Jean Dolores Schmidt, famously known as Sister Jean, is a member of the religious group “Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.” The former basketball player and coach is popular for her role as a chaplain for the Loyola University men’s basketball team, the Loyola Ramblers.

Sister Jean has been referred to as the team’s ‘lucky charm’ for years. Her prayers and presence at the games are said to be the team’s secret weapon in their reoccurring successful March Madness seasons. “I say a prayer. But sometimes, there is a little more than talking to God in the prayer. But I do begin with good and gracious God,” Sister Jean explained in an interview with “World News Tonight” in 2018. “I pray for the other team, perhaps not as hard.”

Although Sister Jean has been the Ramblers chaplain since 1994, her fame started in 2018 when the team advanced to the Final Four. She even gave Loyola University the rights to market her likeness and name for fan merchandise during their winning streak’s peak. Sister Jean has essentially become the face of the team, even having bobbleheads of her being the team’s best seller. Some bobbleheads were sold online for as high as $650.

The first round of the 2021 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament kicks off this Friday in Indianapolis. Loyola University announced on Tuesday that fan-favorite Sister Jean would be in attendance to support her team. This report came as a surprise to many, but it was later explained that Sister Jean received the Covid-19 vaccine and is safe to travel.

“I have had my vaccine injections, and I’m doing well,” she assured. “I can hardly wait to go to Indy for March Madness to watch the 68 teams play basketball.”

Also, she motivated everyone else to get the vaccine to attend sporting events again like her. “I encourage you, if you are able, to please get your vaccinations,” she encouraged. “It’s been a difficult year for all of us, but like spring, a new one is coming.”

This excellent report is fascinating during a time where many are hesitant about the Covid-19 vaccine. This is mainly because Sister Jean is a prominent religious figure, and many in the Christian community have voiced most of those reservations about the vaccine.

The highly anticipated event is one of the first of many for this year’s March Madness. This game also marks the first event that Sister Jean will see the players in person since she was in isolation amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Now that she has received both rounds of the Covid-19 vaccine, Sister Jean is ready to get back in the stands as the team’s number one cheerleader.

The ACC Champions at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are gearing up to face The Loyola University Ramblers in their best tournament seeding since 1984. The tournament game is for Georgia Tech and Loyola University’s men’s basketball teams, but the loved-by-many Sister Jean will undoubtedly be the star of the night.