Drexel hosts Penn for first time ever on ESPN
Brett Fischer
Issue date: 9/26/08 Section: Sports
Even though Penn is visiting Drexel, men's head basketball coach Bruiser Flint said he doesn't understand why it has taken the Quakers this long to come to the DAC.
"We've played Penn 20 times," Flint said. "They're the next block over from us. It's not like they're five miles down the road. You walk across a light and you're on their campus and they've never participated in a basketball game here. When I tell people that, it amazes them that they've never played them. When I told [Penn head coach] Glen Miller this, he was shocked."
The process to allow Drexel to host a televised game on ESPN at the DAC was a combination of luck and compromise.
ESPN contacted the CAA looking for teams that had games on Nov. 18. Drexel already had a game scheduled for that date against Penn, but it was to be played at the Palestra. Coach Flint had other plans in mind.
"The only thing I suggested is that we weren't going to play at the Palestra," Flint said. "I wasn't afraid to say that. I said if we're going to be on ESPN, we should play at the DAC. But I will give Penn credit because they were cooperative with everything."
With help from potential coverage on ESPN, Drexel lured Penn into playing at the DAC.
"I have to give them credit," Zillmer said. "[Penn is] going to come over. I hope they know what they're in for."
Now, Zillmer says it's up to the students to show ESPN and the rest of the country how incredible the fans are at Drexel.
"My dream is that when ESPN opens up at 10 o'clock, that it's a complete college basketball game like you would see in March Madness," Zillmer said. "I hope students embrace this, have a great time and welcome ESPN."
Last year these two teams battled, Drexel eked out a 67-59 win in overtime at the Palestra, for only its fifth win in the series.
Drexel and Penn are both coming off of subpar seasons. The Dragons were 5-13 in the Colonial Athletic Association and 12-20 overall. Penn was 8-6 in the Ivy League, but just 13-18 overall.
Despite last year's struggles by both teams, if ESPN is looking for a sold out crowd for a 10 a.m. game, then according to Flint, that shouldn't be a problem.
"The DAC is going to be packed. I know that for a fact," Flint said.
"We've played Penn 20 times," Flint said. "They're the next block over from us. It's not like they're five miles down the road. You walk across a light and you're on their campus and they've never participated in a basketball game here. When I tell people that, it amazes them that they've never played them. When I told [Penn head coach] Glen Miller this, he was shocked."
The process to allow Drexel to host a televised game on ESPN at the DAC was a combination of luck and compromise.
ESPN contacted the CAA looking for teams that had games on Nov. 18. Drexel already had a game scheduled for that date against Penn, but it was to be played at the Palestra. Coach Flint had other plans in mind.
"The only thing I suggested is that we weren't going to play at the Palestra," Flint said. "I wasn't afraid to say that. I said if we're going to be on ESPN, we should play at the DAC. But I will give Penn credit because they were cooperative with everything."
With help from potential coverage on ESPN, Drexel lured Penn into playing at the DAC.
"I have to give them credit," Zillmer said. "[Penn is] going to come over. I hope they know what they're in for."
Now, Zillmer says it's up to the students to show ESPN and the rest of the country how incredible the fans are at Drexel.
"My dream is that when ESPN opens up at 10 o'clock, that it's a complete college basketball game like you would see in March Madness," Zillmer said. "I hope students embrace this, have a great time and welcome ESPN."
Last year these two teams battled, Drexel eked out a 67-59 win in overtime at the Palestra, for only its fifth win in the series.
Drexel and Penn are both coming off of subpar seasons. The Dragons were 5-13 in the Colonial Athletic Association and 12-20 overall. Penn was 8-6 in the Ivy League, but just 13-18 overall.
Despite last year's struggles by both teams, if ESPN is looking for a sold out crowd for a 10 a.m. game, then according to Flint, that shouldn't be a problem.
"The DAC is going to be packed. I know that for a fact," Flint said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
SJ
posted 9/26/08 @ 9:35 AM EST
Sorry to hear that Drexel's Administration will not be cancelling classes for this event, claiming the DAC can only accomodate a small percentage of Drexel's population. (Continued…)
JA
posted 9/29/08 @ 11:19 AM EST
Wow, we really need to get classes cancelled.
I have important classes right before, during and right after game time but obviously really want to go to the game. (Continued…)
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