Developing Blue Demon Dreams

DePaul Athletics Set to Bring Caravan to Chicagoland

2010-07-14T07:25:00.000-07:00

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

Blue Demon Pro Hoops Update

2010-07-13T09:20:00.000-07:00

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

Golf Alum Dennis O'Malley Featured

2010-07-12T07:21:00.000-07:00

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.

Marshall Berkson - Reflections on Fourth of July

2010-07-08T04:42:00.001-07:00

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 8^th Armored Division of the Third Army headed by General George S. Patton.

As a part of the Eighth Armored Division, 58^th 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.

DePaul Loses Basketball Letterwinner Michael Perlowski

2010-06-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

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\

DePaul Alum Sets World Record Again

2010-04-30T22:31:00.000-07:00

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.

DePaul to Create Letterwinners Plaza and Champions Courtyard

2010-04-26T05:01:00.001-07:00

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.

DePaul Basketball Adds 12 All-Americans

2010-04-21T09:05:00.000-07:00

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

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

2010-04-19T10:15:00.000-07:00

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://www.ussindianapolis.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Indianapolis_(CA-35)

http://www.discovery.com/exp/indianapolis/indianapolis.html

http://will.illinois.edu/WWII/stories/C227/P6/

DePaul Remembers Law Alum Benjamin Hooks

2010-04-18T14:50:00.000-07:00

DePaul Law School Remembers Alumnus And Former NAACP Head, Benjamin Hooks

From DePaul Website - Newsroom

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

Purnell's Singular Mission:Restore the Greatness

2010-04-08T20:11:00.000-07:00

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)

Today in DePaul Hoops History - March 18

2010-03-18T13:35:00.000-07:00

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.

Dick Triptow Donates Treasured Basketball

2010-03-17T10:22:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

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

1990 - DePaul 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.

Today in DePaul Hoops History - March 16

2010-03-16T07:31:00.000-07:00

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!

Today in DePaul Hoops History - March 12

2010-03-12T07:24:00.000-08:00

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.

Today in DePaul Hoops History - March 11

2010-03-11T20:29:00.000-08:00

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.

Today in DePaul Hoops History - March 10

2010-03-10T20:22:00.000-08:00

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.

This Day in DePaul Hoops History - March 8

2010-03-08T12:20:00.000-08:00

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.

Today in DePaul Hoops History - March 7

2010-03-07T13:58:00.000-08:00

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.

This Day in DePaul Hoops History - March 6

2010-03-06T11:50:00.000-08:00

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.

This Day in DePaul Hoops History - March 5

2010-03-05T11:27:00.000-08:00

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

2010-03-05T08:30:00.000-08:00

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

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

2010-03-04T09:13:00.000-08:00

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

2010-03-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

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.

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

2010-03-03T13:39:00.000-08:00

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

2010-03-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

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.

This Day in DePaul Hoops History - March 2

2010-03-02T07:37:00.000-08:00

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.

This Day in DePaul Hoops History - March 1

2010-03-01T06:43:00.000-08:00

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.

This Day In DePaul Hoops History - Feb.28

2010-02-28T00:31:00.000-08:00

February 28

Men’s Basketball
1998 - Willie Coleman compiled nine steals in DePaul's regular season-ending loss to Louisville. The Blue Demons dropped the overtime 85-82 loss to the Cardinals in the United Center. Coleman had a great 1998 season, leading DePaul in steals, assists, field goal pct. and three-point goals. The 6-1 guard from Peoria amassed a no. 2 all-time season mark with 100 steals in 1998 season, trailing only Gary Garland's 124 in 1978-79. Coleman concluded his career fifth on the all-time steal list with 152.

Women’s Basketball
1997 - In the opening round of the 1997 Conference USA tournament hosted by DePaul, Doug Bruno's women's basketball team defeated Houston, 100-75. The 1997 team was led by captains Kris Booker, Amy Lundquist and Kim Williams, finished the season at 20-9. The squad was rewarded with an NCAA berth and a first round match-up against Duke played in Champaign. DePaul came out on the short side of a 70-56 match-up in NCAA play.

Today in DePaul Hoops History - Feb. 27

2010-02-26T22:41:00.000-08:00

February 27

Men’s Basketball

1965 – Sophomore Errol Palmer pulled down 25 rebounds in DePaul’s 83-67 Alumni Hall loss to Notre Dame. Three times Palmer finished the season as the Blue Demons leading rebounder. Palmer currently ranked no. 6 all-time in career rebounding with 874 caroms. The 1965 team behind a balanced offensive attack that featured four players averaging double figures advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Women’s Basketball

2005 - DePaul's no.3 all-time scorer Allie Quigley knocked down five-out-of-six three-point goals in a 77-56 win over rival Marquette in McGrath Arena. Eighty-three percent is the best shooting from three-point range in McGrath Arena history. The 05 version of the Blue Demons captured the Conference USA title and compiled a 26-5 mark and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Basketball Alum Jon Harris Featured in DePaul Magazine

2010-02-26T11:48:00.000-08:00

Men's Basketball Alum Jon Harris (1991-95) was recently featured in the Winter 2010 issue of DePaul Magazine. The DePaul Magazine is published for alumni, staff, faculty and friends by Marketing Communications. To download the entire Winter 2010, click HERE

A Life Outside Sports

DePaul Magazine – Winter 2010

A self-described “country boy” from upstate NewYork Jonathan Harris (LAS ’95, MS ’00) makes an impact across the nation preparing athletes for a life outside their sport. Through the company he founded in 2004, AthLife, Harris provides education, career transition and life-skill programs for professional, collegiate and high school athletes.

He counts the National Football League (NFL) Players Association, the Atlanta Falcons, the Major League Soccer Players Union and more than 30 Universities, including DePaul, among his clients, but the real impact of his work can be seen through his advocacy for the value of education.

“Education and financial security are the keys to an athlete’s successful career transition,” says Harris. “Through AthLife, we help professional sports players complete their degrees and go on to meaningful careers. We also provide career and educational resources to young athletes at the collegiate and high school level.”

Harris has had countless successes stories in his work, including that of former linebacker Derrick Thomas, a standout for the Kansas City Chiefs and 2009 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With Harris’ help, Thomas was just two classes away from earning his degree at the University of Alabama when he died from injuries sustained in a car accident. In May 2000, the university granted Thomas a degree posthumously. “That was one of the defining moments for his family, and it was fulfilling to be a part of it,” says Harris.

No stranger to athletics himself, Harris was a four-year letterman in basketball at DePaul under Coach Joey Meyer. “I started as a walkon player, just glad to be involved in the program any way I could,” says Harris. While earning a bachelor’s degree in political science, Harris honed more than his basketball skills during his college years. “DePaul challenged me, helping me become a critical thinker and changing how I viewed the world,” he says. “In my first job out of college, I ‘cut my teeth’ at the National Consortium for Academics and Sports Midwest Regional Office, which was housed at DePaul.”

There, Harris worked on Project Academics—a program designed to help athletes from the NBA, NFL and DePaul complete their degrees while serving the community. The program proved to be so successful that the NFL decided to bring it in-house and asked Harris to run it as manager of player development.

After four years with the NFL’s program, Harris started AthLife. Most recently, he formed The AthLife Foundation—an expansion of the National Football Foundation’s Play It Smart Program, a mentoring program that helps high school football players from economically disadvantaged environments successfully graduate from high school and go on to college.

Similarly, The AthLife Foundation will help young athletes with SAT/ACT preparation and encourage them to take responsibility for their futures through lessons learned on the playing field, in the classroom and in service to others. Harris credits his time at DePaul for giving him the tools for success. “The skills I learned in my master’s in public service management program at DePaul have been very practical in running my own business,” he says. “Building on the lessons I learned there, I feel good when I go to bed every night, knowing that I’ve helped someone.”

This Day in Blue Demon Hoops History - Feb. 26

2010-02-26T08:06:00.001-08:00

February 26

Men’s Basketball

1984 – DePaul knocked off Louisville 73-63 in front of the eighth-largest crowd in Allstate Arena history with 17,499 fans looking on. The 1984 Blue Demons finished the season 27-3 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before bowing out to Wake Forest in overtime, 73-71.

Women’s Basketball

1979 - In the first overtime game in DePaul women's basketball history, the Blue Demons dropped a 64-61 contest to Southern Illinois at at the 1979 AIAW State Tournament played in Carbondale. The 1979 squad captained by DePaul legends Diane Bryniarski and Patti Hie finished the season with a 23-4 mark. The 23-win total was a school record for wins that held for nearly 10 years.

Artist Needs a Little Help on Miniature Project

2010-02-25T21:33:00.000-08:00

To artist Stuart Gootnik, little things are everything.

Two years ago in celebration of the inaugural running of The DePaul Relays, Stuart Gootnik built his first miniature masterpiece for DePaul when he created a scale model of the Outdoor Track at Lane Stadium. He labored over the model for months trying to get all the details correct: lining the track, insuring the texture of the long jump pits and shot put rings were appropriate, and making sure the brick work on the exterior was exactly right. Currently the model is located inside the varsity sports suite on the fourth floor of the Sullivan Athletic Center.

"The model of the Outdoor Track is priceless," DePaul Track Coach Pat Savage said. "It allows our alumni and visitors to see a perfect representation of the Outdoor Track when they visit the Sullivan Athletic Center."

Gootnik has built a number of historic buildings from across the country like the Touro Synagogue - Newport, Rhode Island which is on display in the National Museum of Jewish History in Philadelphia. He also has constructed replicas of several local attractions like the Charnley Persky House - an early example of the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Robie House.

