Drexel Opponent Spotlight | Hawthorne is Drexel's BMOC

When F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote of being a "big man on campus" in his novels, the famed author's idealization certainly did not include 7 a.m. practices, iffy dining hall food and a pre-season prognosis of failure.

But Drexel senior Tramayne Hawthorne - Comcast SportsNet's newly christened "Big Man on Campus" - has to weather all of that this year, as well as live up to the title.

Even Gatsby didn't face that kind of pressure.

SportsNet selected six "Big Men" of Philadelphia Division-I basketball. Those sharing the title were LaSalle's Vernon Goodridge, St. Joe's Ahmad Nivins, Temple's Dionte Christmas, Villanova's Scottie Reynolds and Penn's Tyler Bernardini.

For Hawthorne, who has done special interviews and events in his hometown of Steelton, Pa., the televised profile was something in which he had never taken part before.

"[SportsNet] came around, spoke to all of us a little bit, followed me to the cafeteria," Hawthorne said of the experience. "They were focused on getting to know me as a person, off the court."

Big 5 players and coaches might want to get to know him on the hardwood, however. With the graduation of talented center Frank Elegar last year, Hawthorne continues his role as a deadly perimeter threat and is Drexel's leading returning scorer with 11.2 points per game. He notched 18 points in the Dragons' defeat of Penn last season.

Though Drexel has been projected as the last place team in the Colonial Athletic Association this year, Dragons coach Bruiser Flint has high hopes for Hawthorne and his team, and he's not afraid to work them all - as evidenced by his early morning practices and policy of tough love.

"[Hawthorne] is the spark plug of the team," Flint said. "He is going to be more of a leader this year. . He will show things through example now."

Hawthorne understands this role through not only his effort in practice but also his daily interaction with teammates, an aspect that he felt the "Big Men" special highlighted nicely.

But will his regional television stardom follow the senior into his upcoming season?

"No, not at all," Hawthorne said. "It was fun, and it was something you can show your grandkids and kids. Now it's over with, and you gotta focus."

For one thing, Flint certainly doesn't care if his player is on SportsNet or Broadway; there's only one thing that is expected of him for this morning's season opener against Penn.

"He better play well," Flint said. "That's about it."

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