I was fortunate to have had Bill Knapton as a coach and mentor, and to have played with an amazing line-up in that first championship season. The following year we won again, with my brother Jim and I leading the way (1-2 in conference scoring). My 3rd season I had another knee operation and sports at Beloit were in a temporary decline—we had to recruit from intramural players to be able to scrimmage—but still managed reasonable success on the court.
As part of the Beloit Plan years, basketball players did not live in a world apart. Attendance was just fair at games, and we all had academic or artistic interests that took up much of our time. I saw myself as a writer and musician, and got a teaching certificate in English.
Upon graduation I was recruited to play in Portugal, and stayed in Europe for ten years. The basketball was fun—I was poached by a major Lisbon club in years 3-4 and paid well—but it was certainly off the court that things were happening that would eventually establish me in a family-sustaining career. I discovered the magic of speaking foreign languages the day I got off the plane and immediately dove into learning. By the time I was done I had learned Portuguese, Spanish, and French, had a degree in Chinese, and ultimately completed a Masters and PhD in French Studies, leading to a 40-year career in higher education. (a second career in music—
http://www.christophermarkjones.com seems like a bit much to handle in this narrative)
How does Beloit matter in all this? Most players who came to Portugal to play (a forward cut by the Lakers, a 6’10” center from Stanford, among many others) were intimidated by the language and the cultural difference, many staying only a few weeks before returning home. I loved the challenge, welcomed help from anyone, and learned about both my own country through others’ eyes, and new ways of being in the world. A conventional college athletic experience doesn’t prepare you for this, Beloit College does.
I recently spent a couple of hours talking to Beloit College athletes at a Homecoming weekend event organized by Jon Urish. I found a diverse group of interesting people who were actively developing a life plan that might, or might not, include any formal participation in sports. I was heartened to see that, while much has changed, much that was positive about my Beloit College experience continues.
Christopher Jones, Beloit Class of 1970, Athletic Hall of Honor 1982
Teaching Professor of French and Computer-Assisted Language Learning - Emeritus
Department of Modern Languages
Carnegie Mellon University
