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“Welcome Class of 2023”  This is posted on the sign at the entrance to the St. John’s University campus. Yesterday, the Sexton Commons fountain area had tables set out with coffee, juice and plates of cookies fresh from the bakery. For many this was a family affair. Most young men and women were accompanied by one or both of their parents. In the fall of 1961,  I arrived on campus of the University of Minnesota, Main Campus. Coming from a class of 33 in Upsala and going to a class of thousands was overwhelming. Ma had moved the family from Upsala to south Minneapolis, in part, to make it easier for me to attend college.

My two quarters at the “U” were a disaster. The Institute of Technology was certainly a bad choice. My worst performance was in English 101. Every week I would turn in the blue composition book and every week I would get a “D” or a “F”. Not paying any attention to Miss Krier in 11th and 12th grade English class at good old Upsala High had caught up with me.

The highlight of the fall of 1961 was the Gopher football team. They were coached by Murray Warmath and lead by quarterback Sandy Stephens. They compiled a record of 8 wins and 2 losses. On New Year’s day 1962, they beat the UCLA Bruins by a score of 21 to 3 in the Rose Bowl. When I came home to Upsala that spring, defeated and broke, Bob Soltis nicknamed me “Murray” and he called me “Murray” from that time forward.

Live from Here this week is the final rebroadcast before the start of the new season.  On September 7^th the show will be live from The Town Hall in New York City.  Special guests will include Sarah Jarosz and Holly Laurent.  Check out the complete tour at livefromhere.org.

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts”  John Wooden