garden is using the services of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority,” said St. John’s University Vice President and Director of Athletics Ed Kull. “We encourage all our fans and ‘Subway Alumni’ to put on their red and cheer on the #1 Seed, Red Storm at MSG, the World's Most Famous Arena throughout the BIG EAST Tournament."

“St. John’s is New York’s team, and they are taking on the best teams in the BIG EAST,” added Janno Lieber, MTA Chair and Chief Executive. “And there is no better way to get to the game than by taking mass transit to beautifully renovated Penn Station. Skip the traffic and come see the Red Storm take on all comers, and take transit.”

LIRR President Rob Free said this is only the beginning of St. John’s success story.   

“St. John’s is a mainstay of Long Island and of the city, and we could not be more excited to celebrate their success this year, and many more successes that are to come,” Mr. Free said. 

Watch a video from the event.