Todres | Big 5 not so big any longer

There was an eerie feeling last night at the Palestra, even before the game tipped off.

Scanning the arena from press row, I saw completely empty sections in the second tier of the historic gym. Penn's cheerleaders moved their seats from the baseline to the front rows of the student section to fill the rows of sparsely-filled bleachers behind the basket.

The unmistakable racket that usually accompanies Big 5 games at the Palestra - especially Big 5 openers between Penn and Villanova - was supplanted by sporadic shouts from frustrated fans on both ends of the gym. At times, it was almost silent, as though the two teams were scrimmaging behind closed doors.

Usually, the 8,700-seat gym is packed to near capacity for a Penn-Villanova game, creating the raucous and festive environment that has defined the Big 5 tradition for over 50 years. Last night's attendance? 5,328. And even that figure could be generous.

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Just two years ago, when the Quakers played host to the Wildcats, a near-capacity crowd of over 8,000 witnessed a thrilling Penn comeback fall just short. Penn's local players elevated their game on the big stage, leaving everything on the floor against a bigger and stronger team.

Mark Zoller and Brian Grandieri, natives of Blue Bell and Media, Pa., respectively, brought the Quakers back into the game midway through the second half, combining for seven points to tie the game up at 68 before Villanova pulled out a 99-89 win.

I remember that game like it was yesterday - and the headache that followed. It sounded like ambulances and fire trucks had been shuttling up and down the concourse for two hours straight.

Even though the Big 5 had been in steady decline at the time, that classic Penn-Villanova battle summoned the ghosts of the Palestra from the woodwork and heightened the game's importance.

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After last night, I am worried that the Big 5 as we know it is running out of steam. Even as Penn's younger players develop and the team improves, will the Quakers be able to reclaim Big 5 relevance?

Sure, a lot has changed in two years. A team that had been led by seniors has had to revamp itself with freshmen and sophomores. That's simply the ebb and flow of a basketball program that has historically seen more highs than lows.

Penn's regression in the Big 5 unfortunately comes at a time when the significance of the Philadelphia rivalries is declining on the whole. Villanova coach Jay Wright and his players will tell you about how they love to come to the Palestra because of its history.

"This place is legendary," Wildcats forward Dante Cunningham said. "It's always fun to play here."

But that doesn't explain why Villanova does not play its Big 5 home games in the Palestra anymore like it used to in the heyday of the rivalries. The money involved in major college basketball - of which Villanova is a part and Penn is not - has become too enticing to turn down in favor of reviving a great link to the past.

I do believe that all of the Big 5 coaches are genuine in wanting to preserve what truly is a unique experience. Still, there is no simple solution to such a complex problem, and the issue is hardly a recent development.

But no matter how you slice it, Penn's status in the Big 5 took a big hit last night. The damage was done as early as Monday, when the Penn Athletics website was still advertising a ticket promotion for the game.

The Big 5 component of the Penn basketball tradition is seriously struggling to withstand the test of time. If the five schools are serious about keeping the classic Big 5 tradition around for the long haul, then they all need to act fast before it's too late.

Andrew Todres is a senior Political Science and History double major from New York. His e-mail address is todres@dailypennsylvanian.com.

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