Wednesday, July 14, 2010

DePaul Athletics Set to Bring Caravan to Chicagoland



DePaul University Athletics is thrilled to invite fans and alumni to attend the inaugural six-event DePaul Coaches' Caravan this summer. The first Caravan stop will be at Buca Di Beppo in Lombard (90 Yorktown Road) on Monday, August 23 at 7 p.m.

The Caravans are designed to give Blue Demon Fans the opportunity to meet members of the men's and women's basketball coaching staffs. New Blue Demon Men's Basketball Head Coach Purnell is scheduled to attend all of the Coaches' Caravans.

Each event will cost $10 per person. The fee covers appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages. A cash bar will be available at each event. Dress is casual.

To purchase your tickets or for more information, please contact DePaul’s Ticket Office at 773-325-SLAM (7526).




2010 Coaches' Caravan Schedule

Coaches’ Caravan-Buca Di Beppo, Lombard - Monday, August 23
7 p.m., $10 per person

Coaches’ Caravan- Lizzie McNeill’s, Chicago River North - Thursday, August 26
6 p.m., $10 per person

Coaches’ Caravan- Trackside at Arlington Park, Arlington Heights - Thursday, September 9
7 p.m., $10 per person

Coaches’ Caravan- Harry Caray’s, Rosemont - Tuesday, September 14
7 p.m., $10 per person

Coaches’ Caravan- 115 Bourbon Street, Merrionette Park - Monday, September 27
7 p.m., $10 per person

Coaches’ Caravan- Cubby Bear North, Lincolnshire - Friday, October 1
7 p.m., $10 per person

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Blue Demon Pro Hoops Update

Allie Quigley and Silver Stars to Play Chicago Sky at Allstate Arena - July 14

Allie Quigley - Courtesy of WNBA.com

Allie Quigley and the San Antonio Silver Stars are set to play the Chicago Sky on July 14, at Allstate Arena. Quigley has appeared in three games for the Silver Stars in 2010, averaging 6 minutes per game in those contests. Recently, Quigley scored a career-high seven points in the Silver Stars loss to the Minnesota Lynx on July 8.

Blue Demon Pair among the Top in Rebounding in NBA Summer League Competition

Andre Brown and Mac Koshwal rank in the top 10 in rebounding in the NBA's Summer League competition. Through three games Brown and Koshwal have averaged 8.3 and 8.0 boards, respectively. Brown, playing for the Golden State Warriors, ranks fifth in the league while Koshwal currently is tied for 7th.

Brown has been a starter for the Golden State squad that is off to a 1-2 start. The forward has scored 14 points while compiling 25 rebounds. He opened the competition with back to back double-figure rebound games.

Brown Blocked Shot Ignites a Alley-Oop - Click HERE


 

Koshwal is averaging 17.7 minutes per game for the Pistons with his minutes increasing with his production. Yesterday, Koshwal scored 10 points and collected 12 rebounds in almost 25 minutes of play against the Kings.

Koshwal Dunk  vs Warriors - Click HERE

 


 

Upcoming Schedule

July 13 Warriors vs, Heat

July 14 Pistons vs. Heat

July 15 Warriors vs. Suns

July 16 Pistons vs. Knicks

 

Newspapers Report Quentin Richardson to Sign with the Orlando Magic- Watch Press Conference Live

Quentin Richardson has been reported to have signed a multi-year deal with the Orlando Magic according to reports in the Orlando Sentinel and the Chicago Tribune. Richardson comes to the Magic after playing for the Miami Heat in 2009-10 where he averaged about 27 minutes per game with 8.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

Orlando Magic Press Conference - click HERE - Live at 11:30 a.m. today

Quentin Richardson's NBA Bio - click HERE

 

 

 

Monday, July 12, 2010

Golf Alum Dennis O'Malley Featured


1958-59 Golf Team - DePaul's First Golf Team (Dennis O'Malley far right standing) 

DePaul golf alum Dennis O'Malley was featured in Wilmette's Pioneer Local on July 6. The article focused on O'Malley's newest passion, print-making. To read the article, Click HERE.

O'Malley played on the DePaul's first team in 1958-59 under the guidance of the Father of DePaul Golf Rev. Austin Minogue, C.M. On August 2, DePaul will play host to the annual Rev. Austin Minogue C.M. Golf Outing to benefit Blue Demon Golf at Rufffled Feathers. For more information, call Marge Mazik at 773-325-7240.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Marshall Berkson - Reflections on Fourth of July




Blue Demon Basketball Alumni Quentin Richardson meets Marshall Berkson at 2009 Miami Heat Team Event

 
Marshall Berkson - Reflections of Fourth of July


The Fourth of July Weekend was an opportunity for all Americans to reflect on our liberties and freedoms while joining friends and families in  backyard picnics, parades and fireworks.

The explosions in the night sky reminded us of the men and women that live with the sounds of bombs bursting as part of their daily lives. It makes Americans take a moment to reflect in appreciation of the men and women of our armed forces that currently serve and have served throughout history.

DePaul Athletics has had a number of men and women that have sacrificed so we could enjoy our freedoms. One such athletic alum is Marshall Berkson of Miami Beach, Fla.

Berkson’s career as a basketball player at DePaul was short-lived.  At age 17, he was captain of Hyde Park High School’s team, attracting the interest of DePaul coach Ray Meyer. Berkson was drawn to the new young head coach.
 
“I really wanted to play for Coach Meyer,” Berkson said, “There wasn’t that big of an age difference between him and us players.”

Berkson would quickly make friends with a teammate who would become one of the biggest names in Blue Demon athletics.  Discovering that Berkson had classes downtown with George Mikan, Meyer asked Berkson to help with the development of Mikan.

“Ray asked me if I could play ping-pong. After I said yes, he said I needed to work with George on his awkwardness by playing ping-pong between classes. So George and I play ping-pong between classes, and I guess the rest is history.”

