Cabrini University Athletics

When Eric Tidwell and his mother were choosing which college he should attend, there were a few things he wanted: a competitive program with a head coach who would be honest about his chances to play at the next level, a school where he could pursue his degree in Computer Science and perhaps most importantly, a place where he felt comfortable and had a sense of family.

Tidwell checked off all of his boxes when it came to Cabrini.  Head coach John Dzik addressed the College’s academic reputation as much as his basketball vision during his recruiting visit with Tidwell and his mother.  During Tidwell’s campus visit, he met another recruit named Richard Grace.  The pair immediately clicked and decided that both should become Cavaliers.

From that moment, the story of Cabrini basketball and the life of Eric Tidwell would be forever changed.
Over the next four years, Tidwell, an undersized forward, etched his name all over the Cabrini record book.  The Yeadon, Pa. native currently ranks second in rebounds (797) and steals (197), ninth in blocked shots (65) and 18th in points (967).

“I was never a person who focused on my personal statistics,” Tidwell said.  “I always knew what my team needed to win and I would fill any void to make us successful.  I took great pride in being able to do everything on a basketball court.”

While many young athletes are consumed with their personal accomplishments, the only number that mattered to Tidwell was the one in the win column.  After leading Penn Wood to the 1992 PIAA District I championship, Tidwell brought his winning vibe to Grace Hall, helping the Blue and White go 88-20 during his career, including 65-3 in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference and four PAC titles.

Tidwell’s basketball career reached a pinnacle with what he calls the best game of his career, the 1997 PAC Championship.  The game was the culmination of four years of hard work and one that he and his six fellow seniors, Nate Bowles, Billy Carr, Mike Dever, Greg Grant, Grace and Rob Uff refused to lose.  Throughout their careers, there was never a doubt that someone would step up and on that February day, it was Tidwell.

In front of his mother and grandfather, Tidwell led the Cavaliers to an 85-67 win over Allentown College.  He was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after leading the team with 17 points and eight rebounds.

Perhaps most impressive was Tidwell’s ability to balance the demands of leading a championship team, while excelling academically and remaining active on campus.  Tidwell took his education very seriously and could often be found in one of the computer labs he monitored.  He was also a resident advisor, among other leadership roles, during his tenure at Cabrini.

As a father, a husband and a man, Tidwell continues to lean on his experiences at Cabrini.  

“Being a Cabrini student-athlete brought so many important people into my life,” Tidwell said.  “I learned so much from our coaches, teammates, professors and other students that I try to instill in my family and daily life.”