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Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026
The Daily Pennsylvanian

9/11 10th Anniversary Issue


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In 1954, Penn president Dr. Gaylord Probasco Harnwell – the namesake of Harnwell College House – announced the formation of a new method of intercollegiate basketball competition. Rather than playing in a conference, five Philadelphia-area schools would play a round-robin series of games for a city championship. 


2-19-1996 Philadelphia big 5 logo (DP Archives).jpg

In 1954, Penn president Dr. Gaylord Probasco Harnwell – the namesake of Harnwell College House – announced the formation of a new method of intercollegiate basketball competition. Rather than playing in a conference, five Philadelphia-area schools would play a round-robin series of games for a city championship.