Asked if he felt that their ping-pong rivalry was the reason for Mikan’s success, Berkson just laughed, adding that it was Mikan’s competitive nature that made him special.

“Oh he was a fierce competitor,” Berkson added. “He would fight you for marbles.”

Berkson was poised to impact the Blue Demons on the court as well. A picture in the May 27, 1943 DePaulian shows Berkson working out with the starting five in an article titled ‘Meyer Works New Demons Every Friday.”

Unfortunately, his time as a Blue Demon was cut short. In June of 1943, Berkson was inducted into the Army. Initially, he was placed into the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) and was sent to enroll at North Central College in Naperville, where he continued playing basketball.

With the pressure to amass troops, the ASTP program was discontinued and its participants assigned to the infantry. Berkson joined one of the most celebrated divisions of World War II when he was assigned to the 8th Armored Division of the Third Army headed by General George S. Patton.

As a part of the Eighth Armored Division, 58th Armored Infantry Battalion, Company C, Berkson was among the first troops to enter Holland and was involved in battles in Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany and Czechoslovakia.

The Chicago native fought in the historic Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge. After volunteering to go behind enemy lines, he was awarded the Bronze Star for valor.

Berkson said his crowning military achievement was his unit’s liberation of Helberstadt Zweiberger, a satellite concentration camp of  Buchenwald. Berkson would later be recognized for his part in the liberation when the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center presented him with an American flag that had flown over the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

With the conclusion of the war, Berkson was transferred to Germany where he would become part of the Army of Occupation.

Arriving home from the service, Berkson returned to DePaul University where he would complete his degree in Business Administration in 1949. He continued his education with a Master’s Degree from the University of Chicago.

In January of 1950, his life would change with his decision to move to Miami, Fla. Berkson had an eye on teaching at Lindsey Hopkins, a precursor to the present community college system.

Living in the heat of Miami, Berkson made a business move that would forever change his life when he and friend founded Miami Air Conditioning Company. Despite early critics who said “the company would last a year at the most”, Berkson would sell his “upstart” company and initially retire at the age of 44.

In the heating and cooling industry, Berkson has been hailed as an air-conditioning pioneer in South Florida.

His business success provided an opportunity to get involved in real estate and allowed him to continue his passion for basketball.

“I have coached a number of youth teams over the years.” Berkson said. “It was a lot of fun. One of my players was movie star Andy Garcia.”

He also dedicated long hours to community service of the Miami area. For more than 20 years, he was the chairman and president of the South Shore Hospital and Medical Center. As a supporter of various local charities, Berkson has been presented with a number of civic recognitions, including a Key to the City of Miami Beach and the proclamation of Marshall Berkson Day on March 17, 1994 in Miami Beach.

The former Blue Demon continues to work as part of his real estate company M.H. Berkson Associates. A 2009 article on  www.examiner.com, reported that Berkson still works 12-16 hours per day.  (http://www.examiner.com/x-2987-Miami-Business-Strategies-Examiner~y2009m11d10-WWII-veteran-and-successful-entrepreneur-of-Miami-Beach)

Despite his career of hard work, Berkson always found time to stay connected to DePaul through coach Meyer and the legendary Mikan. Among his cherished possessions is a folder full of correspondence from Mikan and Meyer.

“Coach would always take time to send me letters,” Berkson said. “He would give me the scoop on the upcoming recruits. They were always hand-written…that always impressed me.”

One of his favorite letters, written on letterhead from Ray Meyer’s Camp for Boys, proclaims the arrival of a new recruit named Dave Corzine.  Part of the letter read: “Corzine is the best recruit since Berkson.”

The letter foreshadows DePaul’s rise to national prominence. “We are definitely on the way back,” Meyer wrote. “We may be one year away, but things are looking up.”

Equally fond of Mikan, Berkson’s office has several framed pictures of the two Blue Demons at various stages of life together.

“George was a good man,” Berkson said. “When he was the commissioner of the ABA, he tried to persuade me to become the owner of the league’s Florida franchise. I wanted to do it so badly, but I just couldn’t make the numbers work.”

Berkson’s love for basketball is evident from the basketball pictures on his wall and another wall full of the latest basketball books. His next venture into basketball is watching  Miami Heat games with his significant other Lynda Fromkin and his grandchildren.

Once again his love for DePaul shown through as got a chance to meet former DePaul star and Heat guard Quentin Richardson. Berkson shared his stories of DePaul with Richardson at an autograph session.

With temperatures rising into the 90s and a triple-digit heat index, it  would be good time to celebrate basketball alum Marshall Berkson as a pioneer in the world of air conditioning.

But after the recent celebration of our nation’s independence, it is more fitting to recognize a man that has faithfully served his community and his country.

For that, we salute a genuine military hero and a proud DePaul alum named Marshall Berkson.



Wednesday, June 2, 2010

DePaul Loses Basketball Letterwinner Michael Perlowski


DePaul Athletics has learned that men's basketball letterwinner and "Double Demon" Michael J. Perlowski passed away on May 25, 2010. Perlowski, a letterwinner from 1951-55, played alongside some of the best in Blue Demon history: Ron Feiereisel, Jim Lamkin, Ron Sobie and Bill Robinzine. During Perlowski's career, DePaul amassed a 65-33 mark including a pair of 19-win seasons.

After playing as reserve for legendary Hall of Fame Head Coach Ray Meyer, Perlowski completed his economics degree in 1956. After serving in the U.S. Army Finance Corp, he returned to DePaul to earn his law degree in 1963. After working in Chicago for more than a decade, Perlowski was appointed as a Administrative Law Judge in Des Moines, Iowa, where he served until his retirement in 1995.

Obituary from Chicago Tribune, May 30, 2010
Michael J. Perlowski, of West Des Moines, IA, passed away on May 25, 2010, after a hard-fought struggle with leukemia. He was 77 years old. He was born and grew up on the southwest side of Chicago with his mother, Barbara; his father, Michael; and his brothers, George and James. All but James, who lives in Las Vegas, NV, predeceased him.

