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Trying to see past a barrier

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By Andrew Petersen | Thursday, April 17, 2008 |

In working on Thursday’s rugby feature for the Varsity cover, I was struck by something Barbarians/Barbies coach Norm McNeill said.

His players and prospective players don’t at all see the Quad-Cities as a single community. Even when crossing Centennial Bridge into Rock Island is closer than driving from Davenport Central to Pleasant Valley High, there is extreme hesitation.

“I didn’t realize it until we started talking about getting a game in Moline,” McNeill said. “(My players) said ‘I don’t even know my way around Moline.’

“When I was their age, I knew my way around all the Quad-Cities.”

I didn’t grow up here, so I’m far from an authority. But in the six months I’ve lived in Davenport, I don’t hesitate to venture into Illinois for food, entertainment, etc.

But I’m not a high school kid.

It’s not just related to these rugby players, either. My wife teaches at Black Hawk College, and many of her students give her blank stares when she references any business or street in Davenport.

What (other than a large river) creates this sort of barrier? Can anything be done to merge the communities at all?

McNeill said he has had rugby players from Illinois in the past, but there haven’t been many. He’s looking into an Illinois-side club as a result, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Any insight is welcome.