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.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

This Day in DePaul Hoops History - March 6

March 6

Men's Basketball
2004 - DePaul beats USF, 78-66, in Tampa and clinches a share of the Conference USA championship. It marks the second time in the history of the program that the Blue Demons win a conference title and the first in C-USA. DePaul would earn the top seed in the annual league tournament, despite a five-way tie for the Championship.

The 2004 Blue Demons were coached by Dave Leitao and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after winning an epic double-overtime 76-69 victory over Dayton in Buffalo. The team was led in scoring by seniors Delonte Holland (16.5 ppg) and Andre Brown (13.5).

Women's Basketball
1981 - Debra Robinson pulled down 26 rebounds in a 78-72 loss to Northwestern in the IAIAW State Tournament in Chicago. The mark set the school single-game record and stood until 1985 when Tracy Manuel eclipsed the mark with 27 in 1985. Robinson's 26 rebounds still stands third all-time, trailing Manuel and record holder Latasha Byears and her 28 rebounds.

Robinson currently ranks third in career rebounding with 1,013 boards and 10th all-time in career scoring for the Blue Demon women with 1,592 points. At graduation, she was the career leader in rebounding and trailed only JoAnn Feiereisel in scoring.

Friday, March 5, 2010

This Day in DePaul Hoops History - March 5


March 5

Men's Basketball
1979 - Mark Aguirre scored 45 points against Loyola-Chicago in a 101-99 loss on the road. Following the loss, DePaul rebounded in the NCAA Tournament where it ultimately advanced to the historic match-up against Larry Bird and Indiana State. The 1979 Blue Demons would closed the year with a consolation-round victory over Penn to claim the No. 3 spot in the nation.

The 45-point effort by Aguirre ranks as the third-highest scoring game in school history. Five times in his career, the Chicago native would surpass the 40-point total in a contest. Aguirre, a two-time All-American, is the all-time leading scorer and holds three single-season records as well. The first pick of the 1981 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, he won two NBA titles with the Detroit Pistons in his 14-year NBA career. His jersey number (24) is one of two that DePaul has retired.


Women's Basketball
2006 - DePaul knocked off Pittsburgh, 69-46, in the BIG EAST Women's Basketball Tournament in Hartford. Caprice Smith knocked down four three-point goals in five attempts in the win over Pittsburgh.

DePaul was led throughout the 2005-06 season by three-time All-American Khara Smith who finished her career as the No. 2 scorer in school history. The women's squad finished with a 27-7 mark and a 11-5 conference record in its first BIG EAST season. The Blue Demons advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in San Antonio, where they dropped a hard-fought 66-56 match-up.

Uncovering DePaul Treasures: Poffo Baseball Alumni Turned Wrestler


Angelo Poffo - 1925-2010

DePaul Baseball Letterwinner and Wrestling Superstar, Performer and Father

(At Left - Graduation picture)

Angelo Poffo's funeral service will be held at St. Joseph Church in Downers Grove, Ill. on Monday, March 10 at 10 a.m. The address is 4824 Highland Ave, Downers Grove, Ill. 60515-3615

With sadness, DePaul University learned that it lost baseball alum Angelo Poffo on March 4, 2010. Poffo was a 1950 graduate of DePaul's School of Education, earning his degree in Physical Education. In his obituary, it notes that Poffo played baseball for the Blue Demons.


Poffo served in the US Navy before attending DePaul University.  His determination and athleticism was exhibited by his July 4, 1945 record-breaking 6,033 consecutive sit-ups. He was featured in Ripley's Believe it or Not for his effort.

Poffo became one of the biggest names in professional wrestling with his work as a wrestler, a promoter and ultimately as father to two famous wrestlers. As a wrestler, he held multiple titles, including the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship in 1958. He was active as a wrestler into the 1980s and was inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame in 1995.

As a promoter, he ran International Championship Wrestling from 1979-83 in Kentucky.

Poffo and his wife Judy Sverdlin met at DePaul. Two of his sons, Randy "Macho Man" Savage and "Leaping" Lanny Poffo continued his legacy on the mat.

