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Date Posted: 22:15:31 06/15/04 Tue
Author: NTKHC64
Subject: New Jersey Reception

Here are some of the highlights of tonight's event with respect to the speakers: AD Dick Regan, women's soccer coach Deb Flaherty and men's football coach Tom Gilmore.

First, an item not discussed publicly: There will soon be an announcement of another change in the men's hoop assistant coaching staff. I cannot be more specific on this point.

Dick began by expressing his opinion that he we have a great coaching staff with the addition of Coaches Flaherty and Gilmore. In football we are playing New Hampshire for the next four years and Harvard until 2019. In basketball in addition to Minnesota we are playing at URI. No other information was given on the OOC schedule. The ECAC hockey decision should be made known by July 1. If we get in, we will not be giving scholarships.

After the many problems and below par performances of many teams last year, men's hockey excepted, everyone in the HC athletic department is anxious to get started with their respective seasons. Dick is hopeful that within the very near future, approval will be given to the soccer stadium.It will seat about 1,200 and be located behind Hart. Soccer is his favorite sport and he wants it to be big at HC. There will also be a new men's lacrosse coach named soon.

Coaches Flaherty and Gilmore are enthusiastic, knowledgeable and both extremely personable. Coach Flaherty said that her team had a great off season. The focus was on the technical aspects of the game, conditioning and improving the mentality of the team after a one-win season. She has been recruiting in many areas, including NJ. She indicated that the place to find soccer players is on AAU teams rather than on high school teams.

Coach Gilmore stated that although we don't have the greatest amount of talent in the PL, there were games that could have been won last year and we are not that far away from a good season. He said that his goal is to go undefeated and that he will be disappointed if one game is lost.

Football recruiting has been extremely active. Coach Gilmore and members of his staff were in 52 high schools in Chicago in one week. He has been to Ohio and southeastern PA. He stated to a small group after the main presentation that the Holy Cross name draws far more recognition than other PL schools and that he is working on developing and redeveloping relationships with high school coaches over a broad geographic area.

He said that overall it was a good off-season and a productive spring. He expressed his interest in doing what is necessary to promote football to those in the Worcester area.

The parents of football team member Bill McCarthy attended.
During the question and answer session, Mr. McCarthy said he had spoken to many team members and all were excited about the upcoming season.

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Replies:

[> Re: New Jersey Reception -- HC '85, 22:24:55 06/15/04 Tue

Oh c'mon NTK,
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"First, an item not discussed publicly: There will soon be an announcement of another change in the men's hoop assistant coaching staff. I cannot be more specific on this point."
------------------------------------------------------------

Don't tease us like that!
If you can't tell us, don't say it.

I won't push you for more info other than to ask, can you at least give us a timeframe?

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[> [> Does he really -- Larry R., 15:31:15 06/17/04 Thu

Does coach Gilmore really believe more people have heard of HC than Army or Navy? It's nice to be optomistic but you also need to be realistic.

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[> [> [> Re: Does he really -- hcfan, 09:17:10 06/18/04 Fri

Last time I checked, Army & Navy do not play in the Patriot League in Football. Even if they did, only a certain type of kid is looking at the academies. Gilmore is right that HC has more of reputation nationally than the other PL football schools. But he also has to deal with the fact that the football team has been lousy for the last three years. That's where he'll have to sell the tradition.

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[> Re: New Jersey Reception-thank you -- hchoops, 22:27:29 06/15/04 Tue

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[> Re: New Jersey Reception -- Jon, 22:51:14 06/15/04 Tue

NTK, thanks for the update. The UNH series should be good. Also thanks to sader1970 for relaying the details of the RI reception.

I can't wait to read reactions to this quote: "He said that his goal is to go undefeated and that he will be disappointed if one game is lost."

An undefeated season is unrealistic, but I love the quote anyway. Rick complained in sader1970's thread about Gilmore's goal of playing UConn. I find it ironic that Rick and others are constantly saying the athletic department (specifically relative to basketball) needs to aim higher, schedule stronger, etc. Yet Rick again was Mr. Negative upon reading the UConn comment. Rick wrote this: "THIS idea/thought is absolutely ridiculous and I'm disappointed that Gilmore - or anyone else at today's Holy Cross - would even broach this."

