NYC Gazette

St. John’s University brought the Red Storm spirit to Manhattan, New York, on Tuesday, March 11, in an event to celebrate the Men’s Basketball team’s historic season and encourage fans to use mass transit for attending 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, near MSG. The BIG EAST Conference Tournament begins on Wednesday, March 12, with first-round games; the top-seeded and regular-season champion Red Storm will 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.”

Chants of “Let’s Go, Johnnies” filled the rail car during the 20-minute ride to Manhattan. The St. John’s contingent gathered 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 traditional white lights in the station before illuminating it in St. John’s red and white.

Phil Impastato, assistant director and saxophone player for the Pep Band, said St. John’s energy is spreading across New York City and beyond. “It is an incredible time to be a St. John’s student,” he said.

St. John’s spirit reached fans across Jamaica station as well. Al DaLomba jumped from his car bound for Grand Central Terminal to shake hands with Johnny Thunderbird after seeing the St. John’s contingent waiting for their train.

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

MTA officials introduced David Cannon ’85CBA at Penn Station to fans present there. Mr. Cannon recently retired after 38 years at MTA and was senior student manager of the 1985 Men’s Basketball team that reached NCAA Tournament's Final Four.

“I always knew it could happen again,” Mr. Cannon said about St John's basketball resurgence under Head Coach Rick Pitino.

The Red Storm have won 22 of their last 24 games finishing BIG EAST regular season with an 18–2 record aligning them with MTA's goal of promoting mass transit use among fans heading towards conference tournaments.

“St John's is New York's team," Janno Lieber MTA Chair & Chief Executive remarked emphasizing using mass transit for reaching MSG.

LIRR President Rob Free highlighted this success story as only beginning expressing excitement over future achievements by St John's sports teams.