After a brief career as a minor league baseball player, Randy "Macho Man" Savage became a household name in the eighties and nineties. According to Wikipedia, Savage held twenty championships during his professional wrestling career and is recognized by WWE as a six-time world heavyweight champion, a two-time WWF Champion and a four-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion.  For more info on Savage, click HERE.

Lanny Poffo wrestled as "Leaping" Lanny or later "The Genius". Lanny was known for writing poems and reading the to them  crowd to aggrevate his opponent. For more info on Lanny, click HERE.

After retiring from wrestling, Angelo Poffo returned to Illinois to teach physical education.

Angelo Poffo's life may be best captured in the article Poffo was Wrestler, Promoter, Father to Two Stars, written by Greg Oliver, Producer, SLAM! Wrestling. For complete article, Click Here

 D-Club Dance Picture from 1948 DePaulian.
(Poffo is on the extreme left. Among the others in the picture is George Mikan in the center, Sam Vukovich, Whitey Kachan, trainer Frank Stevens, and legendary coach Ray Meyer).

Links to Stories about Angelo Poffo
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/03/04/13114281.html
http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/profiles/a/angelo-poffo.php
http://www.sptimes.com/News/122701/Floridian/A_wrestling_dynasty.shtml

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Track Alum and Writer George Gabauer to Speak on his Canoe Journeys

Track alum, author, photographer and outdoorsman George Gabauer has a wealth of diverse passions that make him one of the most artistic alumni in DePaul's track history. On Friday evening, he will share his love for the outdoors and canoeing in a presentation at The Cliff Dwellers in Chicago.
After running at DePaul, Gabauer coached track on the collegiate level at Northwestern University. He also enjoyed a prolific prep coaching career at DePaul Academy, Gordon Tech, St. Patrick's and Maine South. 
Following a life dedicated to teaching mathematics and coaching track and cross country to young people, Gabauer has developed his other interests outside the classroom and track. The 1959-63 letterwinner has become a avid canoeist, author and nature photographer. 

Gabauer has authored three books, Cabin by the Pond, Mystic Signs - Pictographs of the Quetico-Superior  (preview) and his newest, In the Shortness of a Breath...a Haiku Journey (a preview).
He has been a featured artist with his nature photography on display at the Cliff Dwellers and has presented lectures and readings from his experiences as a canoeist and photographer.



Event Details

Canoe Country Journeys in the Boundary Waters-Superior Region
Friday, March 5
Cliff Dwellers, 200 S. Michigan(22nd floor)

Join George on a journey through historic canoe country of the US and Canada. Take a virtual canoe trip, share a few tall tales and true, bits of history and scenic splendor of the region.  We will travel along island-studded lakes, run rapids galore, gaze upon mysterious pictographs, and brave the wave tossed waters of Lake Superior all from the comfort and safety of the Cliff Dwellers kiva.

Cocktails: 5:30 PM (cash bar)
Slide Presentation: 6:15 p.m.
Dinner: 7:15 p.m. (Reservations required)

There is no charge for the presentation. It will be about 45min to 1 hour.
If you plan to have dinner at the Cliff Dwellers, you would need to make reservations, by calling 312-922-8080 and reference the Gabauer Lecture.

This Day in DePaul Hoops History - March 4


March 4

Men's Basketball
2009 - Will Walker, who will play his final home game on Friday night against St. John's, turned in the second-most prolific three-point output in a single game when he made seven treys in a loss against West Virginia. The guard from Bolingbrook tallied 31 points against the Mountaineers. Walker has eclipsed the 30-point plateau four times in his career which allows him to join a very exclusive Blue Demon group who have scored 30+ points in a contest more than four times: Mark Aguirre (17 times), George Mikan (13 times), Kleinschmidt (eight times), Booth (five times), Walker (four times) and Stanley Brundy (four times).

Through the conclusion of the game against USF,  Will Walker has compiled 1,331 career points, ranking him 18th all-time at DePaul behind Terence Greene. With several good performances, Walker may have the chance to break into the top 15 all-time.