Well Rick, what do you want? UConn's way too high, yet Marist and Duquense are an embarrassment to Holy Cross (I remember your post when the fall schedule was announced.) You can't have it both ways.

The athletic department, via football, has been thinking outside the box, making strong statements about the future, but a few posters can only continue their negative commentary. Personally, I'm excited by the new attitude coming from the football office, and looking forward to the games in the fall.

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[> [> To: Jon -- Rick, 13:17:23 06/16/04 Wed

" I can't wait to read reactions to this quote: "He said that his goal is to go undefeated and that he will be disappointed if one game is lost."

An undefeated season is unrealistic, but I love the quote anyway. "

What exactly are you expecting, ridicule ? Why should it be so unrealistic to you ? You certainly can't be naive enough to think he meant this coming year, did you ? In 3-4 years, why not ? Colgate did it, didn't they ?

" Rick complained in sader1970's thread about Gilmore's goal of playing UConn. I find it ironic that Rick and others are constantly saying the athletic department (specifically relative to basketball) needs to aim higher, schedule stronger, etc. Yet Rick again was Mr. Negative upon reading the UConn comment. Rick wrote this: "THIS idea/thought is absolutely ridiculous and I'm disappointed that Gilmore - or anyone else at today's Holy Cross - would even broach this."

Well Rick, what do you want? UConn's way too high, yet Marist and Duquense are an embarrassment to Holy Cross (I remember your post when the fall schedule was announced.) You can't have it both ways. "

Whoops....now you are being naive.

If you don't know the obvious differences between a Div. I-A Uconn with 85 athletic-scholarshipped athletes, low mid-majors/2nd-tier Div. I-AA teams in Duquesne/Marist and Div. I-AA teams like UNH/Delaware with 75 athletic-scholarshipped athletes in the A-10 you need to do some homework.

" The athletic department, via football, has been thinking outside the box, making strong statements about the future,...."

Really ? Beyond Coach Gilmore's comments, what exactly have either McFarland or Regan specifically said - quotes and links please - that fall under positive 'strong statements' about football's future ?

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[> [> [> Re: To: Jon -- hcnj, 09:24:21 06/18/04 Fri

He didn't say that they will go undefeated; he said that is his goal! What would you expect him to say? It would be OK to lose some games? I was there and he also said that he knows that the goal may be unrealistic but he'll be disappointed if they lose one game. He also said it is difficult for ther best teams to go undefeated. It sounds like he knows what he is up against but he also sounds like he is going to make a change on the hill. I'm looking forward to it!

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[> Re: New Jersey Reception -- HC '85, 06:55:23 06/16/04 Wed

NTK,

BTW - Sorry I forgot to say this last night. Thanks for the recap and I too love Gilmore's optimism with sights set high.

The situation with Gilmore sounds very reminicent of when Rick Carter took over in my freshman year. I roomed with a football player and I very clearly remember him saying one thing about the new coach the day I moved in:
"He's a winner!"

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[> Re: Reception- Class Acts -- hcnj, 07:39:08 06/16/04 Wed

Kudos to Norbert Knapp and his son Jeff for a vey nice and well run affair.

Both coaches were optimistic and enthusiastic about the futures of their sports. Both coaches also spoke about their excitement about being part of HC. Coach Flaherty is from the area and said that when she returned home last Christmas for a visit, she went past HC and thought that if the job ever opened up she would love to go for it and couldn't believe how it worked out. Coach Gilmore brought his wife with him to the Lehigh game a couple seasons back "just in case" an opportunity ever arose and also expressed his appreciation and for this "great opportunity". Neither coach dwelled on the difficulties of turning around the programs, everything was upbeat about the student athletes, the coaches, the school, and our future. Mr. Regan was straight forward in answering questions, he was optimistic about chances for approval for the new soccer stadium, and thought the ECAC visit went very well.
Thanks, Norbert and Jeff.

