Nov. 7, 2008
The Nova Notebook, by Villanova director of media relations Mike Sheridan, appears weekly during the fall into the basketball season and periodically from May through August. In this week's installment we look back at a Villanova night of nostalgia at the Wachovia Spectrum on Thursday, Nov. 6.
Moments after Villanova had completed its 75-37 victory over Northwood at the Wachovia Spectrum, building workers had enclosed the court with a rope so that fans could get autographs from Wildcat student-athletes and head coach Jay Wright. As the Seahawks began to make their way back towards the ramp to the visiting team locker room, Wright called out to his former boss and longtime mentor, Rollie Massimino.
"Coach," Wright said to him, "grab a sharpie and come sign with me."
And so the man who coached the Wildcats for 19 seasons, 357 victories, five Elite Eight appearances and one NCAA title, walked with Wright towards one of the baskets and signed for 15 minutes. As he did so, the sentiments seemed best summed up by a gentleman who stopped to shake Massimino's hand when he had signed his final autograph.
"Thank you," the man said, "for so many great memories."
More than anything else, Thursday night at the Spectrum was about just that. Much of it centered on Villanova's legendary former coach and on the building itself, which hosted numerous major Wildcat battles through the 1980s and into the 1990s. Those thoughts weren't far away when Massimino sat down at a table to meet with the media following the contest, a room he visited often in his days at Villanova.
"It's very good [to be back]," stated Massimino. "It was fun. It was quite a nostalgic evening. It was good to see everybody. I probably enjoyed that more than anything.
"I've had so many wonderful experiences. I told our kids, 'You don't know how lucky you are.' Some great players and coaches have gotten dressed in the same locker room. You just want them to experience all that."
Outside the press room were literally dozens of family, friends and former Wildcat players. They would later join Massimino, Wright and members of the Villanova family at a post-game reception at a restaurant just off the Main Line.
Part of the dynamic at work was a visit to the Spectrum, a building that served as the Wilcats-home-away from home during one of the more successful eras of Villanova basketball. Among the more memorable encounters were those with Georgetown and Syracuse. Visions of those thoughts weren't far from the minds of anyone who was a part of them.
"Our (former) assistant Brett Gunning called me this afternoon," Wright noted after the game. "He said to me, `how cool is it that you are coaching against Coach Mass at the Spectrum?' And it really was cool. Not the game - I hate coaching against my mentor - but just coming back in here. This is a place where we were young assistants and learning about basketball at this level."
What struck Wright first when he entered the arena for a Wednesday afternoon practice session in advance of the exhibition game?
"The smell," he said. "There is just an aroma here that has never left. For me it really reminded me of a lot of big games, watching guys like Gary Massey, Doug West, Kenny Wilson, Mark Plansky, Greg Woodard and so many others play in here. Those were some great nights."
Of course, many of the current Wildcats weren't old enough to recall any of that. To them, this was more about the chance to hone the skills that have caused them to be ranked No. 23 in the nation as the regular season approaches. Wright too is focused on the season opener and understands there is ample room for growth.
"We've got a lot of work to do," he noted.
For both the Villanova athletic department and basketball support staff the night was also about reacquainting itself with a venue it hasn't used in more than a decade. Although the structure of the facility is largely intact from the day on which it opened in 1967, there are new wrinkles that have been added. The support staff digested all of it with an eye towards preparing for what looms as the final college basketball game in the Wachovia Spectrum on Jan. 28, when the `Cats host preseason Top 10 squad Pittsburgh at 7:00 p.m. (ESPNU).
"It looks good," stated Wright. "They have done a great job of keeping things clean and using the space they do have well. We are really looking forward to playing Pitt in here. It should be a great atmosphere."
As part of the celebration of the Spectrum's final season - it is set to be taken down at some point next spring with a hotel/entertainment complex on the blueprint to replace it - Villanova is looking at ways to celebrate some of its highlights in the building that night. Plans will take shape over the next two months.
If those scenes replicate the ones played out here against Northwood, it promises to be a memorable night.
Notables - Among those helping the Villanova staff help the event run smoothly on Thursday night was Dan Rosci, a former student manager who was hired this fall by the Philadelphia 76ers to work in their equipment operation. Rosci was seen catching up with his former colleagues on the student managerial staff before the game and at halftime outside the Villanova locker room.
The 76ers - along with the folks at Comcast-Spectacor - are gracious hosts to Villanova whenever it plays at the Wachovia Center and Spectrum. The NBA team offers the use of members of its equipment and communications staffs available to assist in game day operations.
