Dan Cronin (center) on tour in Argentina surrounded by teammates (L to R) Matt Rosales, Evan Currie, Craig Willams, and Mike “Scrumpy Jack” West.
As we wrap up the month of august, we honor Dan Cronin, a man who played in the tight five in the early 2000’s. Read as Dan describes his time with the club and some of his favorite memories below.
When did you play?
2000 – 2004
What position?
Prop/Lock
Any special honors?
I was on the recruitment committee for a few years, and I went on to serve as President of the Ann Arbor Men’s Club for a few years after graduation.
Favorite memories?
Some favorite memories include our Tour of Argentina, our Tour of England, and Team Bonding at 1115 Packard and 144 Hill. Fond memories of the England tour: a Training Session with the Rosslyn Park F.C. – The club was too old to even have the “R” in “RFC” in its name. We trained with a VERY salty old coach who emphasized the importance of stepping on people’s feet with our cleats. I also remember the infamous Tyvek suit incident… Since the tour occurred in 2001, the theme of the tour was “2001, a Michigan Rugby Space Odyssey.” So logically, our tour kit was augmented by a space suit which consisted of a gold and silver painted Tyvek painter’s suit and shaded cataract sunglasses. Someone decided that our visit to Stonehenge (a well known alien visitation site) would be the best time to don this particular attire. Unfortunately, at that time in England, there was an outbreak of Hoof and Mouth Disease running rampant through the English countryside. Thus, when 20 strapping young men marched off of a tour bus in loose unison, the locals and the other tourists thought we were there from the ministry of agriculture. The protective nature of the suits caused, if I recall, quite a bit of panic. I also recall a game in London under the lights playing an Australian expat club. The only non-Aussie on that squad was a 6-8 Englishman named “big Tom.” Luckily, Mike Cavnar (known as “Lenny” for much of that tour) was more than up to the challenge of contesting lineouts. Their flyhalf was a 250 pound, pony-tailed islander. For whatever reason, he seemed to only ever want to get tackled by Scrumpy Jack, who was shy by about 100 pounds. The match was (in my mind, at least), a close affair because of the muddy conditions. We all appreciated the winter training sessions running up and down the stairs at Dennison Hall, which admirably prepared us for the swamp-like pitch. We ended the night at the Walkabout Pub in London, where a few of the forwards received a 30 minute lesson on propping from a Welshman that was, quite literally, incomprehensible. Great tour.
What are you doing now?
I am an attorney with the law firm of Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan in Cleveland, Ohio, where I move papers around. I am very good at it.
Any interesting stories or info that you can provide?
I recall my first practice. My freshman year roommate was from Australia, and he invited me along. Mike Livanos picked us up outside South Quad. I remember getting to Mitchell Field as the sun was setting, and seeing the men in Maize and Blue warming up. At that first practice I met guys like Andrew Marcus, Craig Williams, Scrumpy Jack, Flounder, Mike Levalle, Perps, Dogger, G, Knuckles, Lefevre, Stulie, and many other future partners in crime. My roommate went on to join a frat, while I joined up with the best set of ragtag misfits I ever knew or will know.
Anything else you want to add?
Soiled Meat and Sand. That says it all.