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[> OK... -- colgate13, 08:15:00 06/16/04 Wed

" He stated to a small group after the main presentation that the Holy Cross name draws far more recognition than other PL schools "

Far more? He really thinks that? And, more importantly, you're buying that?

I could argue all day long that Colgate, Fordham or Lehigh have more name recognition. I can't say that I'd be right, but I know I'd be wrong to say "far more". We're all small Northeastern schools with generally the same profile. To think that Holy Cross somehow stands head and shoulders above the rest of the PL is crap. Put down the crack pipe Gilmore. If you're saying it to stroke the egos of alums, you're starting off a relationships by blowing hot air up you know where and when you don't produce, look out.

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[> [> Re: Colgate13 -- HC1843, 08:34:23 06/16/04 Wed

In with the good, out with the bad...

serenity now...serenity now...

relax, Gilmore was talking to alum and did no wrong. There is also potentially the thought that at some level HC football is known better nationally b/c of how it ran the table in the 80's and early 90's, when it had scholarships.

Chill man...the world is still right.

Cheers.

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[> [> [> oh, I'm relaxed -- colgate13, 09:26:46 06/16/04 Wed

and I know he's stroking alums egos. However if your alums have a pulse they should see right through it. The only name recognition HC football would have right now isn't because of the past success but of the more recent futility. Your recruits (and all of the PL for that matter) aren't being sold on successes that were before many of them were born. I'll bow out of the conversation now, but I will close by saying I'd be wondering a little about my coach if I was supporting HC. Telling alums what they want to hear will only get you so far.

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[> [> [> [> You don't sound relaxed -- Zipp, 10:38:47 06/16/04 Wed

I guess its a little like Red Aurbach saying that the Celtics have better "recogition" than do, say the Dallas Mavericks. Is it true? I'd say yes. Is it based on past success? Definately. Is it a selling point? if you believe in tradition, then yes. Certainly doesn't mean that they're currently better.

Do you think the coaches at Notre Dame are selling their recruits a bill of goods when they tout ND's tradition? (which lately is based solely on past performances) Do you think the ND recruit or coach is short changed because they chose ND based on tradition instead of Miami or Ohio State because they've had winning years lately?

I guess it's a matter of perspective; and it's clear what your's is.

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[> [> [> [> Re: Biddle said much the same thing in '95... -- Go...'gate, 21:04:06 06/16/04 Wed

after Colgate went 0-11 and many believed the program would not be competitive again.

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[> [> Re: OK... -- hccg, 14:53:31 06/17/04 Thu

Coach Gilmore wasn't quoted correctly above. He was saying that HC's name ACADEMICALLY carries more weight nationally than the other schools in the PATRIOT League. He also said that a lot of people still remember the past success of football at HC. He has recruited in the Ivy / Patriot League for a long time. I don't think he was trying to stroke the alums. He was stating what he has observed over the years as well as his recent recruiting trips around the country, that's all. If that is how the high school coaches feel about HC, that's a good thing. You may not feel the same way but many people out there have a lot of respect for HC and they do remember the successful teams in the 80's and early 90's.

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[> [> [> HC academics,Gilmore is way off? -- Gate Raider, 23:51:03 06/18/04 Fri

Where the heck did he get that from. HC is not a heavy weight in academics in the PL. Check the figures for the last several years. Your trend in downward.

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[> [> Re: OK... -- Raider Redhead, 22:37:26 06/17/04 Thu

In comparison to other PL schools, and when considering all sports, I believe that HC does indeed have strong name recognition...not only in New England but also outside the friendly confines of the Northeast states.

Only Georgetown and Fordham might have more.

Outside the Northeast, I would venture to guess that BU, CU, LC, and LU are not household names to the average sports fan. At least that's my perception after living 30 years in the Midwest.

