DIBIASE: ‘Twas the night before Drexel …
December 7, 2006
‘Twas the night before Drexel, and all through the V,Not a Wildcat was stirring, not even Nardi.
The jerseys were hung in the locker room with careIn hopes that game time soon would be there.
The players were nestled all snug in their beds,While visions of March Madness danced in their heads.
And I in my dorm with books on my lapHad just settled down for a long winter’s nap,
When out on Sheehan Beach there arose such a clatterI sprang from my seat to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
When, what to my wondering eyes it would seemSat a bus and the coaches of the men’s basketball team.
With a well-dressed coach so dapper tonight,I knew in a moment it must be Jay Wright.
More rapid than eagles, his players they came, And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
Now, Curtis! Now, Dante! Now, Nardi and Scottie! On Bump! On Shane! On Bilal and Reggie! To the Pavilion, there Drexel will fall!Now drive away! Drive away! Drive away all!
So down Ithan Ave. the bus flewWith a cabin full of Wildcats and Jay Wright, too.
And then in a twinkling, the bus stopped at the placeWhere they would do battle and win with grace.
The engine was turned off, there was not a soundUntil down the steps the Wildcats descended with a bound.
They were dressed in warmups with their laces tied tight;With game faces on, they were ready for a fight.
They headed to the locker room, ready to erupt,’Nova was gonna show Drexel what was up.
Dragon Coach Bruiser Flint appeared with his team;He looked a bit starstruck, his eyes with a gleam.
He had a broad face and a little round bellyThat shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,And Jay laughed when he saw him, in spite of himself.
The look in his eyes and the shake of his headSoon let Jay know he had nothing to dread.
The game began; Scottie’s first three was sunk.Dante stole a pass and finished with a dunk.
The team spoke not a word, but let their play talkAnd filled up the scoreboard; they walked the walk.
By the end of the game ‘Nova’s lead grew,The scoreboard read: Wildcats 80, Drexel 42.
Jay was more than satisfied with the blowout win,”It was a good win for us,” he said with a grin.
He sprang to the bus, to his team gave a whistle,And away they all drove like the down of a thistle.
And that was that and everything was fine,the Wildcats brought joy to all on the Main Line.
But I heard Jay exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,”Great win to all, and to all a good night!”