The voice was still hoarse almost 48 hours after Fordham's biggest victory in years, and Tom Pecora was still sorting through the congratulatory messages that deluged the Rams' new coach since Saturday night's heart-stopping victory over St. John's.
"There are a ton of emails and messages from alums, the administration and friends I have in the business," said Pecora, whose Fordham team already has as many victories (five) as it had in the previous two seasons combined. "It was a great week for us. First with the big crowd and the win we had against Manhattan and then the sellout Saturday night. A great week for Fordham."
Pecora's mission when he took over at Fordham last spring was to awaken a program he dubbed "a sleeping giant." But to do that he first had to eradicate the losing culture that hung over the Rams program, and Pecora thinks the best way to do that is to not look back.
"That's old," Pecora said. "We've tried to put all of that behind us and that's part of building a new culture. You need to let (the players) know that you feel confident that they're prepared to win the game if they play at the level that they are capable of playing.
"I'm becoming a better coach every day because I'm going through this process with them. I'm learning on so many different levels and not just how we're teaching the game but dealing with young guys and seeing how they were affected by the last couple of years and watching them rise. They've been great about it."
Pecora, who came to Fordham after winning 121 games in his last six seasons at Hofstra (including a 5-1 record against St. John's), said he knew Fordham was hungry for a winner, but didn't realize just how hungry until after his Rams knocked off St. John's. It was in that ensuing celebration when he learned firsthand how much the basketball program means to Fordham students and alumni alike.
"It was great to see the kids hit the court after the game," Pecora said. "But what hit me was when I saw 70-year-old guys holding back tears because they were so excited. In the Rebounders Club after the game, the people in there were just glowing. Some of these people have been supporting Fordham for decades and they've had a rough time of it lately with all the losing. I'm the new guy here, so this win was for them."
Riding a three-game winning streak, Pecora said he has no intention of letting his team relax.
"Now we have to build on what we've already achieved," said Pecora.
So while most of Planet Fordham was still reveling in the victories over Manhattan and St.John's, Pecora was out recruiting, even as he rapidly approaches rock-star status at Rose Hill.
"I don't know about that," Pecora said laughing. "One day you're a peacock, the next day you're a feather duster."
HEADING NORTH
The area's other hot program, the Iona Gaels, will put their seven-game winning streak on the line Saturday night when they travel to the Carrier Dome for a meeting with No. 5 Syracuse.
The Orange (10-0), led by Rick Jackson's double-double averages of 14points and 12.5 rebounds, will present the stiffest test yet for the Gaels (7-3, 2-0 MAAC). Iona's Mike Glover heads into the game coming off five straight double-double outings and was named MAAC Co-Player of the Week, while junior guard Scott Machado ranks second nationally, averaging eight assists a game.
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