PC’s Driscoll not happy with fans’ behavior Wednesday
bmcgair@pawtuckettimes.com
PROVIDENCE – When two high-ranking Providence College officials purposely go out their way to express disappointment over student behavior during an on-campus ceremony that was held the morning after a victory over the nation’s third-ranked team, you know a nerve was hit.
In a proactive response to students repeatedly shouting “(Expletive) Jay Wright” on multiple occasions during the second half of Wednesday’s game at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, athletic director Bob Driscoll said Thursday that he and basketball coach Ed Cooley planned to write a letter to the student body, the gist of which addresses the inappropriate actions that clouded an otherwise banner night.
“Act as if you’re been there before,” said Driscoll after the last piece of steel was hoisted and placed onto the still-tobe-completed-but-getting-there Ruane Friar Development Center. “There’s no place for that. It marred what was a special night.”
In his address to the PC community on Thursday, President Rev. Brian J. Shanley said the choice of language that was specifically directed at Villanova head coach Jay Wright “was definitely the downer on the evening.”
The crowd really started to get on Wright’s case after official Ed Corbett issued the coach a bench warning with 14 minutes left and the Friars protecting a 41-36 lead.
“I was actually heartbroken. We talk a lot about being a respected program. This was not who I think we are,” said Driscoll. “It’s education and you’ve got to educate people, but it was really disappointing.”
The expletive-laden taunts where Wright was the target lasted a lengthy stretch before eventually dying out. Driscoll said efforts were made to get the students to tone things down, but the messages from PC officials went unheeded.
“Sometimes when you ask them to do something, it makes it worse,” said Driscoll. “You’re talking about a fellow Big East member and one of the nicest human beings on the planet in Jay Wright.”
The sight of the students storming the court after the final buzzer also disturbed Driscoll, though not nearly to the extent of students shouting obscenities. He praised the security team at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center for managing a difficult situation as best they could, but perhaps the entire scene could have been avoided all together had an announcement been made for students to refrain from stampeding the court.
“We don’t want to see anyone get hurt,” said Driscoll, noting that in compliance with Big East rules, Providence College will have to pay a fine for the court rush. “I understand they’re youthful and want to be energetic, but I don’t want something like that to become a pattern or a habit. You want to get to the point where you’re used to winning. Been there, done that.”
Cooley said he was talking to Wright after the game when Dunk security officials came and got him and senior Kyron Cart- wright. Amidst the sea of chaos, both were safely escorted over to where Fox Sports analyst Bill Raftery was standing for postgame interviews.
“I’m not a big fan of court storming,” said Cooley on Wednesday night. “It does get dangerous because you have other men and women out on the floor, but I don’t pay attention to it.”
On a more uplifting note, Thursday’s gathering on the PC campus was cause for celebration as a significant milestone was reached in the construction of the Friars’ basketball practice facility.
“I know with a few of the recruits that Ed has coming in next year that this was a huge selling point,” said Driscoll. “You can talk about it all you want, but until it becomes realistic and real … they’ll be all sorts of things that will help them get better. It’s going to be really cool.”