OPPONENT SPORLIGHT: Drown's Dobbs happy to roam the sidelines

You might expect the man who played his college home games at the Palestra to cheer for the Quakers when they take on Brown tomorrow evening. Forget about it. You'd think the man who recruited Shawn Trice would be cheering for the Penn senior forward to clinch his third straight Ivy League title. No chance. Brown coach Frank "Happy" Dobbs, will put his Philadelphia roots and his ties to the Quakers behind him tomorrow night at the Palestra and do everything in his power to help his injured Bears delay Penn's hopes for a third consecutive Ivy League championship. Dobbs, who was born and raised in Pittsburgh before playing college basketball at Villanova, is in his fourth season as head coach of the Bears. While he was at 'Nova in the early 1980s, the Wildcats played their home games at the Palestra and more often than not emerged victorious. Dobbs has not won in that building since he took over at Brown. "We had lots of terrific wins in the Palestra due to the great fans there," Dobbs said. "I know what it's like to win there, and I know the losing feeling too. I want to get back on that winning track at the Palestra -- just like we had at Villanova." Many of Dobbs' memories from the Main Line involve Villanova coach Rollie Massimino, who had a great impact on Dobbs' decision to get into coaching and his style on the sidelines. "He was a great tactician as far as the game was concerned," Dobbs said. "He understood situations and when to do things and when not to better than anybody. I was always thankful for the opportunity to learn from him." Dobbs always entertained notions of getting into the coaching profession, but it was a fluke that sent him on his way to Hanover, N.H., for his first coaching assignment. After Dobbs accepted a job at Proctor and Gamble his senior year with the Wildcats, Villanova assistant Paul Cormier took the head coaching job at Dartmouth and asked Dobbs to join his staff. He was disappointed his professional career in the NBA did not work out after he was a fourth-round draft pick in 1984, but Dobbs was eager to try his hand at coaching. After a brief stint with the Big Green and some time as an assistant at Boston College, where he recruited Trice, Dobbs became one of the youngest head coaches in America when he got the top job at Brown. The now 32-year-old Dobbs has posted a career record of 43-59 in Providence. Early success has been the story of Dobbs' life. At the tender age of four, "Happy" earned his everlasting nickname from his father. "My dad felt I was so serious and competitive at that age -- he just wanted me to smile and loosen up," Dobbs said with a chuckle. "Everyone calls me that. Most of my kids don't even know what my real name is, I don't think." The Boston Red Sox knew his name as a senior in high school. The Bo Sox drafted Dobbs after graduation, but life on the diamond was too slow for him. Then the Dallas Cowboys drafted him even though Dobbs had never played football in an organized fashion. "Football was a little different," Dobbs said. "The Cowboys were just looking for athletes, and they invited me to camp. It was fun being there, but I knew it wasn't for me." Coaching is for Dobbs. Although this year's team has been decimated recently by injuries to stars Eric Blackiston and Brian Lloyd, Dobbs remains optimistic about his young club. "Every year we've played a tougher and tougher schedule, and every year we've improved," Dobbs said. "I'd love for that to continue." What would make Dobbs happiest of all is getting back on the winning track at the Palestra tomorrow night.