It was nice to see Fran Dunphy back on the Palestra floor Friday evening.
Sure it was reassuring to know that Dunphy will return to coaching the Quakers this season after a summer courtship by his alma mater, La Salle, but this isn't a welcome back column for the Penn coach.
For one night, Dunphy returned to his playing days, as he took to the Palestra floor with the other Big 5 coaches, along with coaches from Drexel, to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Last May, Coaches vs. Cancer -- a group comprised of college coaches that raise money for cancer research -- hosted the Basket Ball, a black-tie gala and auction.
There, local resident Matt O'Reilly bid over $10,000 for the right to assemble a team of his friends and take on the Big 5 coaches and their assistants. And if that wasn't enough, Team O'Reilly was coached by Hall of Fame coach John Chaney.
Several others each paid $5,000 to have the chance to play on the same team as the local coaches.
All in all, Dunphy said the event raised close to $25,000.
And the Big 5 coaches gave everyone their money's worth.
In a pregame meeting, Chaney worked on plays with his team of 30-to 50-year-olds. When one of his players was called for traveling, Chaney erupted on the sideline, earning himself a technical foul.
As if he was talking with CBS broadcaster Billy Packer, St. Joseph's coach Phil Martelli -- who should never go out in public again wearing a basketball jersey -- delivered one of his classic putdowns.
"You stink Dunph," he yelled at the Penn coach after Dunphy made a bad pass.
New La Salle coach John Gianini proved to be Team O'Reilly's fiercest competition, scoring a team-high 10 points and earning "Rookie of the Year" honors from Martelli.
Despite their age, the coaches played like a tough team -- executing give-and-go's and backdoor cuts with precision.
It would be easy for these coaches not to get along.
Connecticut men's and women's basketball coaches, Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma, are famous for feuding with each other, as the two compete for attention in the Middle of Nowhere, Connecticut.
And those two guys never even have to coach against each other.
The Philadelphia coaches could choose to be competitors both on and off the court, struggling for local recruits and media attention.
But this group does just the opposite when they step off the hardwood.
In a profession that is often overshadowed by scandal, it is nice to know that our college basketball community is filled with a bunch of good guys.
Sure, the city has seen its fair share of missteps, as recently as this summer's incident at La Salle.
But the swiftness and thoroughness with which La Salle cleaned house this summer shows just how intolerant local programs are of scandal. Gianini -- who didn't stop smiling throughout the entire event -- seems like a perfect face for the Explorers.
It's true that the real heroes of Friday night's charity game played against the coaches.
"They're the ones who put up the money," Martelli said. "We just get the attention."
The coaches do deserve attention, however.
The game was Martelli's idea, and without the rest of the coaches, the game would never have been possible.
And this isn't the only thing the coaches do to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
In a few weeks they will host a golf tournament. In November, they hold an open practice at the Palestra with all the Big 5 teams. On the morning after Selection Sunday, they host a brunch. And of course they hold their annual Basket Ball.
While many people regard college basketball coaches as local heroes, this group has proven time and time again that they are truly worthy of such admiration.
Team O'Reilly -- stacked with former players for William and Mary -- topped the coaches, 70-63, in front of a Palestra crowd comprised of cheerleading children and wives.
Even Villanova coach Jay Wright's wife was in the crowd, cheering for Dunphy -- who scored three points on 1-of-2 shooting -- as much as she was cheering for her husband.
It just goes to prove that in a profession based on intense competition, this group of coaches is as much family as they are foes.
David Burrick is a junior Urban Studies and Philosophy, Politics and Economics major from Short Hills, N.J, and senior sports editor of The Daily Pennsylvanian. His e-mail address is dburrick@sas.upenn.edu.