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[> [> [> Re: OK... -- dadominate, 00:54:37 06/18/04 Fri

as usual, raider readhead is right on the money. nice to see some objective commentary about this topic!

i would say that up until the HC/Kentucky NCAA tournament game, HC had very little name recognition here in Baltimore as well. that has changed, especially after the kansas game, and if i wear a holy cross shirt to the gym or to play ball in around here i'll generally get some kind of comment about it. it's amazing what a couple competitive games in the NCAA tournament will do for a school's notoriety with the general public.

based on that, in my eyes increasing the league's hoops standing is clearly the best way to make Colgate, Lehigh, Lafayette and Bucknell household names.

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[> [> [> [> Hoops definitely spreads the word -- Raider Redhead, 11:46:06 06/18/04 Fri

A long, long, long time ago during my college days, one of my roommates often said that the easiest way to elevate a school's athletic reputation is through basketball success.

He contended that it only takes a couple of real good hoops recruits to get a program off and running, and that the cost of landing those recruits is far less expensive than trying to develop a successful team and reputation in other sports (such as football).

Furthermore, when a small school with a good basketball program plays in the NCAA Tournament, gets paid for doing so, and receives terrific national television exposure, it can perpetuate continued success and even helps other sports.

With HC's rich basketball heritage and fairly recent successes, I can understand why many Saders would like to take the next step up in competition. But, it's unfortunate that such a move could mean HC abandons the PL.

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[> Re: New Jersey Reception -- timholycross, 08:18:51 06/16/04 Wed

1. Does HC meet UNH starting in 2004, or 2005?

2. I can't remember a coach coming in here that wasn't positive and full of enthusiasm*. You just hope it translates into something good. All we can do is give the guy a chance.

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[> [> Re: New Jersey Reception -- HCFan, 10:33:39 06/16/04 Wed

1. We're at UNH in 2005, they're here in 2006 etc.
2. We're at Delaware in 2005. One shot deal.
3. Gilmore is the first coach we've had who has been part of successful 1-AA non-scholarship programs. In fact, he's never recruited WITH scholarships, a key difference from Vaas, Allen.

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[> [> [> ? for attendees -- hc hoops, 11:53:14 06/16/04 Wed

did regan say whether the uri hoops game is a 2 for 1 ?

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[> [> [> To: HCFan -- Rick, 13:41:58 06/16/04 Wed

Road games with UNH and Delaware beats playing the likes of Marist and St. Mary's ANYTIME, ANYWHERE !

Sure it's very likely that Delaware will be able to name the score in 2005....but hopefully this will help recruiting down the road and equally important, get the alums more interested in the program.

" Gilmore is the first coach we've had who has been part of successful 1-AA non-scholarship programs. In fact, he's never recruited WITH scholarships, a key difference from Vaas, Allen. "

Good point. Of course we must also remember that HC is the first school he's worked for where financial support for the football program is woefully behind the competition.

Sans some DRAMATIC changes in HC's administrative attitudes, Coach Gilmore has to do more with less. Not fair to him or the team's student-athletes but it's the way it is.

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[> To: '64 -- Rick, 12:31:33 06/16/04 Wed

'64 -

Appreciate the report....what was the final approximate attendance ?

" In football we are playing New Hampshire for the next four years and Harvard until 2019. "

Playing UNH is a step in the right direction. Umass would have been much more preferred but unfortunately Colgate took a multi-year home & home series with Umass right out from under our noses.

" In basketball in addition to Minnesota we are playing at URI. "

Sans PC and Uconn being options anymore URI is o.k.. They do have a new hoops palace in Kingston and a side trip to Newport is always nice.

" The ECAC hockey decision should be made known by July 1. If we get in, we will not be giving scholarships. "

I was afraid of this....but at the same time not surprised. I'll suspend my thoughts till after July 1ST.

" Dick is hopeful that within the very near future, approval will be given to the soccer stadium.It will seat about 1,200 and be located behind Hart. Soccer is his favorite sport and he wants it to be big at HC. "

Correct me if I'm wrong but the fields behind Hart ( 3 in total ? ), including the Astroturf one, are all groomed/leveled by tiers and all have existing lights, yes ? Basically, we're talking about a modest 1,200-seat grandstand topped by an equally modest press box, a concession stand beneath, some fencing and a modest scoreboard. The tab for this can't be that much....unless Regan is thinking about getting that new FieldTurf surface for both men's and women's play ( BC is currently putting it down in Alumni Stadium replacing the Astroturf ). I understand that runs around $300-400,000 per installation....

