I should really call to make sure my Dad is still conscious.
That's because he's a proud alum of Davidson, Class of '63.
Many a time during my youth did I sit at his kneee (okay, lounge in the recliner next to his in front of the tv) and listen to his stories of the glorious Wildcats teams of yester-year. I heard all about Fred Hetzel, and Terry Holland, and Dick Snyder and how Mike Maloy once chipped a tooth on the backboard while going up for a rebound.
I heard about the legendary Lefty and how Davidson was ranked No. 1 in the preseason by Sports Illustrated before the 1964-65 season. I also heard about how my dad collapsed on the floor of his med school apartment sobbing after Barry Teague's last-second shot rolled off tghe rim and the Wildcats lost in the semifinals of the 1964 Southern Conference tournament to VMI. Or maybe that happened when Davidson lost to West Virginia in the Southern Conference title game the following year. Undoubtedly the trauma has clouded Dad's memory.
Then there were the '68 and '69 Davidson teams, both of which ran into UNC and Charlie Scott in the East Region semifinals. And, of course, I heard all about how Scott had allegedly committed to Davidson before switching allegiances to the Tar Heels.
Growing up, I followed the Wildcats loosely. Dad and I would usually see them play once a year, when they came down to Greenville to take on Furman. Those Davidson teams were solid, and they had a few memorable characters (Like Cliff Tribus, a guy with a curly mop of hair that a Furman fan kept calling "Pot Head." I didn't know what that meant at the time. Dad didn't explain.)
Then there was the time in 1986 when the Wildcats knocked off Chattanooga in the Southern Conference tournament title game on a last-second shot by Gerry Born. (What really sticks in my head was Born's response to the media when asked to describe his feelings: "I know it sounds trite, but it's a dream come true." Trite? Trite? What player uses trite during an on-court interview?)
It was a fun time, but it clearly paled in comparison to what my Dad and every other Davidson alum I've ever run into from Dad's generation refers to as "The Glory Years." Maybe the Wildcats aren't quite back there with this win today, but it's certainly the closest they've been in 40 years.
I just hope Dad didn't black out from all the excitement.
Comments (4)
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Rolled off "tghe" rim? Need to run spell check on this one. I'm doing ok, by the way. Mom supplied some smelling salts. D.W.
Posted on March 21, 2008 6:53 PM
This game is certainly the highlight of the last 40 years. A more pivotal game, however, was L. Driesell's first game at Davidson, and Lefty's first game as a college coach of any level. ( high school the previous year).
Bones McKinney brought his widely heralded Deacons to town for a quick and easy season-opening win, and were turned back 65-59. This was a Wake team that would go to the final four, and featured all american Len Chappel. In fairness, Chappel was injured, and Norm Snead ( all american q.b.) hadn't practiced much. Point guard Billy Packer also had a bad day.( he never mentions this game on the air, for some reason!). D.W.
Fall 1960
Posted on March 22, 2008 9:32 AM
This game is certainly the highlight of the last 40 years. A more pivotal game, however, was L. Driesell's first game at Davidson, and Lefty's first game as a college coach of any level. ( high school the previous year).
Bones McKinney brought his widely heralded Deacons to town for a quick and easy season-opening win, and were turned back 65-59. This was a Wake team that would go to the final four, and featured all american Len Chappel. In fairness, Chappel was injured, and Norm Snead ( all american q.b.) hadn't practiced much. Point guard Billy Packer also had a bad day.( he never mentions this game on the air, for some reason!). D.W.
Fall 1960
Posted on March 22, 2008 9:32 AM
and how Mike Maloy once chipped a tooth on the backboard while going up for a rebound.
Can you ask your father if he can confirm that story?
Mike Maloy is my father, and I've been doing some online research just to get a bit more about him. Tell him I'm sorry about the loss too. It was a heck of a run!
Regards,
Mike Maloy
Posted on April 5, 2008 2:49 PM