Ed Cooley's Return Sparks Mixed Emotions Among PC Basketball Fans

Ed Cooley’s Return Sparks Mixed Emotions Among PC Basketball Fans

by Tom Misch
in *EN, News-PL, PC
on 27 stycznia 2024

Wheeler Cowperthwaite, Providence Journal

January 27, 2024 at 5:00 AM

PROVIDENCE − McPhail’s, the bar in the Slavin Center at Providence College, is known for its photo collage of the basketball team over the years. Recently, this collage has taken on a new significance as pink sticky notes dot the faces of former coach Ed Cooley. For the fans at the bar, Cooley’s return on Saturday with the Georgetown Hoyas is a bittersweet moment, evoking feelings of betrayal and abandonment.

PC senior Justice Avant, a die-hard Friars fan, grew up watching Cooley coach the team, making his departure all the more personal. „We feel betrayed,” Avant expressed. „We feel abandoned.” The sticky notes covering Cooley’s image in the bar’s photo collage serve as a visual representation of the hurt experienced by Friars fans.

However, not all fans share the same level of resentment towards Cooley. Patrick Cambria, a senior at PC, believes that Cooley’s departure was ultimately a business decision. „He appealed to our emotions and then suddenly, it became, it was all just business,” Cambria stated. Although initially saddened by the news, Cambria sees the arrival of new coach Kim English as an opportunity for growth and a fresh start.

Caroline Austin, a sophomore at Providence College, has a deep-rooted connection to the Friars, thanks to her father’s passion for the team. She acknowledges the sense of betrayal among fans but remains focused on enjoying the game silently, while her father supports the team from the stands.

Amidst the mixed emotions surrounding Cooley’s return, there are fans like Shannon Kelly and Meghan Barker, who are looking forward to the game itself. Despite the initially high ticket prices, they believe that the atmosphere at the AMP will be incredible and are excited to be a part of it.

Ultimately, as the Providence College community prepares for Cooley’s return, there are contrasting feelings of hurt, anger, and anticipation. Some fans view his departure as a personal betrayal, while others see it as an opportunity for the team’s growth under new leadership. Regardless of individual perspectives, Cooley’s return is undeniably a significant event for PC basketball fans, regardless of the emotions it may evoke.

FAQ

1. What is the significance of the photo collage at McPhail’s bar in the Slavin Center at Providence College?
The photo collage at McPhail’s bar is known for featuring the basketball team over the years.

2. Why are there pink sticky notes on former coach Ed Cooley’s face in the photo collage?
The pink sticky notes on Ed Cooley’s face symbolize the hurt experienced by Friars fans and their feelings of betrayal and abandonment.

3. How do fans feel about Cooley’s departure?
Some fans, like Justice Avant, feel betrayed and abandoned, while others, like Patrick Cambria, see it as a business decision and an opportunity for growth.

4. How does Caroline Austin, a sophomore at Providence College, feel about Cooley’s departure?
Caroline acknowledges the sense of betrayal among fans but remains focused on silently enjoying the game while her father supports the team from the stands.

5. How do Shannon Kelly and Meghan Barker feel about the game?
They are looking forward to the game and believe that the atmosphere at the AMP will be incredible.

Definitions

1. Slavin Center – The location at Providence College where McPhail’s bar is situated.

2. Friars – The nickname of Providence College’s athletic teams.

3. AMP – Abbreviation for a location related to the game, but the full term is not provided in the article.