University of Richmond Athletics
A10ng Came the Spiders
July 9, 2001
Location: Philadelphia, PA 19141
Founded: 1863
Enrollment: 3,150 (private)
Nickname: Explorers
School Colors: Blue & Gold
President: Brother Michael McGinniss, FSC
Director of Athletics: Dr. Tom Brennan
Dept. of Athletics Address:
LaSalle University, Department of Athletics
1900 West Olney Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19141
Most Recent A10 Championships: 1996 Men's Indoor Track and Field
Year joined the A10: 1996
Driving Distance from Richmond: 251.0 miles
Official Athletics Website: www.lasalle.edu/athletic
Sports:
Men's: Baseball, Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Football (MAAC),
Golf, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field
Women's: Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Lacrosse,
Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball
A10 Item list about La Salle:
1) Let's Eat!... Philadelphia is a city of great restaurants and food. If fine dining is what you want go into center city to the world famous Old Original Bookbinders (which this spring opened its second location - in Richmond!). Seafood is the specialty and they also serve a wonderful Snapper soup. If you are not in the mood for fine dining, then you probably want a cheesesteak. There's a great deal of argument as to who serves the best cheesesteaks in town. Most people know of the big three: Pat's (remember the Boyz to Men video?), Gino's (right across the street from Pat's), and Jim's (Located on South Street). Those are all great places to try, but if you're near the La Salle campus, Dalessandro's Steaks in Roxborough is a favorite of the locals. One taste-tester's opinion: Tony Luke's in South Philly near the Vet is the best place for a genuine cheesesteak. They also have amazing pork, roast beef, and chicken-cutlet sandwiches . Let's face it, no matter where you go in the city, you are going to find a great cheesesteak.
2) 5 Alive... The Philadelphia Big 5 has one
of the most unique college basketball traditions in the country. The Big 5 is comprised of five universities in the Philadelphia area--Temple, La Salle, Penn, Villanova, and St. Joseph's. For more than forty years, these five city schools have been battling each other for the City Championship. These highly anticipated games carry great importance among coaches, players and fans of the local schools. This year will be highlighted by a triple header played at the historic Palestra. (The Drexel Dragons will be the sixth team playing)
3) The "L" Train... Lionel Simmons, named after the "El"evated train in Philadelphia, became the third leading scorer in NCAA history (3,217 points) the year he graduated. He was named 1990 College Player of the Year and ios also a three-time Player of the Year in the MAAC. Simmons is a four-time First Team All Big 5 and three-time Geasey Award winner as Big 5 MVP. During his career, the Explorers had a 100-31 record. Simmons has been inducted into Big 5 Hall of Fame and played in the NBA for the Sacremento Kings from 1990 to 1997.
4. Where do all the hippies meet... South Street, South Street. It's not Melrose or Soho, but South Street tries -- really hard. There are many impressive stores, including an women's boutique (Echo), a non-chain coffee place (The Supreme Bean), a thrift store with treasures and a conscience (Thrift for Aids) and a vintage junkies heaven (The Antiquarian's Delight). Weekends are crowded, sidewalks are a torture and driving around is a pain in the neck, but it is one of the places to be seen in Philly.
5. Tom Gola... One of
the most talented collegiate athletes in Philadelphia sports history. As a sophomore, he led
La Salle to the 1952 NIT championship and was named co-MVP. Gola paced the Explorers to the NCAA basketball championship in 1954 and was named Tournament MVP. He was also elected as
National Player of the Year in 1954. As a senior, Gola brought additional national attention to
La Salle with the Explorers' runner-up finish in the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 20.9 points and 19.0 rebounds during 115 games and holds the NCAA record with 2,201 career rebounds.
He played in the NBA for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors and New York Knicks (1955-1956
and 1957-1966). Not only did he play, but he coached the Explorers during 1968-1969 (23-1
record, ranked second in nation) and 1969-1970 seasons. La Salle dedicated its state of
the art "Tom Gola Arena" at Hayman Center in 1998.
6. Priceless Postcards... La Salle University's Art Museum is hosting an exhibit of Japanese prints. These exhibits were once common everyday objects, most functioning as postcards or wrapping paper. Today they are beautiful examples of Japanese woodcut prints that illustrate scenes of daily life. The La Salle University Art Museum is displaying its collection of these 19th and early 20th century pieces through mid-November.
7. A new face... Billy Hahn, who spent the last 12 years working under coach Gary Williams at the University of Maryland, was named the 17th head coach in the basketball program's 71-year history. Hahn will succeed Speedy Morris as coach of the Explorers.Hahn is a relentless recruiter who should help propel La Salle's basketball program into the national spotlight once again.
8. Lights, camera, action... Philadelphia has been the backdrop for some of the greatest films of all time. We all know that Rocky fought his way up from the streets of Philadelphia to the world championship on Rocky I though IV, but many other movies have been shot in the city of brotherly love. In 1982 Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroyd traded places in Philadelphia. In 1984 Harrison Ford starred in Witness. Years later movies like Philadelphia, 12 Monkeys, Fallen, Beloved, and the Sixth Sense were filmed there. Look for a new Mel Gibson movie in the coming years that will be shot in the historic Philadelphia suburb of Doylestown, where Spider football players Joe and Jon Wilson and David Edwards played at Central Bucks West High School.
9. Where else should I go...
Penn's Landing Waterfront has concerts, shops, and soon, a gondola that will take
passengers over the Delaware River. Old City has its share of historical landmarks,
great bars, clubs, and beautiful homes. Boathouse Row offers a beautiful bike path,
sculpture and is home to the famous crew races - the Dad Vail Regatta. Independence
Park is home to the Liberty Bell and is where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
The Franklin Institute is an incredible science museum with a heart you can walk through.
The Art Museum has Rocky's steps and the Philadelphia Zoo is America's oldest zoo.
10. World class shopping... The King of Prussia Mall is home to eight department stores, enough specialty stores for every day of the year (365), and 40 restaurants. The mall is almost 3 million square feet of retail space. With $180 million in renovations and upgrades, the mall has become one of the world's premier shopping destinations. Everything you would ever need and want can be found at the King of Prussia Mall, even a mall-wide bridal registry.
12. A little more about La Salle... La Salle is
a comprehensive, coeducational university related to the Roman Catholic Church and
conducted under the auspices of the Christian Brothers. La Salle is one of two
institutions of higher education in the East conducted by the Christian Brothers (the
other being Manhattan College). The Brothers were founded by St. John Baptist de La Salle
in the 17th century. For more than 300 years, the order has been known for dedicated
teaching and devotion to students. ***Note - La Salle is two (2) words, not one (1),
so make sure if you spell it to include a space.***
11. A Local from La
Salle... Richmond men's basketball Assistant Coach Jeff Neubauer is a graduate of
La Salle University.Neubauer was an outstanding student-athlete at La
Salle, garnering GTE All-Academic All-America Honorable Mention honors. He also was a
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Academic selection his sophomore and junior
seasons. Neubauer earned All-Academic team recognition in the Midwestern Collegiate
Conference his senior year. As a point guard for the Explorers, Neubauer helped lead his
alma mater to a four-year record of 83-36, two NCAA Tournaments and one National
Invitation Tournament berth. He was also captain of the 1992-93 La Salle squad.