Spring Break
Words of wisdom from DAC Pack president
Rob Falcone
Issue date: 11/14/08 Section: Sports
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What was it about Nov. 9, 2007 that we will most remember? Was it the police escort that could barely contain the thousands of Drexel fans making the walk from 34th and Market to 34th and Walnut? Was it the fact that the sea of gold dwarfed the speckle of red and blue? Was it the Gov. of Pennsylvania sitting seemingly unnoticed, while a grinning man known to most as "Taki" stole the show? How about the freshman playing in his first ever college basketball game calmly drilling three pointers like there was no one in the building? Was it the deafening sound when the buzzer finally sounded, and Drexel had defeated Penn?
Years from now, when we return to this special place that we all currently call home, we will undoubtedly have many memories of that special night last November. While we sit in our plush Alumni Suite at the Armory, we will tell our kids how we sweated through games on bleachers at the DAC, and we will tell our grandkids how grandpa wore a blue wig and grandma painted her face. We will hold these memories dear, and tell people with pride how on that glorious night, we made the world stop and take notice of Drexel University.
People who had for the longest time ignored the success and accomplishments taking place in the northern half of University City were astonished to find out what had occurred when they weren't looking. They looked to the small school north of Penn, and realized it wasn't so small anymore; they saw all of the residence halls, and wondered why it was called a "commuter school." They saw the nationally-ranked academic programs, the newly founded law and medical colleges, and asked who coined the phrase "engineering school." They looked at the newspapers, and realized that a national political event was just recently hosted, and learned that an Olympic qualifying tournament was on its way.
They flipped on the TV, and saw a Dragon logo featured on Saturday Night Live; later they saw a group of students who invented a mind-reading device, and another student chosen to perform during a world famous rock band's concert. Finally, to cap it all off, there were the US News articles, describing one of the nation's top 10 "Up And Coming Universities" and a new member of the nation's top tier.
It has taken many years to get to this point, and as visionaries such as President Papadakis and Senior Vice President Jim Tucker continue to build upon Drexel's past, we will have many opportunities to show the world who we are. What made Nov. 9, 2007 so special was the fact that we, the entire Drexel Community, finally stood united, brandishing gold shirts and chips on our shoulders, proud to show the world who we are and what we are have accomplished.
As we move into a new academic year, and a new athletics season, we must be aware that each and every day we are shaping Drexel University for the future. By wearing your gold shirts to class on game day, by standing together in the DAC, by screaming and yelling and intimidating our opponents, we are building pride, an asset that cannot be bought or sold, but is nevertheless crucial for an elite university.
Students, come out to the games, get your free shirt, stand together and demonstrate how much Drexel means to you. Our antics have been well documented; we have impacted the outcome of games, helped neutralize star players and made former students proud to say they used to be us.
Athletes, never forget the name that is on the front of your jersey; what you do on the court, or on the field, has a direct impact on the pride that so many people take in calling themselves Dragons. You are not just playing for yourself, or your team - you are playing for Drexel. You represent us all, and as we all proved on that special night last November, great things are possible when the Drexel community comes together.
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