For the last year, Gootnik has embarked on an effort to recreate a model of Alumni Hall. Painstakingly, he has researched the historic arena, viewing pictures, blue prints, interviewing coaches and watching old videos. Gootnik is now working on the finishing touches of the model and needs some help from Blue Demon fans.

Gootnik is looking for any color pictures of the interior or exterior of Alumni Hall. He is especially in need of color exterior shots of Alumni Hall. The artist is looking to find the exact color of the outside walls.

Working in miniature is all about the details.

Please send any digital images of Alumni to Hall to Thad Dohrn at tdohrn@depaul.edu.

Works completed by artist Stuart Gootnik

Touro Synagogue - Newport, Rhode Island (National Museum of Jewish History in Philadelphia)

Our Lady of Angeles Disaster - Chicago (Fire Museum of Greater Chicago)

Robie House - Chicago (Private collection)

Charnley Persky House - Chicago (Private collection)

Lane Stadium and Outdoor Track - Chicago (DePaul University Athletics)

DePaul University Alumni Hall - Chicago (Work in Progress)

Charnley Persky House

This Day in Blue Demon Hoops History - Feb. 25

2010-02-25T08:11:00.000-08:00

February 25

Men’s Basketball

1995 - TK for Four - Down by three points with 11.4 seconds remaining, Tom Kleinschmidt is fouled as he drills a three-point goal. Kleinschmidt, who finishes with 30 points, converts the four-point play and leads DePaul to an 82-81 win for the ages over Louisville on national television.

Women’s Basketball

1996 - DePaul women's basketball has played on February 25 nine times in school history, winning eight of the match-ups. The 1996 rivalry-game against Marquette proved to be one for the ages as the Blue Demons smashed their rival to the north, 96-53, in the biggest margin of victory in that historic series.

Dick Vitale - Another Career Begins at DePaul

2010-02-24T21:20:00.000-08:00

I received a number of responses to yesterday's article about Jack Buck's humble beginning as a sports broadcaster, reminding me that Dick Vitale broadcast his first ESPN game on DePaul's Lincoln Park campus on December 5, 1979. The Blue Demons defeated the Wisconsin Badgers, 90-77 in the historic game.

A Feb. 12, 2009, Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel article written by Bob Wolfley chronicles Vitale's initial foray into broadcasting. Read the article and see some video from that first game, Click here.

It wasn't Vitale's first intersection into Blue Demon basketball history. Several years earlier on December 27, 1975, the colorful commentator was head coach for Detroit when the Blue Demons came to town. Vitale and his Titans battled a DePaul team led by sophomores Dave Corzine, Joe Ponsetto and Randy Ramsey.

As time wound down in a hard-fought Detroit 74-67 victory over Ray Meyer's men, a group of DePaul fans led by Randy Ramsey's mother Lorraine, proud of the Blue Demons efforts began the chant, "WE ARE DE-PAUL!" Mrs. Ramsey would make signs before the next game and the chant would become a staple for DePaul and many of its Catholic peers.

Special Thanks to Demon Tracks for its report of the game - Click Here

This Day in Blue Demon Hoops - Feb. 24

2010-02-24T07:56:00.000-08:00

February 24

Men's Basketball
1968 - The Blue Demons outlasted Detroit, 111-107, in a double-overtime road victory. The 1968 team finished with a 13-12 mark, despite opening the season 12-4. The Blue Demons were led in scoring by by a pair of "Z-men" Al Zetsche and Bob Zoretich, averaging 15.3 and 14.1 points, respectively.

Women's Basketball
1995 - The Blue Demon women defeat Cincinnati, 105-69 in Great Midwest action. The 1995 team finished with a 20-9 mark, earning them a runner-up conference finish. Paced by scoring and rebounding leader Latasha Byears (12.3 ppg and 10.4 rpg), the Bruno-coached squad advanced to the NCAA tournament for the fifth time in sixth years.

An Ordinary Start - A Remarkable Career

2010-02-23T21:53:00.000-08:00

Image from mlb.com

DePaul basketball has won 1,365 games. Among those wins is a non-descript 70-68 road win over Ohio State in 1949. The 1949 Blue Demons squad was full of notable DePaul names – Bato Govedarica, Bob Kampa, Clem Pavilonis, Sam Vukovich and Jack Lahey.

On that night, fresh off a season-opening victory over St. Norberts, the Blue Demons travelled to Columbus to battle the Big Ten foe. The win is a game that is mostly lost in the annals of both DePaul and Ohio State, but for one man the night opened a new chapter in a life that would enrich the lives of sports fans forever.

On the microphone that night covering the Buckeyes for WCOL was legendary baseball play-by-play Hall of Famer Jack Buck. Amazingly, the broadcast was the first of Buck’s Hall of Fame career

Buck’s auspicious beginning is chronicled in his autobiography “That’s a Winner!” on pages 57-58.

"WCOL was not broadcasting sports at that time, but the general manager decided he wanted to carry Ohio State basketball. Any station that wanted to do the games could get the rights for the university events. There were several others already airing the games, but the GM thought it could be profitable. He wanted me to do the play-by-play, and I did. I didn’t know how to do it, but when the game started, I was at the microphone, doing play-by-play for the first time.

Ohio State and DePaul; I’ll never forget the starting line-ups – Schnitker, Donham, Taylor, Burkholder, and Brown for Ohio State; Leahy, Campa, Pavalonas, Vuckovich, and Govedarica for DePaul.

Years later, I was at a Super Bowl dinner in New Orleans and was seated next to Ray Meyer, the longtime DePaul basketball coach. I said “Ray, do you know one of your teams I really liked? That 1949 team of Leahy, Campa, Pavalonas, Vuckovich and Govedarica.”

“Damn,” he said, “How do you remember those names?” I told him why I was able to remember that lineup.

I was still a student at the time, and everyone in our class knew I was doing the game that night. The assignment for everybody else in that class was to listen to me and critique my broadcast the next morning. The professor’s name was Dick Mall, who later became the head of alumni affairs at Ohio State.

Both teams used a fast-break offense, and they played about nine minutes before either team called a time out. I said, “DePaul calls time out, thank God.” The use of that phrase was one of the criticisms the next morning.

The critiques were honest and helpful, but I’ll never forget what the professor said to me: “You’d better find something else to do for a living.” I knew he was wrong. I was still chasing my dream."

Click here for link to google books link to see complete text of book

Buck would graduate from Ohio State in 1949 with BA. He would begin baseball that summer by calling games for the Columbus Redbirds, the Triple AAA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

In 1954, he joined Harry Caray and Milo Hamilton in the box for the Cardinals and would become one of the most recognized voices in the history of baseball. He would have a career with Cardinals that would stretch into the 2000s. In all, Buck called 11 World Series, 18 Super Bowls, and four Major League Baseball All-Star Games. He received the Ford Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. Buck passed away on June 18, 2002.

Buck’s historic career began in a one of DePaul’s 1,365 wins and with advice to which he thankfully never listened.

This Day in Blue Demon Hoops - February 23

2010-02-23T14:44:00.000-08:00

February 23

Men’s Basketball
1980 – Clyde Bradshaw dished out 14 assists in a 94-87 win over Loyola. Bradshaw’s then school record 14 assists still ranks third all-time at DePaul. The New Jersey native ranks second all-time in career assists (606) behind fellow Garden Stater Kenny Patterson (669). Bradshaw’s 215 assists in 1979-80 rank as the most generous season in Blue Demon history.

Women’s Basketball
1976 – In the first meeting in the 41-game series DePaul defeated Loyola, 73-24.The 49-point margin of victory is the 12th-largest differential in school history. Behind captains Judy Hojnowski and Jean Lenti Ponsetto and leading scorer Patti Hie, the Blue Demons finished the second season 7-12 under coach Debbie Miller.

This Day in Blue Demon Hoops History

2010-02-22T08:04:00.000-08:00

February 22

Men’s Basketball
1961 – Ray Meyer’s Blue Demons defeated Louisville, 75-67, on the road. The win started a four-game win streak that earned DePaul a berth in the NIT with a 17-8 mark. DePaul was led in scoring by sharp shooter Howie Carl (21.0 ppg) and big man M.C. Thompson (16.3 ppg).

Women’s Basketball
1996 – The Blue Demons, under the direction of head coach Doug Bruno, eclipsed Memphis, 109-88, in Memphis. The victory was part of a nine-game winning streak that secured a 13-1 mark enroute to a Conference USA title. The 1996 squad behind the leadership of captains Tawona Alhaleem, Becky Blacharcyzyk and Latasha Byears, advanced to the NCAA Tournament while compiling a 21-10 record.

This Day in Blue Demon Hoops History - Feb. 20

2010-02-20T10:14:00.001-08:00

February 20

Men’s Basketball
1985 – Kenny Patterson collected 13 assists in a 77-65 win over Indiana State in Allstate Arena. Patterson’s senior campaign saw him average 11.0 points and 6.9 assists per game. The 1985 Blue Demons finished 19-10 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

Women’s Basketball
1981 – Joanne Feiereisel connects on a then-record 16 freethrows in a 73-64 loss to Northwestern. Feiereisel, who captained the Blue Demons in 1981 and 1982, finished her career in 1982 as DePaul’s all-time leading scorer with 1,630 points.

This Day in Blue Demon Hoops History - Feb. 19

2010-02-20T10:05:00.000-08:00

February 19

Men’s Basketball

1963-66 – In a scheduling oddity, the Blue Demons would collect victories in four consecutive seasons on February 19. The Blue Demons picked up wins over Gannon, St. Bonaventure, Portland and Duquesne. Their luck ran out with a loss on February 19 in 1967 to Duquesne.