Mr. Perlowski attended Farragut High School where he was captain of the basketball team and from which he graduated in 1950.

Coach Ray Meyer offered him a scholarship to play basketball at DePaul University. Mr. Perlowski was a member of the Blue Demon basketball team from 1951 - 1955. He graduated from DePaul University with a degree in economics and served as an officer in the U.S. Army Finance Corp. He worked hard for everything he got in life, but he conceded that none of it would have been possible without two lucky breaks, neither of which he felt he had done much to deserve.

One was meeting Coach Meyer, who gave him the chance to go to college. The other, the luckiest thing to ever happen to him, he said, occurred a few years later, on April 1, 1955, when he reluctantly agreed to attend an April Fools' Day dance near the DePaul campus. It was there that he saw for the first time the woman who would become his wife. "It took at least a couple of minutes for us to fall in love after we met," he always said, "and then we lived happily ever after." Michael and Patricia Perlowski were married for 54 years. It would be an understatement to describe their relationship as a love story. They adored each other and were almost inseparable. For the over half-century they were together Mr. Perlowski proved that the age of chivalry was alive and well, at least so far as he was concerned. He always insisted on helping his wife with her coat. He never failed to hold the door for her. Not a day went by when he didn't kiss her hand and tell her he loved her.

They had six children, Michael (Maggie) of Oakbrook Terrace, IL, Janis (Ken Locasha) of Des Moines, IA, Joanne (John Lakis) of San Diego, CA, Patricia of Naperville, IL, Daniel (Wendy) of Lucas, IA and Nancy (David Miller) of Paris, France.

They had thirteen grandchildren, Jeffrey and Timothy, Daniel, David and Andrew, Michael and Jason, Steven and Stacy, Morgan, and Emily, Alexandra and Audrey.

Mr. Perlowski was an attorney. He received his law degree from DePaul University in 1963. He worked for Kemper Insurance Company for most of the time he practiced in Chicago until 1979 when he was appointed as an Administrative Law Judge based in Des Moines, IA. He served as an ALJ until his retirement in 1995. He was proud of his career as an attorney and for his time on the bench, both of which provided him the opportunity to be of service to others.

In retirement, Mr. Perlowski was a member of the Legion of Mary and the Knights of Columbus at Sacred Heart Parish in West Des Moines, IA, where he also regularly worked as a volunteer for the Fountain West Nursing Home.

Sign Guestbook at chicagotribune.com/obituaries\

Friday, April 30, 2010

DePaul Alum Sets World Record Again

Harrry Brown (on the right) at the 2008 DePaul Relays

DePaul track alum Harry Brown ('52) set a new world record in the 200 meters at the Master's Indoor Championship in Boston, March 26-28 in the 80-84 age group in a time of 31.29. Brown's time eclipsed the previous record of 31.86 run by former Iowa State All-American Melvin Larsen.

Brown also captured titles in the 60m and 400m, clocking 9.51 and 1:15.81 times, respectively. The 400-meter time was .13 seconds off the U.S. record.

Holding a world record is nothing new to Brown, who currently holds the mark for 400m for the 75-79 age group with a time of 69:10.

Brown set his record at the 2010 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships, held at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center on the campus of Roxbury Community College.More than 850 athletes from around the country, ranging from age 30 to 96, were on hand to compete in the Championships.

For press release from the Championship, Click HERE.

Monday, April 26, 2010

DePaul to Create Letterwinners Plaza and Champions Courtyard


DePaul Athletics is celebrating the legacy of Letterwinners with the creation of the Letterwinners Plaza and Champions Courtyard west of Cacciatore Stadium.

The plaza will be a monument to the success of Blue Demon athletics and the donors, friends and family that have sacrificed to make Blue Demon successes a reality.

The Letterwinners Plaza and Champions Courtyard will become a destination for letterwinners, fans and their families when they return to Lincoln Park to see DePaul University. Imagine the pride of your family members when they see your name listed among the all-time great Blue Demons.

You have the exclusive opportunity to purchase your brick, starting at $200. All gifts are tax-deductible with the proceeds benefiting the Cacciatore Stadium renovations.

Large Bricks (12x12 and 8x8) can have up to four lines of text with limited characters. Your message might be as simple as a name and date or as elaborate as a favorite quote. Please note DePaul reserves the right to approve all messages.

Letterwinners Bricks will feature the same layout to ensure continuity. All Letterwinners bricks will have the D Logo. Donor bricks will have primary logo.

The Champions Plaza is a part of the Cacciatore Stadium - Phase II renovations. When completed, the renovations will make a state-of-the-art fan-centered stadium for Blue Demon softball and soccer.

For more information, call Jennifer Thomas at 773-325-8604.

ALL BRICKS MUST BE ORDERED BY MAY 24, 2010.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

DePaul Basketball Adds 12 All-Americans

When talking with basketball alumni from the 40s, the names Bob Neu and Stan Szukala almost always come up. Inevitably the two stars' names would be linked with the phrase All-American. DePaul has long recognized their achievement with induction into the DePaul Athletic Hall of Fame and their names stand among Blue Demon giants, but they have never been recognized officially as All-Americans.

Bob Neu and Stan Szukala and six other Blue Demons can now officially be referred to as All-Americans after their verification in the NCAA's book, Men's Basketball's Finest. The book can be downloaded in its entirety  by clicking HERE. The book has a chapter that includes every All-America team from the top division of men's basketball that could be researched. The teams include teams picked by magazines that are out of print to today's sports websites.

With the additions, DePaul men's basketball student-athletes have now been recognized as All-Americans 38 times in the school's storied hoops history. 

Pictured to the above is 1957 All-American Richard Heise (#14). He was named to the third-team of the Helm's Foundation's All-American team. Heise averaged 24.3 points per game his senior year. His 1957 scoring effort ranks him second all-time at DePaul behind Mark Aguirre's 26.8 ppg in 1980.

