Santa Clara University

SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 23, 1999 ﾖ Womenﾒs World Cup soccer star Brandi Chastain, Santa Clara Universityﾒs assistant soccer coach, was greeted by cheering fans, family and local dignitaries in emotion-filled ceremonies Friday morning at San Jose International Airport.

About 250 people stood in an airport parking lot and cheered Chastain as she got off an Alaska Airlines plane at 9:15 a.m. today. On the tarmac, the 1991 SCU graduate was greeted by television and press photographers, her parents, Roger and Lark Chastain, SCU President Paul Locatelli, S.J., San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales and Santa Clara Mayor Judy Nadler.

Some of the fans waiting for Chastain in a nearby parking lot had been there two hours. Balloons, music and banners framed the scene. About half the audience was girl soccer players, including a group from Blossom Valley, the San Jose neighborhood where Chastain learned the game. Many wore "Santa Clara Soccer" shirts; several dozen wore "Santa Clara (heart) Brandi" shirts made for the occasion.

Also waiting were more than two dozen reporters and photographers from San Jose, Oakland San Francisco and Salinas, who interviewed Chastain for 40 minutes after a brief program.

At the airport program, Locatelli thanked her as a member of "the Santa Clara family."

Gonzales said the "home-grown superstar" was leading "another American Revolution. . . in womenﾒs sports."

Also at the airport program, Chastain was given:

• Her Womenﾒs World Cup Gold Medal, presented by her father, Roger Chastain
• A Key to the City of San Jose, from Gonzales, one of only three the city has given
• "Brandi Chastain Day" in San Jose
• T-shirts from Nadler: "Santa Clara (heart) Brandi"
• One dozen roses from Santa Clara University President Paul Locatelli, S.J.
• Her favorite homemade cookies from SCU Athletic Director Carroll Williams
• Framed reproduction of Time, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated and Newsweek magazine covers on which photographs of Chastain appeared in the past week, from the San Jose Sports Authority.
• Birthday Song, from everyone, following presentation of a cake in the shape of soccer ball
• Dozens of hugs, especially from little soccer players

At the program, Chastain:

• Urged the audience to support the Childrenﾒs Cancer Research Institute; (Cancer claimed the life of a childhood friend Robert Whipple, last year.)
• Signed hundreds of autographs (for more than one hour).

After the program, she went to SCU, to lead the opening sessions of the Santa Clara Womenﾒs Soccer Academy. Her husband, SCU soccer coach Jerry Smith, was out of town on a recruiting trip.