Women’s Basketball

1979 - The Blue Demon women defeat Marquette, 81-49 . Under the tutelage of head coach John Lawler, DePaul finished the 1979 season with a 23-4 mark. In his two years at the helm of DePaul, Lawler compiled a 34-17 mark.

2010-02-18T06:36:00.001-08:00

February 18

Men’s Basketball

1959 - Billy Haig made 14 free throws in DePaul’s 70-63 victory over Louisville in Alumni Hall . The effort ranked as the fifth-best performance in school history at the time. Little more than a week earlier, Howie Carl set the current school record, knocking down 23 free throws in a game against Marquette.

The 1959 season saw DePaul amass a 13-11 mark, which included three games in the NCAA Tournament. The team's success was a precursor for a pair of consecutive 17-win seasons to follow.

Women’s Basketball

2005 - Standout guard Jenni Dant pilfered the Billikens with nine steals in DePaul’s 82-64 win. Dant’s nine steals in a game ranks third in DePaul history. She would lead the Blue Demons in steals from 2002-04. The 2005 Blue Demons were a No. 5 seed and advanced to the second round in the NCAA Tournament.

2010-02-17T07:26:00.000-08:00

February 17

Men's Basketball

1982 – Walter Downing blocked a then-school record six shots in DePaul’s 74-70 win over rival Dayton on the road. The win notched the Blue Demon’s 19th-consecutive win. That 1982 team, led by All-American Terry Cummings finished the season 26-2, bowing out to Boston College in the NCAA Tournament.

Women's Basketball

1975 – In DePaul’s first year of competition, co-captain Joannie Koehler knocked down a record 17 field goals in DePaul’s 50-38 win over Elmhurst. The team coached by Debbie Miller and captained by Koehler and Jean Lenti finished with a 3-8 mark. The single-game field goal record has subsequently be broken by Beth Hasenmiller in 1991.

2010-02-16T07:07:00.000-08:00

February 16

Men's Basketball
2005 – Drake Deiner ties the then-school record, knocking down seven (7) three-pointers in DePaul’s 66-62 loss to Charlotte. The Blue Demon guard equaled the previous mark held by Brad Niemann (vs. Chaminade- 1988). Draelon Burns would break the record making eight treys vs. TAMU-Corpus Christi in 2007. The 2005 Blue Demons under Dave Leitao finished 20-11 and advanced to the second round of the NIT.

Women's Basketball
2003 – Doug Bruno’s squads have long been known for their proclivity for shooting behind the arch. In Feb. 16, 2003 the Blue Demons set the McGrath Arena mark for best single-game three-point shooting percentage (min. 10 attempts). Shooting 60.9% on 14-of-23 attempts, the Blue Demons crushed the Pirates, 105-70, in McGrath Arena. The 2003 DePaul squad finished 22-10 and advanced to the NCAA tournament.

2010-02-15T09:46:00.000-08:00

Men's Basketball
2003 - Men's basketball under head coach Dave Leitao defeated Southern Mississippi, 74-69, in overtime at Allstate Arena. The 02-03 Blue Demons would finish 16-13 and advance to the NIT.

Women's Basketball
2002 - Women's basketball posted a then school-record 15 three-point goals in DePaul's 83-81 overtime victory over Louisville. Lenae Williams would lead the way with a school-record 30 field goal attempts. The 02 Blue Demons would finish with a 15-14 mark, earning a berth in the NIT.

Oscar Serlin and Broadway

2010-02-15T05:56:00.000-08:00

Oscar Serlin featured in Life magazine enjoying Life With Father.

Oscar Serlin - Football 1924

DePaul has long had a rich tradition in the theatre world. In Uncovering Blue Demon Treasures, today's spotlight will be on football alum Oscar Serlin '26 and his place in Broadway history.

In the June 1945 issue of DePaul University Alumni News, unassumingly hidden in the Down Memory Lane... section was a small blurb about Serlin.

"Oscar Serlin, LA '26, who played football under Eddie Anderson and laid the foundations for his career as a producer here at DePaul, has been getting more publicity than ever as his "Life with Father" rolls on and on. Colliers and Coronet each featured Oscar in special articles during the last month.

His play has had a longer continuous run on Broadway than any other play...Oscar is always on hand in Madison Square, rooting for his Alma Mater, when the boys play in New York."

Serlin's Life with Father certainly had staying power. The original play is still the longest running play in Broadway history. Opening on Nov. 8, 1939 and running until July 12, 1947, Serlin's masterpiece was played 3,224 consecutive performances. A film version was released in 1947.

The production remains the 15th longest run in Broadway history. Life with Father ranks among the all-time greats of Broadway.

1. Phantom of the Opera - 9,163 performances
2. Cats - 7,485 performances
3. Les Miserables - 6,680 performances
4. A Chorus Line - 6,137 performances
5. Oh! Calcutta - 5,959 performances
6. Chicago - 5,492 performances
7. Beauty and the Beast - 5,461 performances
8. Rent - 5,123 performances
9 . The Lion King - 5,077 performances
10. Miss Saigon - 4,092 performances
11. 42nd Street - 3,486 performances
12. Momma Mia! - 3,440 performances
13. Grease - 3,388 performances
14. Fiddler on the Roof - 3,242 performances
15. Life with Father, - 3,224 performances

Serlin and his production were featured in Time on Sept. 14, 1942.

For nearly three years the ten owners of Life With Father sat tight and looked haughty. They were in no hurry: oil was gushing in their own backyard, and Hollywood's checks could be waved away. The ten owners—Producer Oscar Serlin, Adapters Lindsay & Crouse, Mrs. Clarence Day, John Hay Whitney and the rest—saw Life With Father gross $973,000 on Broadway the first year, $860,000 the second, could still count on a tidy sum the third, while road companies grossed $2,000,000 more. Inwardly they rocked with laughter thinking of the $15,000 Warner Bros, had once offered for the film rights; but last year when Mary Pickford offered half a million, their no was just as brusque.

Last week the ten owners finally unbent. With Producer Serlin about to go in the Army, they announced to the movie industry that Life With Father could be had. It was hardly an announcement; it was more like a proclamation. The unprecedented terms at which the bidding could start would have satisfied even Father:*

> $500,000 down, plus a percentage of the gross receipts.

> The film rights revert after seven years, and only one film can be made.

> The picture must be made entirely from the material in the play.

> Mrs. Day and Lindsay & Crouse are to have editorial jurisdiction over the movie, especially in matters of "good taste," and can stop any script they dislike from being filmed.

> No radio or television rights go with the sale.

> The picture cannot be released before the end of 1944. (The owners believe that Father will run for five years on Broadway.)

In Hollywood, cinemakers first gasped, then gulped. The general feeling was that the terms were fantastic, and if accepted would create a dangerous precedent. Warner's Charles Einfeld came closest to a favorable reaction about Father: "It's a tough deal but ... a terrific property." Most other people think that Serlin & Co. may have overreached themselves.

Husky, Polish-born, 41-year-old Producer Serlin once played football for Catholic De Paul University, where he was the only Jew in the student body. Stagestruck, he became a smalltime actor, later a smalltime producer, putting on several flops while rejecting such hits as Once in a Lifetime and Room Service. He found his feet as talent scout for Paramount, where he discovered Cary Grant, Margo, Gladys Swarthout, many another. Sniffing a hit in Clarence Day's Father sketches, he tied up the stage rights, commissioned Lindsay & Crouse to write the play. His last chore before entering the Army will be to produce their new one, Strip for Action, which reaches Broadway late this month.

^{* In real life the late Clarence Day Sr., crusty Wall Street broker of the horsecar days, son of the New York Sun's Founder Benjamin Day.}

Read more:

At this point little is known about Serlin's time at DePaul other than his own admission to playing football for DePaul in his Time interview and the editor's insertion about him playing for DePaul's Anderson on the gridiron in the alumni.

More digging will be required as we continue to work to Uncover Blue Demon Treasures.

Super Bowl Thoughts - Blue Demon Dreams

2010-02-08T19:53:00.000-08:00

As I watched the Super Bowl on Sunday, I started searching the web to dig deeper into DePaul's impact on the NFL. Since DePaul stopped playing football long before Super Bowl I, there has never been a Blue Demon to appear in a Super Bowl.

The research started on http://www.pro-football-reference.com/ did show 15 Blue Demons student-athletes have appeared on the NFL gridiron.

The search opened a treasure trove of Blue Demon stories and excellence. Unveiled among the NFL alumni was Chet Chesney who played for the Bears in 1939-40. His greatest contribution came off the field when he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1949-51.

Some careers were filled with football accolades like Max Fiske's 1937 season quarterbacking Pittsburgh, others played with stars like Otto Graham and Sammy Baugh, while many others may have played just one game.

As I searched, two of the alumni were student-athletes at DePaul, but didn't play football. Two other alumni actually played collegiately elsewhere, but did graduate from DePaul.

All those qualifiers, each of these individuals could call himself an alum, not just of DePaul, but of the National Football League.

DePaul's Alumni NFL Football Capsules
Youtube - Pictures of DePaul's Football Alumni in the NFL

Chuck Apolskis

End - 6-2 - 207 - 1938-39
1938 Chicago Bears – played one game
- called up from the Jersey City Giants

1939 Chicago Bears - played one game

Art Bramhall

1931
Chicago Bears – 1931

Art Bramhall was featured earlier in on this Blog as a Blue Demon that played major league baseball. Bramhall also is listed in the Chicago Bears media guide in 1931. Following his retirement from football, he and his wife moved to Madison, Wisc. where he worked in radio. He became known as the "Voice of Wisconsin football and basketball. He was inducted into the Madison Sports Hall of Fame in 1984.

