Aberdeen Dad Vail ® Regatta - Aberdeen Dad Vail 1-on-1: Drexel AD Dr. Eric Zillmer

On the day following the presentation of the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta Chairman's Trophy for Excellence in Foreign Competition to the Drexel University women's varsity eight, Drexel athletic director Dr. Eric Zillmer (above, third from the left) took time for an interview with the Aberdeen Dad Vail Organizing Committee. The Drexel women received the award in honor of their historic victory in the Sports Council Cup at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta at Henley-on-Thames, England last summer. The Dragons became the first Dad Vail crew to win the Sports Council Cup and joined Yale, Brown and Radcliff as the only American crews to ever triumph in the regatta.

The following is a selection of Dr. Zillmer's responses.

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DVROC: Why did the Drexel administration decide it was a worthwhile venture to send the women's varsity eight to Henley?

Zillmer: They had a good year all along and won the Kelly Cup, but we thought they maybe underachieved just a little bit at Dad Vail (third-place finish) because it was a very windy day. Usually if you medal at Dad Vail you'll get a seeding at Henley, so you don't have to qualify for it.

I was (at Henley) in 2006 and you're allowed to go every four years (per NCAA rules) so we were eligible again. It was a matter of if we had the chops to line up and compete with boats that you don't necessarily know. Henley is interesting because it's a knockout race — there is no bronze or silver medal. It's all about who is the fastest. If you lose one race, you go home and the trip from Henley back to Philly is a long one, so there's always a risk.

That's the beauty of sport, though, so we wanted to send them. It was also because I have a really good coach in Paul Savell and he's never been to Henley. I wanted him to experience it and see what he could do. We made the decision to do it right away (after Dad Vail) and went with it. It was just about raising the funds — it takes about $50,000 — but we got it done because we have a great community here at Drexel.

DVROC: What's your fondest memory from the victory in the finals of the Sports Council Cup?

Zillmer: We raced all week and there were over 180 team there, but by the time the weekend came around and it was Sunday afternoon, there were only two boats remaining in the final race and one of them was Drexel. That really gets to you. There is constantly boats coming down the Thames and a lot of activity, but at the end — in the last race of the entire regatta — Drexel was in it and won it.

DVROC: What does a win in an event like the Women's Henley do for a program from top to bottom.

Zillmer: It's one word — pride. The whole mission of an intercollegiate athletics department is to bring value to the university in terms of pride. It gives people an identity that they can rally around. Drexel is a school that has done very well the last two decades and is riding a wave of success (in a variety of sports). This just builds it and magnifies it.

The fact that (the Women's Henley) has been in existence for 35 years and then they engrave Drexel University on the cup and you see that only three other schools from America have won it, then you realize how cool it is. It makes you feel like you're a part of that history in the place where rowing started.

DVROC: Drexel has significantly increased its level of support toward its rowing program over the last decade. Why crew?

Zillmer: When I became athletic director (11 years ago), I looked at our rowing program and realized, wow, it could be a great thing. We can walk to our boathouse from our campus and there's the history of Kelly Drive and Boathouse Row and we're a Philadelphia institution. Plus, it takes a special type of kid to come to Drexel and be happy because we're a technical school and a comprehensive university. We want people who will be serious about their studies and I think crew has that stereotype. In fact, the (Drexel) women's crew team has the highest GPA in the country in all sports — the NCAA keeps those records — so these are kids that are extremely disciplined.

So I decided to make some changes when I got here. I hired a new coach (Savell), found a donor who gave me a million dollars in cash for the program and that changed things. We went to a new boathouse and arranged a 90-year lease with the Bachelor's Barge Club and we were able to get some support from the university. And though we've had a little bit of success, I don't think we're quite there yet, I really don't. Last year we had five boats medal at Dad Vail, which was the best ever, but sports can be tricky. It goes up and down. You've got to continue to grow.

DVROC: For Drexel crew, whether it be the men's or women's team, what would a gold medal in the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta's heavyweight varsity eight mean for the program's continued growth?

Zillmer: Well, first of all, it's very hard to do. There are over 115 schools and I think over 50 eights in both the men's and women's competition. We want to get better every year and that includes all the boats we enter. ... We're trying to get closer. You have to be very good over two days. You've got to get a good seeding, get a good lane on Saturday and fight off the weather and the competition.

I think within the next five years Drexel will be a contender, but you can't take anything for granted. The goal is to be competitive at the Dad Vail because it's in our backyard. That would give us the most pride.

DVROC: How does the Aberdeen Dad Vail serve as tool to promote Drexel crew?

Zillmer: We try to create excitement and invite people out to watch our boats and watch the event. We had over 500 people last year and we now actually have two tents — No. 2 and No. 3 — and I've ordered over 1,000 cowbells this year. ... We're going to make a big racket and add to the Dad Vail experience.

We'll be at the race and if we're ever fortunate enough to finish first it will be an amazing feat for Drexel.

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Drexel University

To read more about Drexel’s selection as the winner of Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta Chairman's Trophy for Excellence in Foreign Competition, visit HERE and HERE.

Brendan F. Quinn
Editorial Writer
Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee
DVROC Office Line: (610) 234-2076
brendan.quinn@dadvail.org.
www.dadvail.org
www.twitter.com/DadVaildotTV

About the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta, Presented by Coca-Cola®
The Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta presented by Coca-Cola is the largest collegiate regatta in North America with over 100 colleges and universities from the United States and Canada. Held annually since 1953 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the Schuylkill River, thousands of student athletes and spectators visit the City of Philadelphia during the weekend of the second Saturday in May.

About Title Sponsor — Aberdeen Asset Management
Aberdeen Asset Management Inc is the wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC, a global investment management group which is headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland, and manages more than $287 billion of assets for both institutions and private individuals (as of Dec. 31, 2010). Philadelphia is home to the U.S. equity and fixed income investment management teams, as well as U.S. client servicing, consultant relations, business development and other operational staff: more than 180 employees in total. Aberdeen manages and services approximately $53 billion in total assets on behalf of North American and international clients. For more information, visit www.aberdeen-asset.us Here in the U.S., Aberdeen is also proud to be one of the supporters of the British Garden at Hanover Square, New York. This New York City park celebrates historic ties of friendship and unity between the U.S. and the UK. Globally, Aberdeen has a long standing association with university rowing competitions having sponsored the Oxford v Cambridge University Boat Race in the UK from 1999 – 2005. The company also continues to support the Aberdeen Universities Boat Race in Aberdeen, Scotland in their annual event which takes place every February.

About Presenting Sponsor — The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Together with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio includes 14 billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

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