Twenty-five and nine: a third-place finish in the NIT tournament. The 1989 men's basketball season has truly dispelled that old joke that, "Basketball at Penn State is nothing more the early spring football training."

This new breed of Penn State basketball has brought a rising level of excitement to sport fans, a level that rivals the football tradition. Everyone has to be excited about this program, we had the A-10 coach of the year, Bruce Parkhill; and the A-10 freshman of the year, DeRon Hayes, "the tree."

Mr. Parkhill should be considered another truly great Penn State coach, like Joe Paterno and Rene Portland. He has turned a program that was nothing more than a mere joke into an up-and-coming respectable team, in just seven years.

Coach Parkhill, there has been rumors of you being considered for the Virginia coaching job, but please consider these three factors.

One, the new excitement of basketball here at Penn State is attributed to your hard work. Two, you will soon be coaching in the powerful Big Ten, more respect and better recruiting possibilities. Three, in five years or less you will have a brand new arena to sell out. So, please stay here at Penn State, and look out Joepa, here comes Brucepa.

To the Penn State players, you guys have created a basketball excitement unmatched for over a quarter century. Your performance has been a joy to watch, either on television or in the rockin' Rec Hall.

I wish the whole team a well-deserved rest and hope for an even better season next year --the NCAA tourney. I am already anxiously awaiting the chance to see everyone next year, especially Coach Parkhill, my coach of the decade.