Thanks again !

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[> Re: New Jersey Reception -- NTKHC64, 16:23:09 06/16/04 Wed

To address the above which I have just now seen:

1. HC '85: Coaching change: I cannot give a time frame. I'm sorry you feel its a tease. That wasn't my intent. It is my understanding that Coach Eaton is remaining. Hope that helps.

2. Colgate 13: I reported what he said. If you disagree so be it. He specifically stated that Gordie Lockbaum still draws a significant amount of name recognition even if only from current high school coaches. I realize he played about 20 years ago but I also wrote above that he didn't say we had the best talent in the PL. He didn't indicate that we are head and shoulders above the rest of the PL. What he did say was that there were games that could have been won last year as I said above.

3. hoops, I don't know if URI is 2 for 1.

4. Rick: Approximate attendance was 50, perhaps 51. I don't know about the soccer field surface.

5. hcnj: Thank you for the additional comments and to you and HC '85 for the thank yous.

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[> [> Re: New Jersey Reception - '64 -- Rick, 17:42:20 06/16/04 Wed

Good number afterall....your efforts paid off.

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[> [> Re: New Jersey Reception -- HC '85, 20:46:37 06/16/04 Wed

NTK,

OK. Thanks for the follow-up!

Actually the original comment was meant as more of a you're killing me with suspense kind of tone, not really serious. More facetious with the don't tell us comment as well. Should have used emoticons.

I'm glad you post the info you have and feel comfortable sharing. Over the 18 months I've been reading the BB have known you to be quite discrete with what you disclose and when you disclose it. Keep it up!

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[> URI BB Game & HC Name recognition -- sader1970, 09:01:29 06/17/04 Thu

I'm sorry I forgot to report out about the BB team playing URI. I was focused on what Tom Gilmore had to say about football. Living here in RI but not being a RI native, my reaction about playing URI was "that's nice" but it was a bigger deal for some of the natives here.

I got in on the tail end of Dick's conversation because it wasn't a general announcement but one of my buddy's from the RI Club has been bugging both Dick and the URI AD for a game for a while now. What I heard was that this year's game will be at URI's Ryan Center (nice, new and BIG). I didn't get anything out of it other than it was a one-shot event. Maybe I'm reading between the lines but was also of the impression that this might be a test game to see how the game draws before either party would do anything more long-term. However, the proximity has to be a plus for drawing HC fans. URI coach Baron has people excited about BB in this little state.

My comments on Coach Gilmore's comment on HC name recognition, two things:
#1. Zipp has it exactly right. HC was national champs in basketball and baseball. I believe Colgate and all the other PL schools have none to their credit. It is PAST history (I know, redundant) but people know of Cousy, Heinsohn and Gordie Lockbaum. People DON'T know that Colgate ALMOST won the 1-AA football championship last year NOR do they know about HC having been a dominant 1-AA football power under Carter/Duffner.
#2. Yes, Tom Gilmore was preaching to the choir. He's trying to re-gain some enthusiasm for the HC football program. I mean the next comment as no slight on Tom Gilmore, but if he can coach half as well as he can "work a room," we'll be 1-AA champs again in football within 5 years.

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[> [> Re: URI BB Game & HC Name recognition -- jonny, 10:06:12 06/17/04 Thu

Not as many 17 year old recruits know bob cousy or tommy heinsohn. maybe their fathers do, but not the kids gilmore is trying to recruit.

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[> [> Come on down-URI's arena link inside -- RF, 12:23:36 06/18/04 Fri

This Rhody fan welcomes you on down to Kingston.

The link to the arena at URI is as follows:

http://www.theryancenter.com/

The facility is a 7,700 seat arena (all chairbacks) with luxury boxes and 2 video-screen scoreboards located on the campus in Kingston.

