PHILADELPHIA, PA—It was a trip several months in the making, but one that had taken 21 years to do. Back in September when I started to put together the schedule for the college hoops portion of coverage, I decided to go out to Philadelphia to take in the home opener of the Philadelphia University Rams against the University of the District of Columbia. Not only because it was an opportunity to see Corey Francisco, a former standout at Bishop Ahr, in action, but it was also a chance to take a trip out of state, and return to a place I had lived briefly in while at college.
From September 1988 to January 1989, I spent a semester and a half at Drexel University in the Center City section of Philadelphia. Prior to that, I had visited Northeastern Philadelphia on a college visit to LaSalle in October 1987. The trip to Philly U. brought back memories of that senior year trip to LaSalle. Going on the Pennsylvania Turnpike to get to Philadelphia gave images in my head of the trip to the Northeast Extension. Believe it or not, the trip took about 150 miles going to and from the City of Brotherly Love. I began my trip by leaving the house at around 2:00 PM, but didn’t leave South Plainfield until about 2:30 PM after getting some gas.
I proceeded down Route 287 South to Route 440 South, and the exit for the New Jersey Turnpike. I then took the turnpike south to Exit 6 for the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which cost $2.05, and then went on the Keystone State Turnpike a couple of exits to Philadelphia. There, I rejoined Route 1 South, a familiar road for many in the Central Jersey area, particularly those in Middlesex County. Following that road south, I eventually got onto the Roosevelt Expressway, which took me to the exit for Philadelphia University. I arrived on the campus at about 4:30 PM, and actually had a tougher time parking than getting to where I had to be.
Arriving at the gym some two hours before the start of the game, I sat back and watched the women’s basketball team practice for a while before the men’s team took the floor to warm up. You could tell Corey Francisco got a big kick out of the fact that GMC Hoops came down to see him play. I spoke a bit with his father Ted, who brought me up to speed on his situation at Philly U. Corey is getting settled in. Some off season physical ailments hampered his progress early on, and put him behind a bit, but he is starting to come into his own again. Francisco, who is still the all time leading scorer at Bishop Ahr, played a total of seven minutes during a couple of stints in the first half.
It was a special night at Philly U. Long time head coach, Herb Magee, who graduated from the college in 1963, and has his number retired in the gym, was honored for his recent induction in the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. Magee is going in with quite a special group including former La Salle standout, and NBA player Lionel Simmons, former Knick and 76er Maurice Cheeks, and former Eagles wide receiver, Harold Carmichael. Magee has coached at Philadelphia University for 42 years, and has been associated with the school for 49 years. He has amassed a win total that exceeds 800 games. He is a shooting guru that has helped the likes of former Florida State, and NBA player, Bobby Sura.
After a very close first half that saw neither team have a lead bigger than six points while there were 15 lead changes and 4 ties, the Rams, which compete with the likes of Caldwell College, Felician, and Bloomfield College in the CACC (Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference), went on a decisive 17-3 tear midway through the second half, and withstood a 9-1 charge by UDC for the 78-58 victory that improved their record to 2-0 after an opening night win on the road at St. Rose of the Northeast 10, where Perth Amboy’s Jermaine Clark plays. Following the game, I immediately headed home, and despite some struggles early on, I managed to arrive back at the house around 11:00. Honestly, it was a nerve racking ride for me since I hadn’t taken such a long time in some time, but I’m glad that I went. Special thanks to Sarah Punderson, and the folks at Philly University for their assistance.