Not listed on http://www.pro-football-reference.com/

Hal Carlson

Guard - 6-3 - 220 - 1937
1937 Chicago Cardinals – 1 game

Harold Cherne

Tackle - Guard - 6-0 - 230 - 1933
1933 Boston Redskins – played in four games

He played for football prep powerhouse Mt. Carmel.

Chet Chesney

Center – Linebacker 6-2 227 1939-40

1939 Chicago Bears – finished second in the NFL West – Center saw – seven different players make passes, including Hall of Fame Sid Luckman who was listed as left halfback

1940 Chicago Bears – 8-3-0 NFL West Division Champions – 1940 NFL Champions – beat Redskins 73-0 in Championship game – Named NFL –All-Pro – reserved

In addition to Chesney's two season playing in the NFL, Chesny owns the distinction of being the only DePaul student-athlete to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Blue Demon Center was elected as a Democrat to the Eight-first Congress (Jan. 3, 1949-Jan. 3, 1951).

Pat Dowling
End - 5-11 - 185 - 1929
1929 Chicago Cardinals – played in 13 games, starting 10

Dick Egan (unconfirmed)
End-Back - 1920-24
1920 Chicago Cardinals – played in seven games, starting two

1921 Chicago Cardinals – played one game, teaming with Blue Demon John Scanlon

1922 Chicago Cardinals – started nine games

1923 Chicago Cardinals – played in four games

1924 Kenosha Maroons – played two games

Max Fiske

Back-End - 6-0 - 199 - 1936-39

Max Fiske played four seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates (Steelers). His 1937 season, saw him among the NFL leaders in passing touchdowns, yards per game and passes completed. He was recently ranked top Steelers player to wear the No. 19 by steelerstribute.com. In 1977, he was honored with induction into the Roselund Pullman Hall of Fame with DePaul teammate and NFL alum Tom Roberts.

1936 Pittsburgh Pirates – threw 15 passes, completing six for 64 yards

1937 Pittsburgh Pirates – started one game – completed 17-of-43 passes, leading the team in passing
Ranked 8th in passing touchdowns with four
Ranked 7th in passing yards/game
Ranked 10th in passes completed per game and pass attempts per game

1938 Pittsburgh Pirates – played 10 games, starting two -played alongside Whizzer White

1939 Pittsburgh Pirates – played one game

William Clarence Muellner

End - 5-11 - 175 - 1937

1937 Chicago Cardinals – played in one game

Red O’Connor

End - 5-8 - 175 - 1920-24

1920 Chicago Cardinals – played in three games

1921 Chicago Cardinals – played in five games, starting four – played with Blue Demon John Scanlon

1922 Chicago Cardinals – played in five games, starting four

1924 Chicago Cardinals – started three games

Tom Roberts

Tackle-Guard - 6-1 - 215 - 1943-45
Drafted in the 10th round by the New York Giants – 90th overall pick

1943 New York Giants – played nine games – Giants finished first in NFL East

1944 Chicago Bears – played seven games, starting two games – finished second in the NFL West

1945 Chicago Bears – played nine games, starting one game

In 1977, he was honored with induction into the Roselund Pullman Hall of Fame with DePaul teammate and NFL alum Max Fiske.

John Scanlon

TB / WR - 1921-26
1921 Chicago Cardinals - scored one rushing touchdown

1926 Louisville Colonels – played two games, starting one

Dick Stahlman

Tackle-Guard 6-2 219 1924-33 (unconfirmed)
1924 – Akron Pros, Kansas City Blues, Hammond Pros and Kenosha Maroons – started eight games

1925 Akron Pros – second team all-NFL – Green Bay Press Gazette
started eight games games at right tackle

1927 New York Giants – started ten games at left tackle – finished 11-1-1 - 1927 Champions

1930 New York Giants – played in seven games, starting two – NFL runner-up

1931 Green Bay Packers – started 10-of-14 games at left tackle – finished 12-2 – NFL Champions

First-team All-NFL Colliers Eye Magazine – Second-Team All-NFL by NFL
Played for the Toledo Mudhens minor league baseball

1932 Green Bay Packers – started 10-of-13 games at right tackle – NFL Runner-up – under Coach Curly Lambeau

1933 Chicago Bears – played in eight games, starting two games - 1933 NFL Champions -

Student-Athletes at DePaul - Non-Football Letterwinners

Bill Boedeker
Halfback - 5-11 - 192 - 1946-50

Bill Boedeker played basketball at DePaul with hoops legend George Mikan. After DePaul, he was invited to play basketball professionally for the Chicago Stags. After fighting in WWII, Boedeker played five seasons in the NFL with shrapnel. In 1948, Boedeker played for the Cleveland Browns who became the first professional football team in a major league to win every game of the regular season and then continue victorious through the championship game.

1946 Chicago Rockets – 1 start - 1 receiving TD - backed up Halfback Elroy Hirsch

1947 Cleveland Browns – 3 starts – 4 rushing - 1 receiving TD - 1947 AAFC Champions – 12-1-1

1948 Cleveland Browns – 3 starts – 3 rushing - 2 receiving TD – 1948 AAFC Champions – 14-0-0 – Coached by legend Paul Brown with quarterback Otto Graham and Rookie Ara Parseghian

1949 Cleveland Browns – 7 starts - 1 rushing – 2 receiving TD – 1949 AAFC Champions – 9-1-2 Ranked Ninth in the league in yards from Scrimmage with 640 yards

1950 Philadelphia Eagles/ Green Bay

Bill Daley

FB/ DB/LB - 6-2 - 210 - 1946-48

Bill Daley originally came to Chicago to box professionally and enrolled at DePaul. While at DePaul, he participated in track and field until one of his coaches moved to the University of Minnesota where Daley followed. There he was introduced to the football coach and the game of football.

First Round – 7th Pick 1943 - Picked with the seventh pick of the 1943 NFL Draft

1946 Miami Seahawks & Brooklyn Dodgers
– started three games1947 Chicago Rockets – started 12 games- rushing for 447 yards

1948 New York Yankees

– played in seven games

DePaul Student - Non-Football Letterwinners
Theodore Aloysius Lapka

End - 6-1 - 193 - 1943-46

Theodore Lapka had a Hall-of-Fame caliber collegiate career at St. Ambrose College graduating in 1942. While playing in the NFL Lapka attended and graduated form DePaul Law School. In 1943, Lapka caught a touchdown pass from Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh to help the Redskins advance to the World Championship game.

1943 Washington Redskins – played in seven games – made two receptions – won the NFL East – Lost to Bears in 1943 World Championship

1944 Washington Redskins – played in five games, starting two – four receptions including one touchdown

1946 Washington Redskins – played in seven games

DEPAUL WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ALUMNAE DAY

2010-02-08T15:22:00.001-08:00

On Saturday, DePaul Athletics welcomed back more than 60 women basketball alums and their families.

Prior to the game, all alumni and their families were invited to a pre-game reception in DePaul’s new Alumni Center. Food, fun, and family were a commonality recognized at this event. Hugs were abundant; laughter and excitement coupled with appreciation at the framed pictures that adorned the Alumni Center’s conference room was also a shared moment among the group.

Despite running over to greet his former players with pink and white gym shoes in hand, Coach Bruno thanked his former players for their dedication and support of the program. “You ladies have paved the way…thank you for being here today—now let’s BEAT Villanova,” was bellowed out as Coach Bruno made his way back over to McGrath Arena for the start of the game.

At halftime, players were called to center court and acknowledged by Director of Athletics, and former DePaul women’s basketball player Jean Lenti Ponsetto. The night was capped off with the Blue Demons beating the Wildcats of Villanova, 64-60.

Special thanks to all of the alumnae who helped make this day special in so many ways!

Becky Blacharczyk

Candis Blankston

Kris Booker Rastrelli

Sue Buhmann Brodie

Stacy Krumrei Bruno

Diane Bryniarski

Patti Hie

Ciara Johnson

Cathy Pezdirtz Jones

Kelly Hogan Lenti

Kandace Nied Lenti

Jeanene Novick Levar

Karen Loiacono

Chris Mazik

Lori Newcombe

Barbra Atsaves Pabst

Jean Lenti Ponsetto

Jenna Rubino

Beth Hasenmiller Sauser

Caprice Smith

Khara Smith

Natasha Williams

DePaul Baseball Stadium - Precursor to Wrigley Field

2010-02-05T06:15:00.000-08:00

Baseball fans and historians have celebrated Wrigley Field as a treasure of our time. Few know that Wrigley Field opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park as the home of the Federal League's Chicago Whales. Actually they evolved into the Whales from the Chifeds or the Chicago Keely's.

However in 1913, in the first organized season of the Federal League, the Chifeds played their home games at the DePaul baseball fields. Though the Chifeds occupation of the Lincoln Park baseball grounds is well documented on the internet, few facts are available.

In the Federal League of Baseball Clubs by Robert Peyton Wiggins, the author makes brief mention of the Chifeds playing at DePaul.

There is a fascinating short story about the opening of Federal League baseball in Chicago, complete with an auto parade, flower arrangements that made home plate "look like a conservatory", a band and a moving picture camera man. Pre-game promotions presented the DePaul grounds as having the potential to host 7,000 fans. Reports of the special day report a crowd of little more than 2,000 which saw the Sheriff of Chicago throw out the first pitch.

One of the most noteworthy parts of the game was the arrival of White Sox owner Charles Comiskey and his star pitcher Ed Walsh, who owns the record for lowest career ERA with a 1.82. As the "Old Roman" arrived, the game was delayed to allow he and Walsh to reach their seats.