New Additions to DePaul's All-America List
Ed Campion - 1937 - first team - MSG
Robert Neu - 1938 - second team - MSG
Robert Neu - 1939 - first team - MSG
Stan Szukala - 1939 - second team - MSG
Lou Prosser - 1940 - second - MSG
Stan Szukala - 1940 - first team - MSG
Elmer Gainer - 1941 - second team - MSG
George Mikan - 1943 - second team - Helms
Ed Mikan - 1948 - third team - Helms
Ron Sobie - 1956 - second team - Converse and Helms Foundation
Richard Heise - 1957 - third team - Helms Foundation 
Clyde Bradshaw - 1980 - second team - Converse

Monday, April 19, 2010

Uncovering a DePaul Treasures - Jack Dean - A True DePaul Hoops Hero


Hearing DePaul athletic alumni tell "their" DePaul story is clearly the favorite part of my job. I have had the great honor to meet many of DePaul's athletic alumni. One of my favorite alums has been Jack Phelan, and his most touching story helped me to appreciate the true meaning of the term "Hero." 

Phelan played men's basketball at DePaul from 1943-46 and 1947-49. He was part of the 1946 NIT National Championship. Our visits in Sarasota are always filled with great tales of DePaul legends since he played alongside hoops legend George Mikan at DePaul and against Mikan in the NBA. Phelan also played for Hall of Fame Coach Ray Meyer during the advent of his illustrious career. 

Phelan's stories are unfailingly humble in nature and rarely focused on him or his exploits. He can tell stories of games in Madison Square Garden, the early days of the NBA as a Sheboygan Redskin or a Waterloo Hawk or even tales of the early days travelling and playing against the great Harlem Globetrotters. There's the anecdote of Coach Ray having Jack's sister dance with George Mikan to improve the big fellow's clumsy footwork.

But I'll never forget the time Phelan led me down the path to the story of Jack Dean. During a visit two years ago, I had noticed a trophy that was tucked away above his refrigerator. When asked about it, Jack smiled and said: "That's the Jack Dean Award for Sportsmanship. I earned it my senior year. Of all the trophies I have earned, this is the one that I kept. It means a lot to me."

I may not have dug more deeply into the Jack Dean story, but one day last winter men's basketball alum and women's basketball coach Doug Bruno asked me what I knew of Dean. He had heard stories from some St. Ignatius guys and wanted to know more.

The search for Jack Dean began....
Jack Dean came to DePaul to play basketball at age 17 in 1943-44 because he wasn't old enough to enlist in the military. Instead of enlisting, he signed up for duty with the Blue Demons and Ray Meyer. The St. Ignatius prep came in well-prepared and made an immediate impact. He would finish the 1943-44 season as DePaul's third-leading scorer behind All-Americans Mikan and Dick Triptow.



"He was a good player and a great-looking guy," said teammate Dick Triptow. "He really added a lot to our team."

"I owe playing at DePaul to Jack," said Blue Demon Hall of Famer Eugene Stump. "I was sitting on the South Side waiting to get old enough to enlist when Jack told me I should go up with him for some basketball at DePaul one afternoon. We went, and a couple of weeks later, Coach Ray Meyer offered us both scholarships to play for the Blue Demons. For me, that really changed everything."

Dean was the leading scorer in DePaul's semifinal victory over Oklahoma A&M in Madison Square Garden. With Mikan on the bench in foul trouble, the freshman stood tall and knocked down several shots in the Blue Demons' come-from-behind victory.

The following game, the referees got the best of DePaul in the Garden. By most newspaper accounts, St. John's and storied coach Joe Lapchick benefited some home cooking. Both Mikan and Dean fouled out early in DePaul's 47-39 loss to the St. John's Indians (as they were known back then).

Teammate Bill McNabola mentioned in some notes a copy of the March 27, 1944 New York Times article: "Referees were brutal on Mikan and Dean. They were ticky-tack fouls."
The calls were apparently so bad that Meyer wanted to pull the team from the floor---but was advised by priests that would be wrong. DePaul finished as the NIT runner-up.

As the season closed, so did Dean's time as a Blue Demon. Now that he was 18, he enlisted in the Navy. On the advice of Meyer, and after some phone calls by the legendary coach, Dean was assigned to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Chicago. Instead of being shipped out, the Blue Demon forward was assigned to work at the Naval Station and play for the base's basketball team. 

Great Lakes had a fine athletics program for basketball and baseball. The 1942 baseball team was managed by Mickey Cochrane and featured Major Leaguers like Johnny Mize, Bob Feller and Billy Herman. The talent on the basketball and football teams was comparable. For more information, check out this link regarding Roger Gogan's book.

Gogan's book documents that Dean had some ultimately irreparable issues with the coach and was set to be shipped out to San Diego, and then overseas. Apparently Dean's reputation as a player preceded him, and before he was shipped abroad, he was assigned to play for the Naval Training Station in San Diego. Unfortunately, Dean got crossed up with the coach and ultimately was sent overseas.

Dean served aboard the U.S.S. Indianapolis as an S2. In July of 1945 the Indianapolis received orders to make a special delivery to Tinian Island. The Indianapolis was to transport a top-secret cargo, the uranium for the atomic bomb "Little Boy" which subsequently would be dropped on Hiroshima. Travelling alone, the Indianapolis would reach Tinian on July 26 and then onto Guam before continuing to Okinawa, Japan to rejoin other ships. On July 30, the Indianapolis was sunk by a Japanese submarine.

The tragedy is best described by the U.S.S. Indianapolis website (http://www.ussindianapolis.org/)

At 12:14 a.m. on July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in the Philippine Sea and sank in 12 minutes. Of 1,196 men on board, approximately 300 went down with the ship. The remainders, about 900 men, were left floating in shark-infested waters with no lifeboats and most with no food or water. The ship was never missed, and by the time the survivors were spotted by accident four days later, only 316 men were still alive.

The sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the deaths that followed led to the greatest single loss of life at sea in the history of the U.S. Navy. A generation of movie fans best knows the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis from the dramatic scene from JAWS. Click HERE for link.

"I met a guy who found out I played at DePaul," said Phelan. "He said he swam beside Jack for three days. He said he just couldn't hang on."

On my last trip to see Phelan, we talked more about Jack Dean and his story. As our visit closed, he again showed me the trophy, and this time pulled it down and handed it to me. He then asked me if I would bring it back home to DePaul. I told him I was touched, and that I would make sure it was prominently displayed so DePaul fans everywhere would know Jack Dean's story.

It is the story of a young man who made an immediate impact on DePaul. Though it would have been easy to bask in the glory of hoops fame, instead he remained steadfast in his desire to serve his country. He made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can all have the freedom we hold so dear.

Jack Dean never will be listed among DePaul's scoring or rebounding greats---his 268 career points have faded anonymously into the past.

But hopefully through Jack Phelan's storytelling and the Jack Dean Trophy placed in our Hall of Fame Foyer Trophy Case, DePaul athletics can always remember the true meaning of Hero.

----------

PRO DEO ET PATRIA  
- entry from the November 1945 DePaul University Alumni News 

Jack Dean, standout forward of the 1943 Demon quintet who served abroad the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Indianapolis, has been reported missing ever since that ship was sunk July 30 in the Philippine sea with heavy loss of life.

Enrolling in DePaul's School of Commerce after graduating from St. Ignatius High, where he captained the basketball squad in his senior year, young Jack developed as one of the finest freshmen cagers in the country. In his one season as a Demon, he totaled 268 points to trail only Dick Triptow and George Mikan who gained All-American recognition.
Before leaving for Great Lakes in April of 1944, Dean admitted his greatest hard-court thrill was scoring 21 points against Notre Dame to spearhead the victory over the Irish.

U.S.S. Indianapolis Links
http://will.illinois.edu/WWII/stories/C227/P6/

Sunday, April 18, 2010

DePaul Remembers Law Alum Benjamin Hooks



DePaul Law School Remembers Alumnus And Former NAACP Head, Benjamin Hooks
Benjamin L. Hooks, who graduated from theDePaul University College of Law in 1948, grew up in an America marked by racism and injustice. Determined to change it, he spent his life fighting for equality.  A highly respected champion of civil rights and one of the College of Law’s outstanding alumni, Hooks died April 15 in Memphis, Tenn.Though his work would take him back to Tennessee and later to Washington, D.C.,  Hooks remained connected to the College of Law throughout his lifetime.  The law school honored his outstanding service to the field of public interest law in 2003, and he earned an honorary degree at the law school’s 1977 commencement ceremony.  Recognition for a career and achievements that defied the odds.

According to his official biography provided by the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of  Memphis, Hooks first began his study of jurisprudence by enrolling in a pre-law course at LeMyone College in Memphis.  He joined the United States Army before completing his studies and was stationed overseas.  This experience made him determined to champion the cause of civil rights when he found himself charged with guarding Italian prisoners who were allowed to eat in restaurants that would deny him service. He rose to the rank of staff sergeant before his tour of duty ended and returned state side to complete his undergraduate studies at Howard University.



With a desire to become an attorney, Hooks returned to Tennessee. However, what he experienced upon moving back to Memphis was the true meaning of bigotry in the South. No law school in his native state of Tennessee would admit him. So Hooks moved north to attend law school at DePaul University.



“DePaul gave him an opportunity to go to law school when others would not admit him because of his race,” said College of Law Professor Bruce Ottley.  Ottley knew Hooks and had the opportunity to spend one-on-one time with him over dinner during one of Hooks’ visits to Chicago and the College of Law.  “He was qualified and his G.I. Bill would pay his tuition so his race really did not matter to DePaul.



After earning his law degree in 1948, Hooks went back to Memphis and embarked on a storied legal career that would earn him a place among of our nation’s most celebrated civil rights advocates. 



“Benjamin Hooks was a true role model who lived a life that illustrates for our students what they can accomplish no matter what obstacles try and stop them,” said Ottley.  “People can look at graduates like Hooks and know that no matter what your background, you can still achieve whatever you want if you get a good education.”


To read the entire article, Click HERE

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Purnell's Singular Mission:Restore the Greatness


The daunting challenge of resurrecting the DePaul men's basketball program at perhaps the most crucial point in its illustrious 87-year history has been embraced by a man who has battled adversity for much of his life.


From the time he was 12 years old taking a stand for school integration in mid-1960s Maryland to becoming the first African-American head basketball coach at four different universities, Oliver Purnell  has fought for social justice and enhanced both the athletic ability and social sensibility of his student-athletes.


Purnell, 56, was formally introduced as the Blue Demons' new basketball coach at a Tuesday afternoon press conference in Lincoln Park.

What the local media, the DePaul community and an entire city are going to discover is a unique individual who listened to his conscience at a defining moment in his coaching career. (For Full Article, Click HERE)

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Today in DePaul Hoops History - March 18

March 18

Men's Basketball
2004 - The Blue Demons return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years and win the program's first tournament game since 1989 with a 76-69 double overtime victory over Dayton in Buffalo, N.Y. The win propelled the Dave Leitao-led Blue Demons to a second round match-up against UCONN which DePaul dropped 72-55.

In the first round win, the Blue Demons were led by Drake Diener who tallied a then-career high 28 points, which included 10 points in the second overtime. The junior guard was clutch for DePaul, knocking down eight consecutive free throws to seal the victory.

Diener is one of three players in school history to own multiple career school records with the school standards for career three-point goals, three-point goal attempts, and free throw percentage. He also owns the single-season marks for three-point goals, attempts and free throw percentage.

