Let the streamers fly

For the second time in two decades, thousands of streamers littered the floors and stands of the Palestra on Saturday night. Penn and La Salle basketball fans were allowed -- for one time only -- to partake in the glorious tradition of throwing streamers to celebrate each team's first field goal of the game.

It's a tradition that began at Penn in the 1970s, when Quaker fans started bringing red and blue streamers to games. It wasn't long before the practice spread to Temple, La Salle, Villanova and Saint Joseph's.

Unfortunately, the fun didn't last long.

The NCAA effectively ended the practice in 1985, when it decided that cleaning up the streamers required too much time. From then on, for each explosion of streamers, teams were awarded a technical foul.

Saturday night was the second time since 1985 that Quaker fans have resumed the tradition. In 1993, it was due to an agreement between the coaches to make the foul meaningless. This weekend, the teams were only issued warnings.

With many of the other University traditions becoming more and more reckless -- such as alcohol consumption over Spring Fling and the pelting of Hey Day participants with various liquids -- this is one harmless, exciting tradition Penn should embrace with open arms.

Obviously, Penn can't change basketball's rules by itself. However, the University can push the Big 5 schools to lobby the NCAA to allow the streamers -- and coach Fran Dunphy can set up arrangements with other coaches to void any penalties still incurred.

With the athletics department working hard to fill the seats at Penn sporting events, streamers would give fans -- young and old -- another great reason to visit the Palestra.

Why not at least let streamers fly for the Big 5 Classic?

Do it for the team. Do it for the fans. Do it for the University. Do it for tradition's sake.

Bring back the streamers.

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