Atlantic-10 member Rhode Island is coming off back to back 20 win NIT appearances with the Rams making it to the 2nd round each year. URI has six 20 win seasons in the last nine years (3 NCAA with an Elite-8 and 3 Nits) and its post season record in this span is 7-6.

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[> [> [> Holy Cross at Rhode Island-Sunday, 01/02/05 4:30pm -- RF, 09:54:20 06/25/04 Fri

A tentative date of Sunday, January 2, 2005 has been set. The start time is 4:30pm at the Ryan Center (capacity 7,700) located on the URI campus in Kingston, RI.

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[> [> [> [> Re: Holy Cross at Rhode Island -- dadominate, 11:18:46 06/25/04 Fri

this is a good game against a solid program on the rise to even better things.

everyone gives ralph and regan a hard time about the scheduling, i think some props on the URI and minnesota efforts are due.

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[> Re: New Jersey Reception -- Sader Fan, 10:24:22 06/17/04 Thu

But the HS coaches know cousy and heinsohn and, believe me, most coaches have influence over their players and often act as a liaison between the recruiting coaches and the players. My son's HS coach talked with many of the recruiting coaches and helped set up interviews with them. If a coach tells a player that its a good idea to talk to the HC coach, they probably will.

By the way, regarding the soccor field, our HS put in the new artificial turf field mentioned above 3 years ago and it cost over $900K for the turf alone. Perhaps the price has come down but it is a major investment (and well worth it, the field is great!)

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[> [> Re: One Reason Why HC is Noted in BB History... -- NTKHC64, 12:13:17 06/17/04 Thu