Despite the hoopla, the Chifeds lost 7-1 to the Pittsburgh Filipinos, or Stogies depending on the source. The 1913 Chifeds would end the season in fourth place with a a 57-62 mark behind league champions Indianapolis.

The Federal League expanded from its meager beginnings in 1913 as an "outlaw" minor league to challenge "organized baseball" in 1914 and 1915 before its ultimate end. The Chicago Whales were the class of the league in 1914 and 1915 and ultimate challenged the White Sox and Cubs for the hearts of Chicagoans, partly because the Whales were led by Cub favorites Joe Tinker and Mordecai Brown.

By 1915, Weeghman was allowed to purchase the Cubs and moved them from West Side Park to their new home at the corner of Clark and Addision. He purchased a 99-year lease on the property that is presumed to expire in the year 2013. Cub fans unite in the hope that there will be at least one World Series before Weeghman's contract runs out.

The picture is of a turn of the century DePaul baseball team. Recently inducted into the DePaul Athletics Hall of Fame, Joe Wilhoit is pictured fourth from the left.

The picture is from a collection of photos that is featured on the Library of Congresses Website at http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html. You can find more DePaul images by searching using keyword DePaul. The photographs are from a collection from the Chicago Daily News from 1902-33.

Matthew Graham Sets Scottish U20 Record

2010-02-03T13:21:00.000-08:00

DePaul Track and Cross Country Star Matthew Graham set the Scottish U20 mark for the indoor 3,000-meters at the Indiana Relays in a time of 8:18.22. Link to Scottish Athletics Story.

Matthew Graham, already regarded as one of the Blue Demon's most talented cross country runners of all time by winning each of his regular season xc starts in 2009, became a part of track and field history Saturday after clocking a 3,000m performance of 8:18.22.

Not only does that break Chris Birchall's 2002 all-time best time of 8:19.69, but counts as the sophomore's second BIG EAST qualifying mark of the season.

Dave Dopek - 2010 Hall of Famer

2010-01-25T20:32:00.000-08:00

2010 DePaul Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee (Fifth in a series)

Dave Dopek

Dave Dopek Men's Track and Field (1991-95)

Dopek is DePaul's only NCAA Championship winner as the 1995 NCAA Indoor Champion in the 200 meters. The two-time All-American was also a runner-up in the 200 meters at the 1995 NCAA Outdoor Championships. He was named the Great Midwest Conference Athlete of the Year in 1995 and compiled 10 Great Midwest Conference titles from 1992-95. Dopek still holds the indoor and outdoor records at DePaul in both the 200 and 400-meter events and is a member of the record-holder 4x100-meter relay team. He is currently in his 15th season as an assistant track and field coach at his alma mater working with DePaul's sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers.

2010 DePaul University Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet

January 30, 2010 - McGrath Arena - 2323 N. Sheffield Ave.

Register on-line - Click Here

RSVP via phone at 773-325-7504

Wendy Fahlstrom-Hall

2010-01-24T16:53:00.000-08:00

2010 DePaul Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee (Fourth in a series)

Wendy Fahlstrom-Hall

Wendy Fahlstrom-Hall Volleyball

Fahlstrom led DePaul to its first NCAA Championship appearance in 1993 after earning Great Midwest Conference Player of the Year and Tournament MVP honors. She is ranked among the program's top five in service aces, attempts, kills and digs while being named to the Great Midwest Conference All-Tournament team three times..

2010 DePaul University Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet

January 30, 2010 - McGrath Arena - 2323 N. Sheffield Ave.

Social hour - 6 p.m.

Dinner served - 6:30 p.m.

Induction Ceremony - 7 p.m.

Register on-line - Click Here

RSVP via phone at 773-325-7504

1967 Men's Tennis Team - Hall of Famers

2010-01-20T22:15:00.000-08:00

2010 DePaul Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee

(Second in a series)

1967 Men's Tennis Team

1967 Men's Tennis Team

Coached by Jim Seri, the Blue Demons finished the season with a 22-3 record and qualified for the NCAA Championship Regionals. The squad fifth at the NCAA College Championships. Members of the team include Ray Bachman, Ray Cahnman, Terry Garvey, George Hahn, Allen Kiel, Nat King, Mel Searles and Steve Williams. In addition to the NCAA appearance, DePaul also claimed the Chicagoland Championship.

2010 DePaul University Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet

January 30, 2010

Tickets - $40

Register on-line - Click Here

RSVP via phone at 773-325-7504

Joe Wilhoit Hall of Famer

2010-01-20T22:10:00.001-08:00

2010 DePaul Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee

(Third in a series)

Joe Wilhoit

Joe Wilhoit Baseball (1915)

Wilhoit holds the distinction of holding the record for the longest hitting streak in professional baseball. He put together a 69-game hitting streak while playing for the Wichita Jobbers of the Western League from June 14-August 19, 1919. He is the only Blue Demon to appear in the World Series. Wilhoit appeared in games two and six of the 1917 World Series while playing for the New York Giants. After playing at DePaul, Wilhoit played in the Major Leagues for the Boston Braves (1916-17), Pittsburgh Pirates (1917), New York Giants (1917-18) and Boston Red Sox (1919). With the Red Sox, he played alongside Babe Ruth.

DePaul Hall of Fame Banquet - January 30, 2010
Tickets - $40 - RSVP at 773-325-7240
or Online by Clicking HERE

Tom Kleinschmidt - Hall of Famer

2010-01-18T20:48:00.000-08:00

2010 DePaul Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee

Tom Kleinschmidt

(First in a series)

Tom Kleinschmidt Men's Basketball (1991-1995)

Kleinschmidt was the first player to earn conference player of the year honors when he was named by the Great Midwest Conference in 1995. He is the first player in school history to finish his career with at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists, 100 steals and 100 three-pointers. Kleinschmidt finished his career ranked in DePaul's top 10 in career points, field goals, free throws, three-point field goals, assists and steals. He led the Blue Demons to a 1992 NCAA Championship appearance and two NIT berths while earning honorable mention All-American honors in 1995. Kleinschmidt scored at least 30 points in eight games including a career-high 37 against UAB as a junior.

DePaul Hall of Fame Banquet - January 30, 2010

Tickets - $40 - RSVP at 773-325-7240

or Online by Clicking HERE

Downtown Demon Luncheon III: There’s a new kid on the block, and he’s ready for action!

2010-01-15T08:12:00.000-08:00

Fans, faculty, staff and coaches gathered on Tuesday, January 12 for the inaugural Downtown Demon Luncheon of the year!

The first Downtown Demon Luncheon of 2010 introduced interim head coach, Tracy Webster to a crowd of more than 40 supporters. Coach Webster spoke eloquently about his newly- appointed position and the excitement he possessed about the remainder of the season.Webster used his wit and infectious smile to engage the crowd who was meeting Webster for the first time as head of Men’s Blue Demon hoops!

Webster’s address to the crowd was confident and candid; he answered the easy and tough questions—and even offered a new suggestion to the free throw woes DePaul has faced thus far… “6 a.m. free- throw shooting if your shooting percentage is under 73 percent.”

Next, Coach Doug Bruno briefed the room on his team’s grueling away-game schedule, and recapped the over-time lost against West Virginia. Bruno praised seniors Sam Quigley and Felicia Chester for their leadership during the season and for elevating their level of play. Bruno also discussed the dynamics of the BIG EAST and thanked fans for supporting his program. He reminded the crowd that his team is young, but that they will go out and play hard and that they still had a shot of making some noise in the BIG EAST- overcoming the loss of Deirdra Naughton and China Threatt.

The men’s basketball team is back in action on Thursday, January 14, when they take on Providence at Allstate Arena. Tip-off is at 8 p.m. Doors to the Champions Club Room open at 6:45 p.m.

The women return to the hardwood on January 16. They play rival St. John’s at 7 p.m. Doors to the Champions Club Room open at 6:00 p.m.

There’s only one more Downtown Demon Luncheon left!! On February 8, 2010 we will have our final luncheon of the year. Don’t miss out…get your ticket today! To reserve your spot, please contact Marge Mazik at 773-325-7240 or mmazik@depaul.edu.

GO BLUE DEMONS!!

Legendary Guard Haig Passes Away

2010-01-15T08:09:00.000-08:00

DePaul Hall of Famer Billy Haig died on January 13 at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, Ill. Haig was part of DePaul's well-known backcourt duo alongside Howie Carl. Haig played his prep ball at DePaul Academy where he and eventual DePaul University teammate Tom Meier led the Academy to the 1954-55 Catholic League title.

Once in Lincoln Park, Haig teamed with fellow transfer Howie Carl for three stellar seasons from 1958-61. Their squads finished 17-7 and 17-8 in their final two seasons. Three times, he and his squadmates advanced to postseason play, twice in the NCAA Tournament and once in the NIT. The 1960 team advanced to the NCAA tournament and defeated Air Force in the opening round game played in Alumni Hall. The Blue Demons dropped the second round match-up, falling to Cinncinnati and All-American Guard Oscar Robertson in a rugged battle.

Known as a great ball handler and dribbler who could get to basket, Haig averaged in doubles figures throughout his career. He scored 843 career points in his three-year career, tallying totals of 285, 300 and 268 points in his three years, respectively.

The 1959-60 team was featured in the Dec. 12 issue of Sports Illustrated in a story called "The Secret Of A Great Offense". The article explained Coach Ray Meyer's offense in great detail. The link the article can be found here.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1134804/index.htm

Memorial information:

Haig, William W. 71, Army Veteran, CPS Teacher of 30 years at Lakeview High School, beloved husband of Josette for 48 years, loving father of Christopher (Janet) and Anthony (Riikka), devoted grandfather of Dylan and Ryan, brother-in-law of Connie (Frank) Spenko, loving uncle of Matthew (Elizabeth). Memorial 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., service at 3:30 p.m. at Misericordia, 6300 N. Ridge, Chicago, on Sunday, January 17th. In lieu of flowers, donations to Misericordia Heart of Mercy.

