Ed Rendell: If Villanova Wins, 'Have A Parade'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- If you build it, they will come.
31 years ago, when Villanova beat Georgetown to win the National Championship, Philadelphia embraced them.
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"By noon, an estimated 100,000 had gathered near City Hall at John F. Kennedy Plaza and on nearby streets," Williams K. Stevens wrote for the New York Times on April 3rd, 1985.
Now, while there is much debate over if Philly natives should, should not, are, or are not rooting for Jay Wright's impressive squad in this year's Final Four, former Philadelphia Mayor, Pennsylvania Governor, and Villanova University School of Law graduate Ed Rendell is in full support of a parade.
"Have a parade," Rendell told Angelo Cataldi and the 94WIP Morning Show on Wednesday. "I predict if they hold it, we will come."
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For anti-Nova supporters -- often Temple or Saint Joseph's fans or graduates -- they consider Villanova to be an "elitist" school.
"It comes from the fact that Villanova is on the Main Line," Rendell explained. "If Villanova was in the Northeast -- Northeast, Philly -- there wouldn't be any of this."