By: Michael L. Damon
mdamon@jjay.cuny.edu
(212) 237-8322
NEW YORK, N.Y.— It was another successful Homecoming for the John Jay College of Criminal Justice Department of Athletics, Recreation and Intramurals.
The department's signature event took place with stirring success on Tuesday evening as hundreds of visitors crowded the Doghouse and were treated to a grand event, which included a pair of basketball games which John Jay won by a combined 35 points (the women's basketball team defeated the City College of New York 66-51 before the men beat them 81-61).
The event featured face painting, sign making, contests for prizes and numerous entertaining talents for the attendees. Numerous other departments within John Jay College, including the John Jay College Barnes and Noble Bookstore, the Women's Center, the Children's Center, Community Outreach, Student Government and Club Row were also on hand with information tables for interested fans. There was also a crowning of the Homecoming Duke, Duchess, Prince and Princess during the evening. The Duke and Duchess was crowned during halftime of the women's game, while the Prince and Princess was crowned during the men's intermission.
Several athletics teams also had tables set up including the women's swimming team who sold an abundance of homemade pastries and the softball team who sold a variety of candy treats. The baseball program also had a presence with a raffle, the winner of which scored a trip to the 2013 All-Star Homerun Derby at Citi Field.
“With this being my first homecoming, I was very excited about it. I had heard a lot about it, and it definitely lived up to the promise,” said Interim Vice President and Interim Director of Athletics, Thomas Stafford.
The 2012-13 cheerleaders were also on hand to cheer on the Bloodhounds and pump up the crowd throughout the night. The event also had an encore performance from John Jay student and part-time DJ Kevin Long who served as DJ for the festivities. John Jay admissions counselor, the always upbeat Christopher Valentino was also involved in the event serving as public address announcer.
The event got into full gear just before 5 p.m., when John Jay student Noel Whippler kicked things off with a fantastic rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.
Shortly after, the women's basketball team tipped off with CCNY. The Bloodhounds took the game right to the Beavers racing out to an 11-2 lead early before earning the victory. During the contest, MBJ Caterers, the official catering service of John Jay College, sponsored a contest during a timeout of the second half with the winner earning a fifty-dollar gift card to the dining center on campus.
At the conclusion of the women's game and before the start of the men's game, the athletics department honored John Jay basketball alum Sayeed Abdul-Muntaqim. Muntaqim was a member of the men's basketball team during the 1970's and was inducted into the athletics department's inaugural Hall-of-Fame class in 1993. His number during his playing days (#21) was supposed to have been retired by the athletics department upon his induction, however, several other played have donned the number through the years. The athletics department though made good on the promise and officially retired his jersey (John Jay's
Kevin Crosby wears #21 for now as the Bloodhounds await the team's new uniforms to be delivered). The athletics department honored the John Jay legend with a poster size graphic of his retired jersey and agreed to retire the number on the rafters very soon.
After that, Muntaqim joined Assistant to the Vice President for Special Projects, Dan Palumbo along with Jerryl Kemp and Michael Scaduto from the alumni association to honor the department's senior student-athletes with a senior send-off. All seniors who were in attendance were honored on the court and were given a special gift.
“I really enjoyed the senior send off, I thought it was a very nice touch,” said Stafford. “To recognize all the senior student-athletes like that was really great to see.”
Following that, t
he men took the court and dazzled the overflow crowd with a spectacular performance. Arguably, the highlight of the night came in the middle of the first half when John Jay's
Oshea Alexander came from the baseline and thunderously slam-dunked a shot that brought the large crowd to its feet cheering in unison, including John Jay President, Jeremy Travis who stood clapping the longest.
After the Prince and Princess of Homecoming were crowned, the cheerleaders took the court for a halftime show, followed by a joint performance by Universal Image and the Debonir Steppers.
The last special event before the final buzzer sounded on John Jay's 81-61 win, was a timeout contest sponsored by the John Jay Barnes and Noble bookstore where the winner won a John Jay fleece jacket.
“It was very a very exciting night. I felt a lot of energy in the gym,” Stafford added. “I saw a lot of John Jay pride too and that was great to see.”