DePaul Loses Men's Hoops Alum and Veteran

2010-01-07T08:24:00.000-08:00

DePaul Athletics recently learned of the passing of men's basketball alum Joe Demkovich. After playing on a state championship team at Morton High School, Demkovich attended DePaul University where he played with some of best in Blue Demon History, playing with NBA veterans: George Mikan, Ed Mikan, Eugene Stump and Jack Phelan. The Blue Demons amassed a record of 56-17 while Demkovich was a member of the DePaul squad.

His bio in DePaul's Media guiide prior to his freshman season said
"A great traveler in the Army Air Transport Command for the last three years, Joe is a strapping six-feet, 200-pound young man who saw Cairo, Athens, Yalta, Marsaille, Tunis and Malta, while in the pursuance of his Army duties. Joe, who speaks fluent Russian, is a member of a family of nine, and is one of six brothers that are proficient in basketball and baseball. A hard driving, rugged ball player, his greatest thrill was being a member of the Morton High School's State Champions in 1940-41.

Several years ago, DePaul sent copies of the media guides from the 1940s to all its letterwinners. In one of the guides, Demkovich's bio said he flew President Roosevelt to Europe. In testament to Demkovich's humility, his wife Jean called and corrected the report saying, "Joe didn't want anybody to get the wrong idea that he was taking credit for something he didn't do"

His obituary tells the story, "Mr. Demkovich enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was a P-38 Lightning Fighter pilot. He was a lieutenant in the First Fighter Wing 27th Fighter Squadron and escorted numerous bombing missions out of Foggia, Italy. Joe was awarded the Air Medal with Clusters. In 1945, he flew escort for President Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference."

His obituary tells the story of a well-rounded man that had many fabulous experiences.
DePaul Athletics Salutes Joe Demkovich

Joe Demkovich - April 02, 1923-July 22, 2009
Joseph P "Puggy" Demkovich, 86, a resident of Albuquerque since 1971, passed away Wednesday, July 22, 2009. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Jean, children, Clay and Joanie See, Joe Demkovich and Laurie Vogel, Rev Michael Demkovich O.P., Eloy and Marykay Gutierrez; grandchildren, Jonathan See and Genevieve, Cecily and Avalon Gutierrez (all of Albuquerque); sister, Helene Hruska of Boulder, CO and brother Tony Demkovich of Lombard, IL, and numerous nieces and nephews and friends. Joe was a devout Roman Catholic and a past member of Holy Name Society, Sierra Club, Lobo Athletics Booster Club, St. Joseph's Hospital Board and was active in the Charlie Pride Golf Tournament where he played golf with Mike Ditka and Terry Bradshaw. Joe attended Morton High School in Cicero, IL, where he was a member of the State Championship basketball team of 1941. He then attended DePaul University on a basketball scholarship where he played for Coach Ray Meyer and was teammates of George and Ed Mikan. Mr. Demkovich enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was a P-38 Lightning Fighter pilot. He was a lieutenant in the First Fighter Wing 27th Fighter Squadron and escorted numerous bombing missions out of Foggia, Italy. Joe was awarded the Air Medal with Clusters. In 1945, he flew escort for President Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference. Mr. Demkovich later worked for IBM in Chicago, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City and was transferred to Albuquerque as Branch Manager where he retired. Because he was fluent in Russian, Joe was one of the interpreters for Khrushchev's party when Mr. Khrushchev visited IBM in San Jose, CA. Family and friends were especially important to Joe, he truly valued these relationships, wanting everyone to join in his adventures. He took great pleasure in teaching investments at the Bear Canyon Senior Center and published investment articles. Joe was a member of Four Hills Country Club for 33 years where golfing was his joy in life. He played with the New Mexico State Seniors and won his "cherished" green jacket. He also enjoyed tennis, skiing, fishing, sailing, traveling, painting, wood-working and was an avid spectator of many sports. Joe was a great husband, wonderful father, amazing grandfather and a fun-loving guy.
http://obits.abqjournal.com/obits/2009/07/26

Men's Basketball Alumni Day

2010-01-05T10:54:00.000-08:00

More than 50 Men’s basketball alums gathered on Sunday, January 3 to celebrate Alumni Day and to support the Blue Demons as they battled Georgetown. Alums, guests, and donors gathered in the Champions Club Room 75 minutes before tip-off to hear Coach Jerry Wainwright, Director of Athletics, Jean Lenti Ponsetto, and assistant coach, Dave Booth, speak about the current team, departmental happenings, and opposing team.

During the pre-game festivities, Jean Lenti Ponsetto thanked all the alums for coming out; but highlighted one alum in particular…Dick Triptow, who played in the 40’s and who still had his original letter jacket.

After lunch, Alumni were led down to the court by men’s basketball alum, and assistant director of development, Lemone Lampley, where they joined the current team on the baseline for the National Anthem.

At halftime, the basketball alums and managers were recognized by Jean Lenti Ponsetto during a special half-time presentation.

Thanks for making this event a memorable occasion. Your continued support is imperative to the success of the program.

GO BLUE DEMONS!!

Hats off to Blue Demon Fan and Theatre Graduate PJ Byrne

2010-01-02T20:17:00.000-08:00

DePaul Athletics wants to recognize P.J. Byrne, Blue Demon Fan and DePaul Theatre School Alum. This past weekend while watching previews at the movies, I heard a familiar voice. The shot on the screen focused on P.J. Byrne in his upcoming role as Dr. Preston in Extraordinary Measures a film with Harrison Ford & Brendan Fraser. See trailer here.

P.J. is a great Blue Demon fan and a tremendous ambassador for DePaul. Last winter, he attended the men's basketball game against UCLA in Anaheim, as well as the Alumni Association pre-game reception. (By the way, he is the guy with the orange jacket in the picture). More importantedly, he served as the emcee for DePaul's annual Theatre Gala in 2009.

P.J., his wife Jamie and I attended a World Baseball Classic game together last spring and he told me about this upcoming part with Harrison Ford about a Doctor (Ford) that tries beat the clock finding a cure for a man's (Fraser) children. The role is especially meaningful since Jaime is the district director of the LA/ Beverly Hills Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Congratulations P.J. - Check out all his other work on his link on IMDB.

DePaul Loses Big Man Bob Kampa

2009-12-31T08:09:00.000-08:00

DePaul University Men’s Basketball lost one of its big men with the passing of Bob Kampa on December 21, 2009. The 6-4 center/forward, who lettered for DePaul from 1948-51, played alongside some of the greatest players in Blue Demon history. The 1950-51 team featured Hall of Fame honorees Bato Govedarica, Ron Feiereisel, and Bill Schyman.

Going into his senior season, the DePaul media guide commented on Kampa as, “One of the most under-rated ball players on the DePaul team.” He would end his career with 384 points in 61 career games.

During the 1949-50 season, Kampa compiled the top individual performance notching 27 points against Boston College in the Boston Garden on January 14, 1950, the best Blue Demon effort since Ed Mikan’s 31-point effort against Notre Dame in 1947. In the game against BC, Kampa made 10-of-13 field goals and seven-of-10 free throws.

Prior to enrolling at DePaul University, Kampa prepped at DePaul Academy where he earned two letters as a center for legendary coach Frank McGrath.

Obituary from Legacy.com -

Robert F. "Bob" Kampa, 80, of Homer Glen, passed away Dec. 21Robert is survived by his wife, Margaret "Marge", nee Majka; daughters Roberta (William) Keith and Kristine (Dr. Kevin) Watt; sons Lawrence (Dr. Daisy) and John; dear grandchildren Tim (Valerie) and Matthew Keith, Katie (Keith) Bentley, Sarah, Zachary and Emily Watt and Jonathan and Jacklyn Kampa; great-grandchildren Lily Margaret Bentley; a sister, Rita (the late John) Gorman; also brothers-in-law, sisters- in-law, nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his son, Timothy Kampa.Robert was a Korean War Veteran, a member of the Old Timers Sports Club, Homer Seniors and St. Bernard's Mens Club. He was a former varsity and record-holding player for DePaul University from 1948-51, a former professional basketball player with the Minneapolis Lakers and the Kentucky Generals, also an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing. Robert was remembered during a funeral service from Modell Funeral Home in Homer Glen to St. Bernard Church.In lieu of flowers, donations to the DePaul University Athletic Department are appreciated.

Basketball Alumni Set to Support Blue Demons

2009-12-30T15:48:00.000-08:00

More than 40 DePaul men's basketball alumni, managers and staff will attend DePaul's game against Georgetown on Sunday. The alumni will be welcomed to the Champions Club Room north of Allstate Arena prior to the game. The Champions Club Room is open 75 minutes prior to each men's game for Champions Club and D-Club members. The room features speeches by head coach Jerry Wainwright, Athletic Director Jean Lenti Ponsetto and Assistant Coach David Booth. Prior to each game, food is available for purchase for $10. For more information, call Thad Dohrn at 773-325-1456.

Headlining the alumni are All-Americans Dick Triptow, Emmette Bryant and David Corzine. The alumni will join the current team for the national anthem and then be recognized subsequently at halftime.

Men's basketball alumni may request tickets by calling Thad Dohrn at 773-325-1456 or by email at tdohrn@depaul.edu.

