The Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas has a sports hall of fame. But alumni aren’t eligible for consideration until 10 years after they’ve graduated from the private high school.
Jordan Spieth graduated in 2011, which means he won’t be eligible until 2021.
First-ballot hall of famer?
“I would bet my girl’s college tuition fund on that one,” joked Mike Flynn, who happens to be in the sports hall of fame thanks to his football-playing days at TCU in the early 1980s.
On Thursday at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, Flynn joined about 60 other Jesuit alums to cheer on Spieth, who was making his first start in a Texas PGA TOUR event since winning the Masters last month at age 21.
Spieth fired a bogey-free, 6-under 64 to assume a share of the first-round lead with Kevin Na, Boo Weekley and Ryo Ishikawa.
The "Jebbies," as they're known by, huddled on two sets of bleachers overlooking Colonial’s first tee box, with Spieth giving them a warm nod and a smile before teeing off in the late afternoon after a three-hour rain delay.
"It was great," Spieth said after his round. "There's a lot of Jesuit guys right up there behind the tee box, which is pretty cool. It's a cool view from there.
"I'm sure it'll continue to grow. Hopefully just keep myself in good position after tomorrow, and the afternoon crowds on the weekend will be a lot of fun to feed off."
Flynn said the idea to give Spieth his own cheering section came from Colonial tournament director Michael Tothe. He and Flynn, who lives in Fort Worth, are members of the same breakfast group and discussed the idea even before Spieth’s win at Augusta. Flynn then asked Sean McMullen, Jesuit’s director of alumni relations, if the school had interest in organizing the group.
With so many Jesuit members living in Fort Worth, the decision was an easy one. Once Spieth won the Masters, it was a no-brainer.
There’s even a Green Jacket tie-in with Jesuit.
“The Class of '65 used to have the same green jackets,” McMullen said. “It was a weird polyester blend. Certainly not as prominent as Jordan’s.”
Spieth has stayed involved with the school – remember, he was at Jesuit longer than he was at the University of Texas – but school representatives know the demands on his time are greater now that he’s a major winner ... and playing at home.
"Just trying to really make sure I have enough time to work on my game and be prepared to play my best golf," Spieth said. "That's the trickiest part about these two weeks.
"It's a lot of fun off the course. It's more fun than any other tournament, but as far as time management goes, there's not enough time in the day to get to everybody. That's a little bit of a challenge, but we did a really good job of it this week, and hopefully just do the same the rest of the weekend and into next."
No worries. The Jesuit folks are just happy to include him among their ranks.
McMullen, who has been the director for just a year, has met Spieth at two school functions. “Just a good young man,” he said.
Flynn has never met Spieth in person, but he knows people who have – and nobody walks away disappointed.
“He’s a testament to what Jesuit’s all about,” Flynn said. “So great
to see somebody that young have success so quickly – but more important,
to see how he’s handled that success with humility and graciousness.”