Television deal, Hall of Fame among issues facing Rubincam

When Paul Rubincam retired in July from his post as Penn's director of special gifts development, he was expecting to take the year off. But after 15-year Big 5 Executive Secretary Dan Baker left the city basketball league in July, Rubincam said the five schools' athletic directors approached him and asked him to lend his experience and know-how for the coming year. On September 18, Rubincam was named the Big 5's acting executive director. "I know what all the problems are and what all the pluses and minuses are," Rubincam said. "I care about the Big 5. I think it's a Philadelphia tradition, and it's certainly worth perpetuating." Rubincam brings his extensive resume to the Big 5, which includes playing and coaching basketball for Penn. He was also Penn's athletic director from 1986 to 1993 and has worked for the University since 1962, most recently in alumni fund-raising. Although the Big 5 has undergone some turmoil in recent years -- particularly the 1991 reduction of the men's full round-robin tournament to a half schedule -- Rubincam feels he does not face any pressing issues this season, citing the conference's recent four-year agreement that allows home teams to choose the site of the games. The Big 5 officially began play in 1955 and includes La Salle, St. Joseph's, Temple, Villanova and Penn. "I'm going to take a look during the year at the Big 5, try to make some recommendations," Rubincam said. "I'm not sure how under my leadership things are going to change." Rubincam added that his current projects include producing the Big 5 yearbook and working out the details surrounding the Big 5's annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony. But while the Big 5 may not see much change over the next season, the conference's athletic directors were excited to have Rubincam aboard for the year. "I feel extremely good about it," St. Joseph's athletic director Don DiJulia said. "I think in the context of this year, there can't be a more perfect choice." Villanova athletic director Gene DeFilippo agreed, calling Rubincam "one of the most competent administrators I know." "I think that he really, really knows what kind of assistance our athletic directors need, and I think he'll be a wonderful addition to the Big 5," DeFilippo said. Temple athletic director Dave O'Brien believes Rubincam could make a noticeable impact on the Big 5. "With the advent of new conferences and game limitations, I think the Big 5 over the last decade has struggled a little bit to define itself," O'Brien said. "I think he will restore some real substantive meaning to the Big 5." Steve Bilsky, Rubincam's heir as Penn athletic director, said Rubincam's roles include "making sure the office runs," as well as contributing "his ideas and thoughts about what the future of the Big 5 should be beyond the year 2000." "I think his thoughts and comments will be well received by all the schools," Bilsky said. Baker, the former Big 5 director, feels the league will be in "pretty good hands" this year. "His intimate knowledge of the organization is going to be very helpful," Baker said. "He has the respect and admiration of his peers -- they know he's fair-minded and even-handed." Even though Baker said he was proud of negotiating the new four-year Big 5 contract, he hopes that the full round-robin format will eventually be restored. "To me, the essence of the Big 5 was the full round-robin schedule, which allowed us to determine a Philadelphia city champion," Baker said. "That's one of Paul's biggest challenges, to see if he can restore meaning to the term 'Big 5 Champion'." Bilsky credits Baker with saving the Big 5 from extinction. "The fact that we're still playing is a pretty, pretty big accomplishment," said Bilsky, noting that "there's a lot of non-glamorous work in putting together the Big 5." Despite the fact that the men do not play a full round-robin, the women still do -- and Rubincam should help continue the thriving competition, according to Kathleen McNally, Villanova's athletic director for women's sports. "He knows Philadelphia, he knows basketball," McNally said. Rubincam said the apparent declining interest in Big 5 basketball might be a result of the NCAA tournament's rise to glory, which in the past "did not have the appeal or glamour it does today." But Rubincam hopes the Philadelphia tradition will continue as long as possible. "The whole concept of the Big 5 is a plus for the city and the region," Rubincam said. "I don't see a downside to perpetuating the life of the Big 5." Penn men's basketball coach Fran Dunphy also said Rubincam should "do a very good job" in his position. "He knows the particulars that are involved in this issue," Dunphy said. "People feel very comfortable dealing with him." Dunphy explained that although Penn will play a Big 5 game at the Palestra this season, he wants to see all games played at the storied arena just as they were during the conference's first 30 seasons. "I'd love to see a round-robin again and all the games at the Palestra again, but I don't think that's going to happen," Dunphy said. DiJulia also voiced concern for the future of the Big 5, especially since there is no TV agreement for the season. "The television people don't think it's worth anything," DiJulia said. Rubincam and several of the athletic directors said they will not address on of the hotter issues in recent years -- whether Drexel will be invited to join the Big 5 -- until the league negotiates a new agreement, probably in 1999 or 2000.