The Fond du Lac, Wisc., native finished his career with 1,208 points. He was a two-time Conference-USA Men's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Year. As a senior, Diener was named NACDA's I-AAA Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Sports Illustrated Story - Click HERE

Stat Sheet - Click Here

Women's Basketball
1992 - DePaul defeated Arizona, 67-65, in the first round of the 1992 NCAA Tournament in Alumni Hall. The win in Alumni Hall was the second all-time in NCAA competition. In all, DePaul is 4-0 in NCAA play when the games are played in Chicago.

The 11-seed Blue Demons, in the midst of a run winning 14 of their last 15, shocked the Sun Devils behind a balanced attack. Four players, Rita Hale, Stella Woodley, Tammy Williams and Megan Lucid scored 12, 14, 15 and 10 points, respectively. Williams added nine assists and closed out the victory with a pair of free throws with 36 seconds remaining.

The win propelled the Blue Demons to a second round match-up against Penn State in University Park, Penn. DePaul dropped a 77-54 decision to close the season at 21-10. Bruno's 1992 edition captured the Great Midwest title with an 8-2 league mark.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Dick Triptow Donates Treasured Basketball

DePaul All-American Dick Triptow and his wife Helen present DePaul President Fr. Dennis Holtschneider, C.M. with the game ball from DePaul 1944 NIT win over Oklahoma A&M.

Following DePaul Alumni Association's 50-year Club Reception on March 15, DePaul Athletics received a treasure for display in McGrath Arena's Hall of Fame Collection.

All-American Dick Triptow donated the game ball that he received in DePaul's 41-38 win over Oklahoma A&M in Madison Square Garden in 1944.  The Aggies were coached by legend Hank Iba and featured 7-1 center Bob Kurland, setting up quite a match-up with Ray Meyer and George Mikan.

The Blue Demons trailed 15-2 after the first ten minutes in front of more than 18,000 fans.  The Blue Demon rally was led by Gene Stump and Jack Dean hitting key shots to get close the lead to 24-18 at halftime.

The Kurland-Mikan match-up should have been was one for the ages. At that time, to many experts Kurland was not only bigger than Mikan, he was also a bit more refined as a player. The "Battle of the Big Men" was set to be a sight to behold because of their complete dominance on both ends of the court. In the 1944 season, no goal tending rule existed so the two "giants" would sweep "seemingly made" shots off the rim or out of the basket. As a result, the NCAA created the goal-tending rules for the 1945 season.

The marquee match-up never materialized as Mikan fouled out with four minutes expired in the second half and he had scored just nine points.  Kurland followed several minutes later with 14 points.

In a basketball oddity, A&M was in worse shape once Kurland fouled out. They later had to play the final 90 seconds with only four players which DePaul used to its advantage in the victory.

The win allowed the Blue Demons to advance to the finals of the NIT. Unfortunately, DePaul would fall to St. John's, 47-39, in the Championship game. The 1944 Blue Demons ended their season with a 22-4 mark and set several offensive records. Four times the Blue Demons would score more than 80 points in a game to set a new standard of scoring for DePaul.

Following his DePaul career, Triptow played six years of professional basketball, starting with the Chicago Gears in the National Basketball League. Triptow penned the book, "The Dynasty that Never Was", which chronicles Chicago's first professional basketball championship.

Nicknamed "Tip Toe" Triptow by legendary Chicago broadcaster Jack Brickhouse, Triptow averaged 10 points a game as a rookie and would play three years for the Gears before being claimed by the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons. In 1948-49, the Fort Wayne franchise entered the Basketball Association of America which eventually would become the Nation Basketball Association (NBA). The Blue Demon guard finished his career playing for the Baltimore Bullets.

After his professional career, Triptow taught and coached at St. Patrick's High School in Chicago from 1950-59. He then accepted a coaching position at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, where he remained until 1973. His final move was to Lake Forest High School where he worked until retirement in 1988.

Triptow was been honored by several Halls of Fame, receiving induction into DePaul University Athletic Hall of Fame in its second induction class, the Catholic League Coaches Hall of Fame, Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame and the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.

Today In DePaul Hoops History - March 17


March 17

Men's Basketball
2006 - The basketball world lost Ray Meyer. The Hall of Fame coach led the Blue Demons for 42 seasons and won 724 games. In 2003, DePaul named the floor at Allstate Arena "Ray & Marge Meyer Court" in honor of the legendary mentor.

His career included 37 winning seasons of which 12 seasons had 20 wins or more and he took his teams to 21 post-season appearances. Led DePaul to the NCAA Final Four playoffs in 1985. His 724 career victories and 354 losses place him in the top 20 coaches of NCAA Division 1 schools. Named the 1979 Eastman Kodak Coach of the Year. Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979 and was a member of the Illinois and Chicago Sports Halls of Fame, the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the DePaul Hall of Fame.

NY Times Obituary - Click HERE
ESPN Obituary - Click HERE

1978 - DePaul defeated Louisville, 90-89, in double overtime at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. and advanced the Blue Demons to the Elite Eight for a match-up against rival Notre Dame.

Dave Corzine turned in one of the all-time great performances scoring 46 points, a mark that trailed only "big man" George Mikan's 53-point effort in 1945 against Rhode Island. The Blue Demons would need each and every one of Corzine's buckets to squeak out the victory over Louisville. The Blue Demon center would seal the victory with a hook shot with six second remaining on the clock as the result of a great entry pass from point guard Randy Ramsey.

According to Coach Ray Meyer's Book, Coach, co-authored by Ray Sons, Corzine came into the Louisville game with a lot to prove. The previous summer, Corzine had played for Denny Crum on the World University Games in Bulgaria. Corzine had been relegated to a back-up to Crum's own center Rick Gallon.

"He (Corzine) asked to be given the ball in this game. Corzine backed up his case against Gallon by playing one of his greatest games. He owned that game, scoring 46 points. I don't think he shot his 21 baskets from a total distance of as much as 30 feet."

Following the 1978 season, Corzine earned honorable mention All-America honors. He would close out his career as the all-time leading scorer with 1,896 points, passing Mikan's 1,870 points. Corzine currently stands third all-time.