The school was small. The program was an afterthought. The gymnasium was non-existent. That a team from the College of the Holy Cross should find itself in the championship game of the NCAA Tournament was a preposterous notion. But there was Holy Cross, the product of a happy accident rather than a well-conceived plan, preparing to meet Oklahoma for the national title in New York. In March 1947, the team without a home court had appropriated Madison Square Garden. The mecca of basketball rocked to the Crusaders' locomotive cheer: Choo-choo-rah-rah! Although basketball traced its origins to New England, the region had been left behind in the development of the game. 0l' Doc Naismith would have been thoroughly familiar with the facilities, provided the institutions he visited had bothered to build any. The success of Holy Cross was a triumph of spirit and an act of fantasy. Instead of rising to basketball prominence, the Crusaders fell into it. Start with Alvin Doggie Julian, who was hired from Muhlenberg as an assistant football coach and told that among his duties was the supervision of the school's basketball team. There was no gym on the Worcester, Mass., campus, only an old barn that had been converted for practice use. Nor was there money in the budget for extensive recruiting. Remarkably, the first class to report to Julian in that barn in the fall of 1945 included several outstanding players from the New York metropolitan area. Gerry Clark, a Holy Cross alumnus and an assistant district attorney in the nation's largest city, took it upon himself to scout Catholic high school players and direct them to Worcester. Among those who accepted an invitation to join the 1,200-member student body was George Kaftan, a 6-foot-3 center with extraordinary leaping ability. It never dawned on me that Holy Cross didn't have a gymnasium, Kaftan said. I just liked the school. The team's first game that season was at Madison Square Garden, against City College of New York. The Beavers had a renowned coach in Nat Holman, years of basketball tradition and the loud support of a Garden crowd. Lo and behold, Kaftan said, we won. In fact, the Crusaders won 12 of 15 games that season and were in contention for a postseason tournament bid that never came. The presence the next year of service veterans Joe Mullaney and Frank Oftring and the enrollment of another New York schoolboy star, Bob Cousy, built on that foundation. The team still was uncommonly short, but everyone could run and handle the ball. The 1947 Crusaders played a slick brand of give-and-go. Newspapers, in a playful reference to the athletic-club teams of that era, referred to them as the Fancy Pants A.C. Without its own gym, Holy Cross scheduled games at the Boston Garden, where the collegians soon outdrew the professional Celtics of the fledgling Basketball Association of America (later the NBA). A caravan of cars followed the Crusaders from Worcester, 40 miles away, and all New England rallied behind the team as it defeated one national power after another. After early-season losses to North Carolina State, Duquesne and Wyoming, the Crusaders embarked on a long winning streak, highlighted by a narrow victory over an outstanding Seton Hall team, led by Bobby Wanzer. In only its second year of top-level competition, Holy Cross was selected to the field of the Eastern playoffs in New York. Other entrants were Big Ten Conference champion Wisconsin, Navy and hometown favorite City College. It marked the first appearance in the NCAA Tournament for all the schools except Wisconsin, which had captured the national championship six years earlier. On opening night, Mullaney had 18 points (all on field goals) and Kaftan added 15 as the Crusaders handed Navy only its second defeat of the season, 55-47. CCNY struggled for a while against Wisconsin, but the Beavers rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half to win, 70-56. Now it would be Holy Cross vs. CCNY at the Garden, and this was where Julian and the Kaftan-led New York brigade -- six of the Crusaders' top seven scorers were from the big city and its environs -- figured to have special impact. Natives or not, though, the boys in purple were a distant second in the popular vote on the following night. The vast majority of the 18,000-plus fans roared approval as the Beavers opened fast, rushing to a 10-3 lead. It was nearly eight minutes before the Crusaders made their first field goal but, instead of panicking, they steadily worked their way back into the game and managed to edge in front by halftime. The second half belonged to Holy Cross in general and to Kaftan in particular. The sophomore finished with 11 field goals and 30 points and dominated the backboards as the Crusaders scored a 60-45 triumph, their 22nd victory in succession. The Crusaders were one step from the top, and New York was prepared to take out adoption papers. Meanwhile, in Kansas City, Oklahoma had survived the Western playoffs in perhaps the most thrilling action in tournament history. First, the Sooners subdued favored Oregon State, 56-54. They followed that with a melodramatic 55-54 victory over a Texas team that had lost only once previously. A last-second basket by Ken Pryor -- his lone field goal of the game -- enabled Oklahoma to prevail over the Longhorns, who had defeated Wyoming in the first round. The outstanding player in the West had been Gerry Tucker, the Sooners' center. He had returned from the service to lead Oklahoma to the Big Six Conference title and a record of 24-6 entering the NCAA championship game. Basketball fans eagerly awaited his confrontation with Kaftan, the Holy Cross star. Julian, an excitable type, didn't make much sense as he announced the starting lineup in the dressing room before the final. George is going to start, he said. And Dermie (O'Connell) is going to start. And the Creek (another reference to Kaftan). And Joe Mullaney. And Kaftan. As nearly as Kaftan and his teammates could figure it, that meant one man was expected to play three positions at once. The Crusaders rolled their eyes as they headed for the floor. The usual starting five went out for the opening tip. So you're the young hotshot I've heard so much about, the 25-year-old Tucker said to Kaftan. Hang it up, Gerry, Kaftan, 19, replied with a smile. It's a young man's game. The two players and teams proceeded to stage a sensational first half. There were eight lead changes and 10 ties as the Sooners and Crusaders battled over every basket. Tucker was particularly formidable, his hook shots accounting for five baskets. It was he who led a seven-point surge in the final minutes of the half for a 31-28 Oklahoma lead. Holy Cross made two notable changes in the second half. Reserve Bob Curran was assigned the task of guarding Tucker, and the Crusaders began to step up the pace of the game. With an edge in speed and depth, the New Englanders soon took the lead and maintained it. Tucker's only field goal of the half, a hook shot, cut the deficit to four points with three minutes remaining and Pryor's free throw chopped it to 48-45. But that was as close as the Sooners would come. Holy Cross scored 10 of the last 12 points in the game for a 58-47 conquest. The team without a campus gymnasium reigned over college basketball. Tucker was the game's high scorer with 22 points, but no other Oklahoma player was in double figures. Kaftan finished with 18 points and was Holy Cross' rebounding star, while O'Connell added 16 points and Oftring 14 for the Crusaders. Cousy, the freshman substitute who would become the most famous player in school history and a great professional, contributed two free throws. The implausible championship stimulated college basketball interest throughout New England, And it even resulted in the construction of a practice gym on the Holy Cross campus.