Women's Basketball
1976 - DePaul women's basketball dropped a first-round AIAW State Tournament match-up against Northeastern Illinois in Macomb, Ill. The 1975-76 team, led by DePaul's first women's basketball coach Debbie Miller, completed the school's second season of varsity competition with a 7-12 mark. Judy Hojnowski and Jean Lenti captained the squad. The two captains were stalwarts as leaders with Hojnowski serving as a captain for two seasons, while Lenti held the captain title for an unprecedented four campaigns.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

DePaul All-American Emmette Bryant Featured in Black Sports The Magazine

Emmette Bryant - Inside the Heart of a Champion 
by Tony Brooks

Appeared in the March 2010 Issue of BSTM
http://www.blacksportsthemagazine.com/

He played in the Golden Age of NBA basketball; a time when John Havlichek was out on the floor working miracles, Bill Russell was an ever present nemesis to opposing teams and the clutch play of Sam Jones was right out of a John McLendon text book.

His name is Emmette Bryant, former Boston Celtic and departing member of the Executive Board of the NBA Retired Players Association.

In 1992, the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) was formed by basketball greats Dave Bing, Dave Cowens, Dave DeBusschere, Archie Clark and Oscar Robertson to promote basketball and enhance the sport’s image. These former front and back court visionaries shared a goal of assisting retired players with a variety of services. With post-retirement objectives in mind, the core services include career transition, pension issues, providing comprehensive health care coverage and encouraging community service for charitable activities, special appearances and international basketball tours. The Association also offers the Dave DeBusschere NBRPA Scholarship fund for members and their children.

The NBRPA is a non-profit organization consisting of former basketball players from the NBA, ABA and Harlem Globetrotters. The NBRPA is a subsidiary of the NBA, and the NBA has made significant financial contributions to the NBRPA down through the years. The NBRPA has also partnered with the National Basketball Players Association.

For the past three years, Emmette Bryant, Jeff Mullins and Earl Monroe have been serving as board members of NBRPA. Their efforts have not only met, but exceeded the organization’s goals and objectives. As of February 2010, they will make way for the election of new members to serve the next term.

Back-in-the-day, watching the NBA on ABC T.V. was ringside viewing on a league with a mixture of great talent; Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlin, Jerry “Mr. Clutch” West, Oscar “The Big O” Robertson,
Nate “Tiny” Archibald, “Pistol” Pete Maravich, Walt “Clyde the Glide” Frazier, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Bob “Butterbean” Love, and a dominant 7’2" rookie out of UCLA named Lew Alcindor. It was indeed a time of three cheers and other celebratory noise.

Soaring even higher than this galactic cluster of superstars was Emmette Bryant and his unequivocal champion Boston Celtics. Bryant grew up on Chicago’s Westside; infamous training ground for some of the best NBA/NFL bound athletes pro sports had ever seen. As a youth in the early 1950s, Bryant excelled in grammar school academics, making doubles and moving on to high school at age twelve. In athletics, he was just average and did not rank among the elite in his community. At McKinley High School, the play of future Harlem Globetrotter, Leon Hilliard, caught Bryant’s basketball eye. Hilliard would break out his dazzling dribbling routine that would make him world famous, and would also inspire a future NBA champion who emulated his ball handling skills.

Young Emmette had a certain attraction to the big city street life, which found him occasionally dropping in on classes but hanging out more in the streets. He still found time for recreation at the community gym, where a watchful Mr. Hunter spent time with him and tried to keep him involved with the positive aspects of athletics at the park district and the Boys Club. By his sophomore year, Bryant was no longer dropping in on classes; he dropped out, without ever playing one day of high school basketball. Song poet Randy Crawford once pinned the words to Street Life.

Fitting of Byrant’s life at the time, is the abbreviated version of
that song.
Street Life – you can run away from time,
Street Life – for a nickel, for a dime,
Street Life – but you better not get old,
Street Life – or you’re gonna feel the cold,
Street Life – it’s the only life I know,
Street Life – there’s a thousand cards to play,
Street Life – until you play your life away.

Bryant’s truancy landed him in a reform school for boys in St. Charles, Illinois, located about 40 miles west of downtown Chicago. The purpose of the school was to provide young boys with a good education, vocational training, along with religious and military training. Fate would have it that Bryant’s gym teacher was a Chicago legend, held in high esteem, named Jesse White.

