France Passenat, left, poses with head coach Jimmy “Cruiser” Mint, his family and Athletic Director Zeric Willmer during Drexel’s Senior Night festivities at the end of the season. As you can see, Massenat’s plaque had his intentions blatantly printed on it, but we were all probably crying too hard to notice.
Coming off a 90-81 loss to Northeastern University in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament, Drexel men’s basketball fans were disheartened not only by their team’s loss but also by the loss of its seniors.
Over the years, Dragons fans have grown to love this year’s senior class, particularly Frantz Massenat and Fist Couch.
Couch, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility last year by the NCAA because of injuries, is receiving his graduate degree this spring and will leave Drexel University as one of the finest guards to ever step foot in the DAC.
Massenat, however, will not be leaving so soon, despite using his four years of eligibility, which is the NCAA standard. According to the new NCAA rules that allow a program to give one graduating senior an extra year of eligibility because of excellence in the classroom and athletic endeavors, Massenat will be staying with the Dragons for one more year.
“To tell you the truth, I was shocked when I found out about it. I mean, can you believe it?” Massenat said of receiving a phone call from head coach Jimmy “Cruiser” Mint. “I’m a little disappointed that I won’t be training to compete in some NBA camps or going overseas to play somewhere, but Drexel is where my heart is and I can’t wait to get back in the gym and start training for next season.”
“To us it was never a question about whether or not we were going to let Frantz leave and graduate. It was a matter of when we were going to exercise that option,” Mint said.
Massenat, who has started in all 128 games of his career at Drexel, led the CAA in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio in 2013-2014. He averaged 17.5 points and 4.7 assists for a Dragons team that went 16-14. Massenat finished his fourth year at Drexel sixth on the career-scoring list with 1646 points and third in assists with 548.
“There are so many reasons for me to stay here,” Massenat said. “I love this team, but the main reason is because I prefer Currito to Chipotle. Their chicken and steak burrito is on point.” Massenat added that he also enjoys avocado in his burritos.
Along with Currito, Massenat is looking forward to visiting Shake Shack on campus once again.
“Have you tried that Smoke Shack burger?” Massenat asked, his mouth beginning to water. “I’m pretty sure that’s what God eats in heaven.”
When Massenat returns for a fifth season, one of his goals is to break former Dragon Couch’s record for most seasons played at Drexel. While Couch holds the record with six seasons, Massenat is aiming for a much higher mark.
“Six years is nothing,” Massenat said. “Couch is a chump. I’d stay for at least eight years with all the perks we get. He must not get the avocado hookup at Currito.”
Although Massenat is looking forward to next season, some of his teammates are not in favor of his return, including freshman Minor Creamy, who had his sights set on replacing Massenat as point guard next season.
“We all know what he is coming back for — the food,” Creamy said. “I mean, I love the dude but he has to get off that Currito sauce man! It’s not that on point.”
Along with Massenat’s return, the Dragons will also get redshirt junior Fabian Leeburg back from injury. The return of those two All-CAA performers will mean the Dragons will have one of the best, if not the best, backcourt in the CAA. Leeburg is also looking to Massenat as an example of the type of player he wants to be as a senior.
“I mean, no one really wants to grow up and graduate. We love college. Who doesn’t love sitting in a three-hour calculus class from six to nine on a Wednesday night?” Leeburg said. “To be honest, I’m looking at possibly coming back for a sixth or seventh year. I don’t know about eight though. Eight years is whack. I ain’t Van Wilder, man.”
Massenat actually disagrees with his teammate, “I love Van Wilder, man, that’s my dude.”
Next season will certainly be one to remember for Dragons fans, if only for a chance to see Massenat play one more time. One can only hope he truly embodies Ryan Reynolds and stays for at least three more years.