Meet Bruiser Flint. He screams like a mad man, says whatever he wants and is somehow the only coach in the country who is allowed to stand anywhere from 15-20 feet on the floor as the game is in progress.
Throughout Flint's 10-year run at Drexel, the Dragons have been rising in stature when it comes to comparisons with some of their City 6 counterparts, but have always played the role of the outcast.
Philadelphia is generally about the Big 5, "oh, and Drexel, too!" when local fans are feeling generous or inclusive. We're certainly not above criticism ourselves here at TheLevel for being focused on the the Owls, 'Cats, Hawks, Explorers and Quakers to the detriment of the Dragons.
And so, with (16-5) Drexel, winner of 14 of its last 15 after a disappointing 2-4 start, looking once more like the favorite to win the CAA, here's Brusier Flint to question the established order:
"I think we’re the best team in Philly," Flint said after Drexel won its eighth straight game. "I think we can beat anybody in the city, and I’m not just saying that. I think we can do it.
"And honestly? If you ask them guys? I think without hesitation they’ll say (the same thing). I think we can beat all those teams. I think we’ve proven it. When we have good teams, we can beat teams in the city. I think that’s been proven."
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Unfortunately for Flint and Dragons, Drexel lost its only intra-city matchup this year to the Saint Joseph's Hawks back in November. Though, as Reuben Frank is correct to point out in his recap of the team's 68-46 win over Georgia State last evening, "the Dragons were banged up early in the year and still finding their way."
Roob goes on to point out that over the last five seasons, Drexel is actually 9-5 against the Big 5. That's the kind of record to make Flint offer this argument to reporters on Wednesday:
"I get the whole Drexel-Philly thing," said Flint, the former St. Joe’s star now in his 11th year at Drexel. "We’ve always got to make everybody believe, because nobody thinks we should be as good as the other teams in the city.
"I get that. But I get (mad) because I don’t think people have been watching. Because our conference is just as good as the Atlantic 10. And in order for us to be a good team in the (Colonial Athletic Association), then we should be able to beat the other teams in the city.
"And that’s the thing that probably (ticks) me off more than anything else. OK? How can you look at us and say they were picked to win their conference, and they’re doing well, and they’re (considered inferior to) teams that are picked in the middle of the pack in their conference. So that’s the thing for me. What are you looking at?
"And we haven’t just started. We’ve actually been pretty good against the city teams the last five or six years against them. But you know. It’s just fuel for the fire a little bit. I like that. And I respect all the Philly schools. You know that. they’ve got great coaches, got great players, but I get it."
Consider this the last article we write discussing Drexel as anything less than equal to its City 6 rivals. We like Bruiser Flint too much (and, frankly, are too scared of him) to want to make him angry.
>>>Flint Says Drexel City's Best After 8th Straight Win [CSNPhilly]