This is in response to Ben Miner's letter regarding the Penn State Basketball program, and specifically head coach Ed DeChellis ("Men's basketball team requires better coach," Feb. 29). While I would agree to some extent that his tenure has not been great so far, how about we give him a fair chance with this group of players.

While there is the occasional blowout, this is a scrappy team that this season has beaten No. 7 Michigan State without our best player, mind you. Your notion that because DeChellis didn't play basketball in college is also quite absent-minded. There are many other coaches who didn't play, such as Bruce Pearl, whose Tennessee team beat Memphis and was No. 1 before being upset. Our coach made the five-hour drive to Albany numerous times to ensure Taylor Battle would become a Lion. This clearly shows the dedication he has to improving the program.

I also take offense to your notion that we deserve a better coach and better program. As proud Penn State supporters, we are supposed to be there for our teams, not try to bash them for not being Duke and North Carolina in basketball. We are not them and probably never will be. That does not indicate failure.

Even though we are bad on some nights, this program is in much better shape than you try to describe. Ed DeChellis has done Penn State proud with the effort and determination he has displayed. I hope you will join me in that opinion someday as well.

Dan Venezio

Class of 2007