The Big 5: Here Lives College Basketball Nostalgia
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On November 23rd, 1954, University of Pennsylvania president Dr. Gaylord Harnwell announced at Penn's Houston Hall, the formation of the Big 5. The Big 5 consists of Temple University, University of Pennsylvania, Saint Joseph's University, Villanova University, and LaSalle University, all within a 17 mile radius of each other.
The Big 5 began it's round robin series of games in 1955, thus ushering in the modern era of basketball into the city. The Big 5 is a tradition that I feel honored being a part of. The corner of 33rd and Walnut has more significance to me than 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue will ever have. Nothing to me was more exciting for me than cramming into the best place to see a basketball game ever, The Palestra. No luxury boxes, no special seating, and no matter where you sat you could see the game. The guy or girl next to you was your best friend, not because you knew them, but because they rooted for your team. Last year the Big 5 celebrated its 50th anniversary and in those 50 years there have been some great players, great coaches, and great games.
With names like Guy Rodgers, Jameer Nelson, Randy Foye, Larry Cannon, Mark Macon, Lionel Simmons, Corky Calhoun, Doug Overton, and Randy Woods, the Big 5 has never lacked star power. Some coaches that have walked on to Big 5 hardwood include Jack Ramsay, Rollie Massimino (who I'll mention later), Jack McCloskey, Chuck Daly, John Chaney, Speedy Morris, and Jack Kraft. As for some of the greatest games there is the triple overtime game that took place in 1958 between eventual winner La Salle and Villanova. The 111-105 contest is still the highest scoring output in any Big 5 game. In 1966 St. Joe's guard Steve Donches hit a 29 foot jump shot to beat Villanova 71-69 in what many consider one of the greatest Big 5 game of all time.
Even in this era of basketball we live in you still overhear basketball enthusiasts saying, "That guy plays like a Philadelphia guard." I mean, who wouldn't want to be labeled as a Philadelphia guard. Temple guards, Guy Rodgers and Hal Lear, were the prototypes and still to this day are considered the greatest back court the Big 5 has ever seen. Rodgers was unselfish and strived to make everyone around him better, and nobody was more thankful for that than Hal Lear who went on to win the NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 1956 after both players led Temple to the Final Four. Big 5 guard play was evident even in today's era as Villanova's starting lineup this past season included FOUR guards.
Earlier I mentioned I would talk about Rollie Massimino once again. It's not because of any great accomplishment but in fact I bring him up because he almost destroyed the Big 5. If you were to ask hoops fans in Philadelphia why the Big 5 round-robin went on hiatus in the early 1990's, almost all of them will reply with one word, "Villanova". Former Villanova coach, Rollie Massimino, was nailed to the proverbial cross for taking 'Nova out of the Big 5. The Wildcats were labeled as snobbish Main Liners who didn't appreciate what really mattered to true Philadelphians. In Philadelphia there are two things you don't dare do, you don't say "with Whiz" when ordering a cheese steak and you don't mess with the Big 5. Suffice it to say Rollie hit a nerve and woke up the "horror" that is pissed off Philadelphia sports fans.
Until Villanova hired head coach Jay Wright, Big 5 fans still had a sour taste in their mouth whenever brought up the Wildcats, but with the hiring of the Berks County native that all thankfully changed. Wright has worked his tail off to erase all of that. He has been one of the biggest supporters of the Big 5 and sees it as a part of Philly history, part of the city's fabric. He remembers seeing games at The Palestra and Convention Hall. He remembered the camaraderie, the double headers, and the fan fare that is the Big 5.
The Big 5 has always meant something to me. My father teaches at Temple University and my grandfather attended Penn. I've never gone a trip after seeing one of them without hearing a Big 5 story or us debating who the greatest Big 5 player of all time was ( it's Guy Rodgers). Hopefully in the future when I have kids I can teach them the value of what the Big 5 means to the city of Philadelphia and to me. The spirit of the Big 5 lives on in me and I will always bleed Cherry and White.
