Watching line drills and listening to the familiar squeak of shoes catching the court took him back, he says, to his days as a ninth-grade member of the freshman team. Even from the sidelines, he says, "my own feet started to burn."

Keiger was quickly impressed by the talented play of Hopkins All-Americans Julie Anderson and Angie Arnold. "Even if you don't go in planning to pay attention to those two, you end up paying attention. They are just so consistently wherever the ball is," he says. "You also notice how well they work together. They have this intuitive thing between them--as if they know exactly where the other will move."

While Keiger has not seen much time on the court since his high school days, he remains active in other athletic pursuits, including running, weightlifting, and bicycling. Last fall, after months of training, he and his wife completed the three-day Boston to New York AIDS Ride, raising $9,500 in pledges.

At press time, the Hopkins women had suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of Division II powerhouse Southern Indiana. Despite the setback, Keiger believes the Lady Jays have a credible shot at a bid for the National Championship in March. As they head down the homestretch, he'll be in the stands cheering them on. --SD

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