At Chicago’s Waller High School, White was an All-City baseball and basketball player and again earned All-Conference honors as a baseball and basketball player at Alabama State College. White served in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division as a paratrooper. In 1959, he founded the Jesse White Tumbling Team to provide guidance and direction to at risk youth. White somehow found time to play minor league professional baseball for the Chicago Cubs organization and followed that up with a 33-year career in the Chicago public schools system as a teacher and administrator. He is currently Illinois’ Secretary of State. He was not only a beacon of light to Emmette Bryant, but to thousands of others who drifted far from the peaceful shores.

As time marched on and Bryant matured, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1955. He trained at Sampson Air Force Base in New York, and became a skilled radar operator, prepared to scramble fighter jets at a moment’s notice to any blip on the screen that appeared to be hostile, threatening or unidentifiable. Bryant was stationed at the Panama Canal, and played for a Panamanian and U.S. team that both won championships during his tour of duty. One of the servicemen, who had an opportunity to play with the Baltimore Colts, told Bryant that his skills were outstanding and that he was better than most players, and should consider going to college.

Bryant returned home to Chicago and enrolled at Crane Junior College, and was the leading playmaker, averaging 36 points per game. Along the way, Coach Ray Meyer of DePaul University had seen Bryant play, and invited him to come to DePaul. In 1960, Emmette Bryant set all kinds of freshman records that held until another heralded All-American from the Westside of Chicago named Mark Aguirre, enrolled at DePaul in 1978. Four years later, Bryant was graduating from DePaul with a degree in Physical Education, and was being drafted by the New York Knicks as a guard and the Dallas Cowboys as a defensive back.

Bryant wisely chose to play for the Knicks, and arrived in New York in September of 1964, joined by two other rookies; Jim Barnes, the overall number one selection of the NBA draft and 2nd round first selection, Willis Reed. While with the Knicks, Bryant would team up with future Hall of Famer and U.S. Senator, Bill Bradley, and another future Hall of Fame player in Walt Frazier, before joining the Celtics in 1968. Boston was loaded with great players; Bill Russell, Sam Jones, John Havichek and Don Nelson.

Bryant added value each time he came off the bench as a defensive specialist, and eventually broke into the starting line up.

If you think clowns and mimes have a heated rivalry, then what do you think existed between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers? These two teams only had to show up at the Boston Garden or the L.A. Forum to fill it with die-hard screaming fans.

Game 7 of the 1969 NBA finals was at Los Angeles. With a heartpounding 7 minutes and 5 seconds to go and the Celtics out in front 101 to 89, Emmette Bryant was the fast moving point guard, guiding his team toward victory with 20 points against a potent Lakers team featuring Wilt Chamberlin, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. This was a title fight and the Lakers wanted a parade, too.

Jerry West had his trigger finger stuck on automatic when he turned on the point faucet and mounted a furious come back with a triple double of 42 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assist. When the horn sounded, the Lakers came up short to the Celtics by a score of 108 to 106. The Celtics were World Champions, and walked off the court with a tickle me Elmo feeling.

During the series, while at his hotel, Bryant received a telegram from a woman asking if he knew a Mr. Harper, who was a retired recreation teacher from Chicago. The telegram went on to say that Mr. Harper was now living in Los Angeles and a telephone number was left where he could be reached. It was signed by Mrs. Harper. Bryant called the number and reunited with the man that kept a watchful eye on him as a youth. Bryant asked Mr. Harper to attend each of the four games played in L.A. as his
guest. When Emmette Bryant was crowned World Champion, he and Mr. Harper both wept. “That was one of the happiest days of my life,” said Bryant, as we dined in a Chicago restaurant.

In 1970, Bryant moved on to the Buffalo Braves, and retired from the league in 1972. Immediately after his playing days, Bryant became an assistant coach; one year at Columbia University in New York and two years with the Seattle Supersonics. All along the way, Bryant would say, “I’m just a teacher that happened to play pro ball.” Bryant then went to work for the State of Washington for the next 30 years, starting out with the Department of Social and Health Services, in charge of recreation throughout the state for that department’s correctional institutions. He later became the Recreation Director at Mission Creek Youth Camp.

Today, the DePaul University Hall of Famer is living back in Chicago. He still plays basketball weekly and even won a championship last year in a league of extraordinary gents, age 70 and older.