Confirmed Guest List as of Dec.30
Cherita Banton
Al Baris
David Booth
Larry Bresnahan
Doug Bruno
Emmette Bryant
Patsy Burns
Bill Burns
Dave Corzine
Eric Courts
Kevin Edwards
Dick Flaiz
Jim Flemming
Melvon Foster
Greg Goldman
Russ Hartigan
Mary Hie
Nick Hirtzig
Kevin Holmes
Tom Kleinschmidt
Lemone Lampley
Jack Lattner
John Lawler
Larry Li
Jim Marino
Jim Martin
Jim Mazik
Kevin McCann
Ray McCoy
William McNabola
Tom Monforti
Shaun Napahtal
John Nasshan
John Naughton
Joe Ponsetto
Curtis Price
Randy Ramsey, Sr.
Joe Reuter
Paul Ruddy
Mike Salzinski
Robert Sloan
Donald Swanson
Ray Szydlo
Dick Triptow
Vincent Vasquez

Blue Demon Christmas Party

2009-12-11T14:02:00.000-08:00

The Blue Demon Christmas party was held on Monday, December 7 in McGrath gymnasium. In addition to great food, festive décor, lively Christmas music, and a visit from Santa; guests enjoyed skits, songs, and dance from the student athletes, staff, and children.

Men’s basketball enthralled the crowd with a lovely rendition of “The Christmas Song” with forward Eric Wallace taking the lead. Women’s basketball joined the fun as they performed a Christmas poem using various candy bars to describe the coaching staff and players. The children in attendance put on a show as well!

Madison and Thad Dohrn dazzled the crowd with witty Christmas jokes, while Peyton Sakamoto, Oscar Blazer, Julian Blazer, and Stella Blazer with direction from Bob Sakamoto, performed “Jingle Bells”.

The night concluded with staff and coaches singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” to those in attendance!!

Enjoy the Holiday Season!!

DePaul Track & Field Alumni Dinner

2009-12-11T10:38:00.000-08:00

DePaul track & field and cross country alumni & friends gathered on November 28 for the annual Fall Alumni Track Dinner in the Hall of Fame Foyer of the Sullivan Athletic Center.

The night was filled with nostalgia and recognitions. The evening began with remarks from Director of Athletics Jean Lenti Ponsetto. She introduced two of DePaul’s current track student-athletes that were in attendance, Brad Millar and Matthew Graham. The Blue Demon A.D. recognized Millar as a two-time BIG EAST Champion and lauded Graham for winning an unprecedented five cross country meets in 2009.

Jean also saluted John Caldow for his pending induction into the Illinois High School Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame. Caldow will join fellow Blue Demons Patrick Savage, Bill Drennan and George Gabauer.

Following her remarks, head coach and track alum Pat Savage took the stage. Savage recounted the cross country season and previewed the upcoming track & field seasons. Savage introduced his coaching staff and made special recognition of Mark Buciak and his nomination as Chicago Athlete Magazine’s Male Athlete of the Year. He then asked each track alum in attendance to introduce themselves to the group.

The night was capped by a generous presentation from David Cherry of the Cherry Family Foundation. The foundation has been instrumental in DePaul’s advancement in track and field through its contributions to the indoor and outdoor track projects.

Click here to view the picture slideshow.

Downtown Demon Luncheon II: A reflection on performance, team composition, and recruiting

2009-12-10T14:29:00.000-08:00

On Monday, December 7, Blue Demon supporters gathered at the Cliff Dwellers to dine with Coach Wainwright, Coach Bruno and Athletic Director, Jean Lenti Ponsetto. Like the previous luncheon, supporters of the program enjoyed a delectable meal and breathtaking views; all while listening to each coach discuss team dynamics, on-the-court performances, injuries, and their upcoming schedules.

Coach Bruno opened things up by thanking Chicago Sun Times sportswriter Steve Tucker, for being an advocate of female collegiate sports and then proceeded to jokingly invite him to travel to California and Las Vegas, NV with the team. Bruno continued by discussing the season-ending injury of senior guard Deirdra Naughton; their two week road trip out west (the team plays Stanford on Sunday, December 13 and then the Duel in the Desert tourney in Las Vegas starting December 19); and the recruits who have committed for next season.

Coach Wainwright started his address by thanking Athletic Academic Advising (AAA) for helping the team reach one of the highest team GPA's during his tenure. He then discussed the loss at Vanderbilt; the BIG EAST/SEC challenge and their opponent Mississippi State; and their upcoming bout with in-state rival UIC on December 13. Upon Jerry's conclusion, both coaches allowed for fans to ask questions and/or comment.

The next Downtown Demon Luncheon will take place on Tuesday, January 12, 2010.

Start the New Year off Blue Demon style...come join us for lunch at the Cliff Dwellers! Tickets are $25 per person. To RSVP for the next Downtown Demon Luncheon, please contact Marge Mazik at 773-325-7240 or mmazik@depaul.edu.

NEW HOOPLA AVAILABLE ON ISSUU

2009-12-04T10:52:00.000-08:00

The most current HOOPLA is available for preview on Issuu. CLICK HERE to view.

Go Blue Demons!!

Volleyball Alumnae/Senior Day Celebration

2009-11-18T14:21:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, Nov. 15 DePaul recognized its volleyball alumnae between match two and three, of their final match of the season.

Caitlin Callaghan, Shelia Chambers, Amy Doyle, Patti Hie, Morgan Ingersoll, Corrine Markoff, Stacy Pando, Nancy Wilke and Director of Athletics, Jean Lenti Ponsetto were acknowledged for their dedication to the women’s volleyball program.

Following the game, alums, family, friends and staff gathered at the new Alumni Center to thank the lone senior, Sarah Cullen for her leadership and four great years of play. Head Coach Amy Hardison, thanked the alums for their unyielding support and love for the program.

Thanks to all of the alums who helped make this day so special! We look forward to seeing you next year!

Bruno Stunned by Special Honor

2009-11-18T11:30:00.000-08:00

DePaul figured out a way to repay Doug Bruno for the last 24 years as one of the top women's basketball coaches in the country and an inspirational mentor to several hundred players.

Athletics Director Jean Lenti Ponsetto carefully orchestrated a Kodak moment that left even the normally loquacious Bruno virtually speechless.

At the end of the annual Doug Bruno Challenge Dinner fundraiser Monday night at the Cubby Bear, Ponsetto announced that next season, the floor at McGrath Arena will be formally named Doug Bruno Court.

Bruno stared straight ahead, then used a blue cloth napkin to stem the tide of emotion streaming down his cheeks.

"He was so shocked," said his wife, Patty Bruno. "First came the tears, then his body started quivering. Nobody said anything about the surprise, and nobody slipped up.

"We did tell Doug that tickets to the dinner weren't doing so well. Doug was pretty down. I just let him vent because I couldn't say a word."

Ponsetto played her role to perfection, looking very concerned and asking Bruno to reach out to friends. She told him that to build up the crowd he could invite all of his sons---Bryan, Kevin, David, Brendan, Patrick and Bradley

"Jeanne set me up," Bruno said. "She kept telling me that I've got to help fill the room. When she said that all my boys could come, that really threw me off.

"I'm shocked, humbled---I'm not worthy. I don't think DePaul owes me anything."

The measure of this man was evident in a crowd three times the size of the usual Challenge Dinner.

It was evident in the looks of respect and admiration on the faces of his former players, and the colorful anecdotes they shared about a most memorable time in their lives.

It was reflected in the good-natured barbs and old-school stories from lifetime friends such as Dr. Jack Raba, Quigley South teammates Kevin Moore, Jerry Girsch, Mike Ivers and their coach, Dick Flaiz.

There were ex-DePaul teammates and friends Jim Marino and John Lawler along with Jim Corgel and Mary Sarna. The guys from Rogers Park---Larry Swoboda, Dan Irmiter, Marty Halston, Don Bosco, Louie Rego, Paul Vickrey, Paul Kelly, Tim Roti and Dan Murphy---couldn't miss this special occasion.

Standing off in the background was Jack Fitzgerald who also coached Dwyane Wade at Richards.

These are the folks that have supported Bruno at every step on his incredible journey to 479 career wins along with 18 appearances in postseason tournaments. They have delighted in his every accolade, including being named to the coaching staff of the USA Women's National Team.

Bruno was the best hockey player at Quigley South who got cut from the sophomore basketball team as a sophomore. That drove him to become a hard-nosed, overachieving 6-foot, 2-inch rebounding specialist after giving up hockey and baseball.

"I was working at Ray Meyer's camp the summer after I graduated from Quigley, and Illinois State and Winona State kept calling me," Bruno said. "Coach Meyer came over one day and said: 'I'm tired of that phone constantly ringing. Why don't you just come to DePaul.'

"My parents dropped me off at the corner of Webster and Fremont in 1968, and just like that, my life was changed forever."

Bruno transformed himself from an undersized power forward into a Division I point guard with sheer determination and force of will. And with the exception of a two-year stint coaching the Chicago Hustle women's professional team, has been at DePaul ever since.

"I came up with the idea of the Doug Bruno Court during a golf outing in Chicago last spring," said Harry Shields, a close friend of Bruno's the last 43 years who lives in Nashville, Tenn. "Doug has done so much for the university and been so loyal.

"He has had offers to coach elsewhere but Doug really believes in DePaul and all that it stands for. I told Jeanne about the idea and she did a great job putting it all together.

"What kind of a guy is he? I'd trust Doug with my life."

There was one very special person who couldn't make it to the Cubby Bear on Monday night.

"His dad (Richard) just passed away," Patty Bruno said. "I wish he could have been here. He would have been so proud of him."

Bruno stayed late into the night, making sure to personally thank everyone.

"I will never forget what happened on this special night." Bruno said.