The Arlington Heights native also is the greatest rebounder in Blue Demon history, evidenced by the fact that he has nearly 200 more rebounds than any other player in DePaul's storied history (1,151 rebounds).

Corzine was picked as the 18th overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft. Corzine would play in the NBA for 13 seasons for a number of teams including The San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic. In all, Corzine played in 891 games and scored 7,615 points in the NBA.

Corzine was a iron man during his NBA career. In stretch of 10 seasons from 1980-89, he played 78 or more games each season. In three of those seasons, he led the league in games played. Corzine also ranks in the NBA's top 100 all-time in career block shots with 848 blocks (all-time list Click HERE.

Women's Basketball
1990DePaul lost a NCAA second-round match-up against Washington, 77-68, in a game played in Seattle. The Blue Demons were led by Beth Hasenmiller's 19 points. The loss was DePaul's first loss in a NCAA Championship.
DePaul had debuted three days earlier with a 73-63 vcitory over Western Kentucky in Alumni Hall.  Entering the tournament as an at-large selection, the Blue Demons proved they belonged behind newly-inducted Hall of Famer Melanee Ehrhardt's 23 points and Veronica Ross' 13 assists. 

The 1990 season has set the stage for DePaul's current NCAA success. On Monday evening, the Blue Demons were invited to their eight-consecutive NCAA Championship. Sunday's opening round match-up against Vanderbilt will mark the 15th appearance by a DePaul team in the NCAA Tournament.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Today in DePaul Hoops History - March 16


March 16

Men's Basketball
1989 - The 12th-seeded Blue Demons stun fifth-seed Memphis State, 66-63, in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in Boise, Idaho. The Joey Meyer-coached Blue Demons finished the season with a 21-12 mark after dropping the second-round to UNLV, 85-70.

The 1989 Blue Demons were captained by seniors Stanley Brundy and Terence Greene. Brundy topped DePaul, averaging 19.5 points and 10.2 rebounds for the season. Brundy's 1989 campaign made him only the fourth Blue Demon to average double figures in scoring and rebounding. The Philadelphia native compiled 1,375 career points.

Greene finished with 1,334 career points and is one of true ironmen of Blue Demon basketball. Green logged 3,585 minutes, fourth most in DePaul history. His 125 appearances in a Blue Demon uniform is the second-highest career total.

Women's Basketball

2001 - Coach Doug Bruno and his squad defeated Northern Iowa in the WNIT in overtime, 76-73. DePaul was captained by Sylvia Blakeslee, Candis Blankson, Briana Fitzgerald and Molly Watson.

The Blue Demons ended their season with a 73-62 loss to Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. The 2001 closed the book on the season with a 18-14 mark with an 8-8 record in Conference USA play.

Junior Lenae Williams was DePaul's leading scorer, posting 18.2 points per game. In her career, Williams would lead the Blue Demons in scoring three times. In her final three seasons, she averaged 18.3, 18.2 and 22.5 points per game, respectively. Williams would finish her career as the second-highest scorer in DePaul history with 2,046 points.

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Hop on the Bus and Cheer on Your Blue Demons
Come join your fellow fans as we travel to Cincinnati, OH to cheer on the Blue Demons in the First Round of the NCAA tournament. The Blue Demons will face Vanderbilt on Sunday, March 21. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. (EST). The first 50 people to email Jennifer Thomas at jthoma67@depaul.edu will be eligible for complimentary transportation to and from the Cintas Center.

The bus will leave early Sunday morning and return immediately following the conclusion of the game. There will be a $25 dollar charge which will cover your ticket and food. Go Blue Demons! 

Friday, March 12, 2010

Today in DePaul Hoops History - March 12

March 12

Men's Basketball
1978 - A Nation Discovers DePaul - DePaul opened the NCAA Tournament with a match-up against Creighton in Levitt Arena in Wichita, Kan. The two Catholic rivals played a hard-fought battle with Creighton breaking out to a 14-point halftime lead.

As time ran down on the Blue Demons, DePaul looked to unsung hero Randy Ramsey to lead the Blue Demons. (Ironically the time would have never ran out on DePaul as the scoreboard clock in Wichita was not operational for much of the game.) The senior guard, seldom counted on to provide offensive fire power averaging 3.8 points for the season, provided a huge boost scoring 15 points. Ramsey knocked down seven of his 12 attempts including several tough jump shots. Ramsey joined the other four starters in double figures: Gary Garland (20), Dave Corzine (19), Randy Ramsey (15), Curtis Watkins (14) and Joe Ponsetto (10).

The win over Creighton advanced DePaul to the second round of the NCAA for a match-up with Louisville in Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. Behind Corzine's 45-point barrage, the Blue Demons defeated the Cardinals in double-overtime, 90-89, to advance to an Elite Eight match-up against Notre Dame. The Blue Demons dropped the contest to the Fighting Irish to end the season with a 27-3 mark.

Women's Basketball
1981 - DePaul women's basketball, under first-year coach and men's basketball All-American Ron Feiereisel, ended its season for the second-straight to Detriot in the first round of the AIAW Midwest Regional.

The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women had served as the governing body for women's athletics since 1971. Following the 1982 campaign, the AIAW discountinued its national championships. The NCAA would then become the sanctioning body for the championships since.

1983 - The Blue Demons closed the 1983 campaign with a 67-59 victory over Loyola to close the season with a 13-15 mark.

1993 - DePaul, under the direction of Doug Bruno, opened the Great Midwest Tournament with a 73-57 vitcory over Cincinnati. The following day, the Blue Demons would win the Tournament with a 70-53 win over Marquette.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Today in DePaul Hoops History - March 11

March 11

Men's Basketball
1979 - Following a first-round bye in the NCAA Tournament, Hall of Famer Gary Garland set the DePaul record for steals in a game with 10 in the Blue Demon's 89-78 win over USC in Pauley Pavilion. The record effort led to Garland's honoring as the Most Valuable Player at the 1979 West Regional.