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I've been privileged to know the late Frank Oftring and the late Bob Curran. George Kaftan lives nearby and has attended each of the NJ summer receptions. I have met Bob Cousy and the late Joe Mullaney. As I recall the field house was obtained from the Navy and transported to Worcester after World War II. It had been at Quonset Point NAS in RI, I believe. I realize the above took place 57 years ago and recruits don't know Bobby Wanzer or that he went on to play in the Rochester Royals' Backcourt with Seton Hall's Richie Regan.

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[> [> [> Re: Great recollection!!! -- Go...'gate, 15:57:24 06/17/04 Thu

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[> [> [> thanks,ntk--is" thy honored name" the source? -- hchoops, 20:29:04 06/17/04 Thu

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[> [> [> [> Re: thanks,ntk--is" thy honored name" the source? -- NTKHC64, 12:27:44 06/19/04 Sat

No...I found it just on an internet search...no author or source given

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[> Re: New Jersey Reception -- sader1970, 13:43:28 06/17/04 Thu

Interesting bit of history there, NTK.

You are right about the field house coming from Quonset because that is one of my first memories of Holy Cross. I couldn't even tell you how old I was but had to be the very early 50's when my family went up to Worcester to visit relatives. My father was very good friends with Fr. Hart (he officiated at my parent's wedding) and he was telling my father how thrilled the school was to get the "Quonset Hut." I believe HC got it for free but had to pay for the transportation costs (I think that this is told in the book "Thy Honored Name").

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[> [> Re: Field House -- NTKHC64, 14:21:11 06/17/04 Thu

"In January 1947 Fr. Healy received word that the Public Works Agency had committed to the College a surplus hangar from Camp Endicott, Rhode Island, that had been used as a drill and recreation hall. The government would bear the cost of taking the building down and reconstructing it on campus. He announced the plans in April. The 100 x 300 foot structure, which cost about $35,000 for site preparation, was built with a protruding lip on the base for the bricking that was added in 1955...When it opened in March 1948, the facility held four courts for intramural basketball, handball courts, athletic offices, and a refreshment stand. Although it was intended primarily for intramural sports, the building also contained a full basketball court, temporary grandstands for 2,000 spectators, and a permanent balcony that could accomodate about 100 more. Besides its athletic use, the fieldhouse provided the location of commencement, the junior and senior balls, and other large events." Thy Honored Name, pp. 315-316.

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[> Re: Men's Staff -- hc'78, 14:53:11 06/17/04 Thu

Tony Newsome has left the staff for a position at Princeton.

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[> [> good luck,tony,except for 1 game -- hchoops, 11:21:12 06/18/04 Fri

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[> [> Re: Men's Staff -- pittman, 14:50:05 06/18/04 Fri

RE: T. Newsome - Was the decision to leave HC his or was he canned? Based on my dealings with him, he wasn't the most effective recruiter I've encountered.

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[> Re: New Jersey Reception -- HC shot, 21:30:32 06/20/04 Sun

UNH....whoopie. This mickey mouse school use to be a softie, now it's a big deal. A great academic institution as well.

Check out Davidson, Wofford. How about some creative scheduling with real "colleges?"

Regan's gotta go.

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[> [> Re: New Jersey Reception -- JRGNYR, 21:36:43 06/20/04 Sun

Travel expenses. You won't see those teams on the schedule for that very reason.

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[> Re: New Jersey Reception and HC Name Recognition -- FootballAlum, 16:07:58 06/21/04 Mon

As a product of arguably one of the best high school football conferences in the country, the Chicago Catholic League, I can tell you first hand that Holy Cross does indeed have more name recognition than other PL schools. Unlike the revolving door of college coaches, high school coaches tend to be "entrenched" at a given institution and all have long memories.
Coach Gilmore is going to do great things with this program. For all you naysayers...give him more than one year!

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