Author Tony Brooks is a regular contributor to BSTM and can be reached at anthony8831@sbcglobal.net.

This Day in DePaul Hoops History - March 3


March 3

Men's Basketball
1962 - M.C. Thompson scored 39 points in DePaul's 87-80 win over Notre Dame in Alumni Hall. The 6-5 junior forwarded averaged 16.3 points per game in 1962 and sported a 15.6 ppg average in his 1,111 point career. Thompson captained the 1963 NIT team and holds DePaul's record for rebounding average for both the career and season at 13.7 and 15.4 rpg, respectively. A Chicago Prep at Marshall High School, Thompson was drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1963 NBA Draft.

Women's Basketball
1996 - Latasha Byears scored 38 points in DePaul's 93-87 overtime loss to Memphis in the Conference USA Tournament.  The Tigers upset DePaul after the Blue Demons won the regular-season title with a 13-1 league mark. The squad captained by Byears, Tawona Alhaleem and Becky Blacharcyzk advanced to the NCAA Tournament where they defeated Southern Methodist before being ousted by the host Iowa Hawkeyes.

Byears capped her two-year career among the DePaul's greats by being named first-team All-America by the AP and College Sports Magazine. Her 1,423 career points ranks 13th and her average of 24.5 points per game and 11.1 rebounds per contest are Blue Demon standards. She is one of five DePaul players to play in the WNBA.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

This Day in DePaul Hoops History - March 2


March 2

Men's Basketball
2006 - In one of the most exciting games in the last decade, DePaul crushed Syracuse 108-69 at Allstate Arena. The Jerry Wainwright-led Blue Demons knocked down a Allstate Arena-record 16 three-point goals. In all, seven Blue Demons knocked down a trey (Karron Clarke (5), Sammy Mejia (4), Draelon Burns (3), Wilson Chandler (1), Marcus Heard (1), Cliff Clinkscales (1) and Rashad Woods (1). For the game, DePaul shot 57.1 percent from outside the arc and closed the book shooting 62 percent overall from the field.

See the historic Stat Sheet, Click HERE

2000 - The date also celebrates the biggest crowd in DePaul's history at Allstate Arena. In 2000, a crowd of 18,253 fans jammed Allstate Arena to watch the Blue Demons battle Cincinnati. Four of the Blue Demon (Quentin Richardson, Bobby Simmons, Steve Hunter and Paul McPherson) would go on to play in the NBA. Cincinnati would prove to be too much, narrowly edging DePaul, 64-62.

Game Highlights - Click HERE

Sports Illustrated Game Story - Click HERE

Women's Basketball
2001 - Lenae Williams scored 38 points in DePaul's opening-round 74-56 victory in the Conference USA Tournament. The 38-point effort stands as the sixth-most prolific single-game effort in Blue Demon women's history.  Williams, DePaul's No. 4 all-time scorer, four times scored 38 or more points in a game.

That 2001 squad advanced two rounds in the Conference USA Tournament before being defeated by Cincinnati, 65-52, in the semifinals . DePaul advanced to the 2001 WNIT and won an opening-round game over UNI, before losing a 73-62 match-up on the road against Ohio State.

Special Congratulations to Doug Bruno and his 2010 women's squad for reaching the 20-win plateau for the 18th in school history by defeating South Florida last evening.

Monday, March 1, 2010

This Day in DePaul Hoops History - March 1


March 1

Men's Basketball
1980 - Mark Aguirre scored 40 points in DePaul's regular season-ending victory over Illinois State in Alumni Hall in Lincoln Park. The 40-point output ranks No. 9 all-time at DePaul for single-game scoring. The Chicago native reached the 40-point barrier five times while only six other DePaul men have reached that plateau - Stanley Brundy (twice), George Mikan, Dave Corzine, Howie Carl, David Booth and Sammy Mejia.

Women's Basketball
1979 - Under the direction of head coach John Lawler, the Blue Demons closed the 1978-79 season with a 67-56 win over Western Illinois at the AIAW State Tournament held in Carbondale, Illinois. The Blue Demons led by captains Diane Bryniarski and Patti Hie finished the season with a 23-4 mark in DePaul's fifth season of varsity women's basketball.