The win over USC was the first of two victories over Los Angeles foes, as DePaul would defeat UCLA following a semifinal victory over Marquette. In the Final Four, DePaul would fall to Indiana State and Larry Bird, 76-74. The Blue Demons would close the historic season with a 96-93 win over Penn in the consolation final.

Garland finished his career with 1,214 career points and currently ranks 27th all-time at DePaul. Known as the Music Man, he sang the National Anthem before several DePaul home games.

Women's Basketball
1989 - In the Championship game of the 1989 North Star Conference Tournament, Doug Bruno's squad defeated Northern Illlinois, 76-61, to bring home the conference crown. DePaul's all-time leader in career points Diana Vines poured in 40 points to set a then-school record. The standard now stands fourth all-time.

Vines, the Hall of Famer, wasn't the only one to leave her mark in the record book that game as Veronica Ross recorded 15 assists in the second best assist effort in school history. She actually set the current school record for assists the previous night with 16 assists. Ross holds the top-five single-game assist marks and owns the career mark for assists with 672, more than 200 assists more than Molly Watson's 471 in the No. 2 spot.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Today in DePaul Hoops History - March 10

My apologies for missing Today in DePaul Blue Demon Hoops History yesterday. I was busy with the Men's Basketball BIG EAST Tournament.

March 10

Men's Basketball
1944 - DePaul legend George Mikan scored 34 points in an 80-44 victory over Concordia (Ill.) that closed out the regular season. Second-year coach Ray Meyer led the Blue Demons to a 22-4 mark behind a pair of All-Americans in Mikan and guard Dick Triptow. The win over Concordia was the third of the season for the Meyer-men.

In their post-season berth in the NIT, DePaul opened with a 68-45 victory over Muhlenberg. That set-up a match-up of huge proportions as Mikan and the Blue Demons were set to battle Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) and Big man Bob Kurland. Kurland, a seven-footer, was the chief rival for Mikan. Both are credited with necessitating the advent of the goal-tending rule in 1945. Previously, Mikan and Kurland would just whisk balls off the rim when their opponents would put up shots.

The Blue Demons got the better of the NIT match-up in 1944 and advanced to the NIT Championship where they would fall to St. John's, 47-39.

Women's Basketball
1985 - DePaul closed the 1985 campaign with a 96-46 victory over Butler under the direction of head coach Jim Izard. Surprisingly, the 50-point deficit ranks as the 13th-largest margin of victory in DePaul history. The Blue Demon record for largest margin of victory belongs to the 1978-79 squad that defeated Chicago State,101-23, on December 14, 1978.

The season-ending victory over Butler capped a 19-9 campaign for the 1985 Blue Demons.Senior Mary Lou O'Brien captained that squad for the second-consecutive season. She ranks 24th on the all-times game played list at DePaul.

The win was victory no.2 in a streak that would reach eleven games that dated from March 8, 1985 - January 4, 1986. The streak ranks as the fourth-longest streak in DePaul women's basketball history.

Monday, March 8, 2010

This Day in DePaul Hoops History - March 8

March 8


Men's Basketball
1995 - Tom Kleinschmidt becomes the first DePaul player ever to earn Conference Player-of-the-Year honors when he is named so by the Great Midwest Conference. The senior averaged 21.4 points per game to close the book on one of the most prolific careers in DePaul basketball history. Kleinschmidt would end his career ranked fifth in scoring.

Kleinschmidt was the only player in DePaul history with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists, 100 steals and 100 three-point goals until Sammy Mejia reached those numbers in 2007. The current assistant coach was inducted into the DePaul Athletic Hall of Fame in January.

Women's Basketball
1986 - Sally Anderson attempted a then-record 34 attempts in the 87-42 win over Butler to close out the 1986 season. Under the guidance of Jim Izard, Anderson and her teammates compiled a 21-7 mark, including a 12-1 mark to open to the season. Following the 1985-86 season, Anderson was named to the second team of the American Women's Sports Federation's All-America Team.

In her career, Anderson ranks as the no. 7 scorer in Blue Demon history with 669 points. Upon her graduation, the Hall of Famer stood atop the career scoring chart. For Anderson's career, the two-time captain averaged 21.6 points per game. In all, the Blue Demon guard ranks in the top 10 in eight career totals, including ranking no. 2 in free throw percentage.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Today in DePaul Hoops History - March 7

March 7

Men's Basketball
1992 - Stephen Howard scored a career-high 31 points in the Blue Demon's 66-65 win over Notre Dame in Allstate Arena. Howard clinched the win with a free throw with less than a second remaining on the clock. The win over the Irish capped a 19-7 regular season. The Blue Demons advanced to the NCAA tournament but fell to New Mexico State in an opening match-up in Tempe, Ariz.

Howard teamed with fellow senior David Booth to lead DePaul in scoring. The pair averaged 17.1 and 17.4 points per game, respectively. Howard concluded his career no. 5 in both career scoring and rebounding in Blue Demon history. Howard owns the distinction of playing in more games than any other Blue Demon.

Howard earned the honor of becoming the first and only first-team Academic All-America selection, receiving the honor in both 1991 and 1992. The 6-10 forward played six years in the NBA prior to a productive basketball career playing around the globe.

Women's Basketball
1981 - Under the direction of DePaul Hall of Famer Coach Ron Feiereisel, the Blue Demons defeated Illinois, 87-75, in the consolation round of the IAIAW State Tournament played in Chicago. The win earned DePaul its 18th win of the season. DePaul would advance to the AIAW Midwest Regional where they fell, 53-47, to Detroit.

The 1981 team was captained by JoAnn Feiereisel and Carolynn Connors. Feieresel shattered the single-season scoring record and rebounding marks by more than 100 points and 100 boards, respectively. The 1981 season also saw the emergence of a future star in Barbra Atsaves who compiled a team-leading 76 assists.