This concept deserves a closer look.
The Cavoli Cup is a new recognition of the rivalry between St. Ignatius and St. Edward in Cleveland. This is a massive sports rivalry in any sport, and in rugby it's usually a sold-out game. But the Cavoli Cup is not just a challenge cup between the two varsity teams, but one that incorporates the games at other levels — JV and Freshmen.
The Cavoli Cup is named after Dan Cavoli, who attended Ignatius and taught there for about 10 years before moving to St. Edward where he taught for close to 30 years. Dan Cavoli was not an athlete or a coach, he was a teacher, who taught Latin and was deeply intellectual—he was valedictorian at St. Ignatius and, later, Holy Cross. There's a term in the teaching of especially intellectually gifted people and it is "Rage to Master" and certainly it seemed like Mr. Cavoli had that rage.
He was a teacher and, later, professional mentor for St. Ignatius Rugby Head Coach Dan Arbeznik, and was beloved at both schools.
"I don't think Dan swung a bat or threw a ball in his life," said Arbeznik in total admiration.
There is more to this rivalry and the rivalry match at Rugby Riot, where Zach Bateman has done a nice job talking about it. We Want to Celebrate the Rivalry is in front of the Rugby Riot pay wall.>>
Dan Cavoli contracted a rare brain disease and died last year. It was a cruel end to a man whose brain was so much a part of what he did. Fluent in many languages, fun, a little obsessive (he rarely slept) but easily distracted, and, said Arbeznik, "a Saint among us."
