OSU-Marion Coach: Thanks, Lincoln University, Can You Score 200 Points Against Us Again? Sometime Next Week?

It’s been almost a week since Lincoln University put up 201 points against Ohio State-Marion while pressing the entire game. Since then, more details have come out, including that OSU-Marion’s coach played in the game, Marion is really a club team and they were simply a replacement for a team that dropped out of the tournament.

Today, the West Chester Daily Local’s Dave Zeitlin has a column about the whole situation, defending Lincoln U. from some of its more vociferous detractors. (I still don’t get how a team can press up 100 points — isn’t it just not any fun? — but whatever.)

And, sure, Lincoln coach Garfield Yullie may have been a jerk for pressing that whole night, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a fine person and a quality coach to his kids, some of whom have been in jail previously. (This is known as the John Chaney rule.)

In the story, Zeitlin (disclosure: a good friend of mine) quotes OSU-Marion coach/player Mark Sisler:

“I personally want you to know that I am not holding any animosity towards you, your student athletes, or anyone associated with your basketball program,” Sisler wrote in an e-mail to [Lincoln coach Garfield] Yuille. “I have no hard feelings for what had happened and my players don’t either. They actually had a great time this past weekend, and they have told me that they will always remember this experience for the rest of their lives.”

And get this: The national attention has actually provided a major boost for Ohio State-Marion basketball, which has played as a club team for many years and is only now trying to earn NCAA status.

“The publicity we’re getting is actually helping us,” said Sisler, who also serves as the school’s athletic director. “I have received many e-mails from prospective students wishing to become a part of our basketball program this year and next. Isn’t it mysterious how things work out?”

Wait. Who are these kids? Seriously. Who sees a 201-78 score and says, “Man, I want to play for the team that scored 78!”

More to rout than detractors proclaim [West Chester Daily Local]
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