Women’s Basketball Gives Back to the Community

2009-11-04T06:41:00.000-08:00

In support of the DePaul Blue Demons Reading Club- “Read and Achieve”- three women’s basketball players, Felicia Chester, Deanna Ortiz and Anna Martin, accompanied Dave Corzine, Assistant to the Athletics Director for Community Outreach, to Glenn Westlake Middle School. The group spoke to the entire school population (about 650 kids) about the importance of reading and staying in school. The players also spoke to the students about having a balance and being a scholar and an athlete. “It went really well…the girls were great and the students were receptive,” said Dave Corzine.

Blue Demon Hall of Famer John Caldow Adds To Trophy Case

2009-11-04T06:06:00.000-08:00

DePaul University Track and Field Hall of Famer John Caldow will be recognized for his lifetime service to the track and field community with his induction into the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame on January 9, 2010.

Caldow will be honored at the ITCCCA’s annual clinic and luncheon. The 1970 education graduate will be recognized as he enters his 39th year coaching. Following his graduation fro DePaul, he began coaching at Calumet High School in 1970-71. After a stint at King High School, Caldow began an 11-year career at the head of the DePaul track and field program. He then returned to the prep ranks; including time at Jones Prep, St. Scholastica and Whitney Young where he is currently the assistant girl’s track and cross country coach.

The Blue Demon has led a distinguished career in service to the track and cross country community. Among the organizations that he has served are: CPHS Track and Cross Country Committees 1974-78, The NITCCCA Treasurer (1976-78), IHSA Track Advisory Committee (1977-78), IHSA State Meet Official (1977-78) and an official at a NCAA cross country championship in 1985.

Caldow’s women’s teams had unprecedented success while he was at the helm of DePaul track and cross country. His squads captured North Star Conference Championships in cross country from 1986-89. In 1986, his men’s squad captured the Illinois State Cross Country Championship.
Always known as a great teacher and motivator, Caldow has coached 23 high school athletes to all-state recognition with seven earning All American honors.

While at DePaul , he was honored as the North Star Conference Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1986 and received runner-up accolades in 1987 and 1988. Under his tutelage, Jane Murphy won the 1983 North Star individual title in cross country. In all his women student-athletes would be named all-North Star Conference 17 times while 12 of his men student-athletes would earn all-Central Collegiate Conference honors.

Caldow’s induction will mark the fourth Blue Demon inducted into the ITCCCA Hall of Fame. He was preceded by fellow DePaul Hall of Famers Don Amidei, Pat Savage and Bill Drennan, who were inducted in 1977, 1989 and 2006, respectively. DePaul University Athletics inducted Caldow into the DePaul Hall of Fame in 1986.

For more information, please go to http://www.itccca.com/halloffame.htm or contact Bob Geiger at bgeiger357@hotmail.com.

John Caldow File

Coaching File:
1970-71 Calumet HS Track/CC Boys
1971-78 King HS Boys Track/CC
1977-78 King HS Girls Track/CC
1979-1989 DePaul Univ.Mens Track/CC
1982-89 DePaul Univ. Women's Track/CC
1999-2003 Jones CC Boys and Girls
1999-2000 Jones Boys and Girls Track Coach
2000-2006 St.Scholastica Asst.Track
2005-2006 St.Scholastica CC
2006-present Asst. Coach Girls Track/CC at Whitney Young

Organizations Served:
1974-78 CPHS Track Committee
1974-78 CPHS CC Committee
1976-78 NITCCCA Treasurer
1976-78 Ill.Coaches Ass. District 1 Rep
1976-78 IPI Meet Official/Coach
1977-78 IHSA Track Advisory Committee
1977-78 IHSA State Meet Official
1985 NCAA CC Championship Official

Team Accolades:
1974-78 CPHS Indoor/Outdoor Track Varsity Top Five
1974-78 CPHS Indoor/Outdoor Track FS Top Five
1974-78 CPHS CC Varsity Top 3
1974-78 CPHS CC FS Top 3
1975 IHSA State Boys 40th Place
1976 IHSA State Boys 5th Place
1977 IHSA State Boys 4th Place
1978 IHSA State Boys 13th Place
1986-89 Womens North Star Conference Champs
1986 Men's Illinois State CC Champs
2000 Boys JV CC City Runner -up
2000 Girl's JV CC City 3rd Place
2001 Girl's JV CC City Champs
2001 Boy's JV CC 3rd Place

Individual Accolades:
All State (IHSA)
1973 Mike Spencer Calumet HS 120HH
1975 Ed Thomas King HS 120HH
1976 Ed Thomas King HS 120HH 330LH
1977 Jerome Brown 120HH, Cedric Walker 4X400 440,James gage LJ-TJ, Keith Whitfield 4X440, EugeneLiddell 4X400, Art Stewart 4X400, Greg Clark (Q) Mile King HS
1978 Eugene Liddell 220-4X100, James Gage LJ-TJ, Greg Cotton 4X100, Marvin
Rogers 4X100, Mike Irby 100 (Q) King HS
1980 Antionette Broadnex 100m-200m King HS
1980 Darren Kern 800m King HS
2000-01 Daisy Zamora AA CC Finalist Jones HS
2000 Daisy Zamora AA 1600m-3200m (Q)
2007 Stephanie Omueti 100-200 All State (Whitney Young)
2009 Raena Rhone 400 M. and 4 x 400 Relay All-State
2009 Porsha Irvin 400 M. and 4 x 400 Relay All-State
2009 4 x 400 Relay All-State

All American:
1973 Mike Spencer 120HH
1976 Ed Thomas 50HH,60HH,120HH,330 LH, Mike West 50yd-60yd
1977 Cedric Walker 400m, Jerome Brown 120HH, James Gage 50yd-60yd
1980 Darren Kern 800m

All Central Collegiate Conference:
1982-84 Jim Birgans 60yd, 100m,400m 4X100m,4X400m
1982-83 Jim Fox 1500m-5000m
1983 Daryl Robinson 4X400, Sammie Wayne 4X400, Zamon Gray 4X400
1984 Kerry Sloan 400IH, Jim Dzwierzynski 1500m, Kurt Roderich 5000m,
1985 Kerry Sloan 400IH,
1987-88 Bryan Becker 400m
1987 Dale Tobias 100m-200m,Mark Gant HJ

All North Star CC Conference:
1983 Jane Murphy (Champ), Laura Grove
1984 Jane Murphy
1985 Lori Pascoe,Laura Grove
1986 Anne Kuiken, Gloria Kuiken, Lori Pascoe
1988 Anne Kuiken, Gloria Kuiken. Eileen Murphy, Karen Tjarksen
1987 Anne Kuiken, Gloria Kuiken, Kim Wilkeson, Beata Kielar, Patti O'Connell

1986 North Star Conference CC Coach of Year
1987-88 North Star CC Coach of the Year Runner-up

Plus numerous Sectional CC Titles Varsity -FS in Cross Country at King

All research courtesy of track alum Bob Geiger (’94)

Women's Soccer Alums Gather to Celebrate Alumnae/Senior Day

2009-10-29T13:51:00.000-07:00

Beautiful weather, funny stories, and laughter were all displayed as the women’s soccer alums gathered to celebrate Alumnae Day.

Jill Litowski (class of ’98) set the tone as she “snaked” down the field while being announced during the half-time presentation. This act was just a minute part of the enthusiasm and excitement the alums displayed as Jean Lenti Ponsetto, Director of Athletics, and Kathryn Statz, Associate Director honored them for their dedication, commitment and support of the program.

After the game, the alums enjoyed lunch with the current players and their families, and watched the current seniors, Molly Borchardt, Kelly Semko, and Dominique Locascio, honored for their outstanding accomplishments.
A special thanks to all of the alums in attendance. Your continued support of the women’s soccer program and DePaul athletics is greatly appreciated!

Men's Soccer Alumni Day

2009-10-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

Rain and cold temperatures weren’t enough to keep men’s soccer alums from participating in Alumni day!

At 9:30 a.m. more than 25 alums gathered on Wish Field to participate in their annual alumni game. Cold, blistering temperatures didn’t stop these alums from giving their all on the field; in fact, it actually propelled them to play harder. The alums split into even teams and went at it for over an hour. After the game the alums were invited to eat, drink, and fellowship until the start of the DePaul/Syracuse match-up.

Reminiscing; sharing of new happenings; and amazement over the development of the campus since the “old” days, were common topics addressed during this time.

During halftime, all alumni were honored at mid-field by Jean Lenti Posetto, Diretcor of Athletics, and Kathryn Statz, Associate Director of Athletics.

Following the Men’s soccer victory over Syracuse, all alums, players, and parents gathered in the Hall of Fame Foyer to celebrate the seniors and to thank the alumni for their unyielding support of the program.

Thanks to all of the alums who helped make this day so special! It was great seeing each of you; and we look forward to your continued support of the men’s soccer program!

World Series Special - Uncovering a Blue Demon Baseball Legend - Part I

2009-10-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

Tonight as I sat watching the World Series, I thought how many major league baseball players had DePaul produced? Wouldn't that make a great blog entry or possibly a good trivia question on our Twitter account.

Little did I know what I would find with a little Google work.

In fact, DePaul University has had five student-athletes play major league baseball. My search began with pitcher Grant Bowler (DePaul 1927-31) pitched in 17 games in 1931 and 1932 for the White Sox. His best performance a September 17, 1931 complete game loss to the Cleveland Indians – his only career decision.

Art Bramhill (DePaul 1934-34) was an infielder that played in a “Moonlight” Graham-like two games with one single career at bat for Philadelphia Phillies in 1935.

When I saw Tony Murray (DePaul 1922-23) played for the Cubs in 1923, I knew my assistant Marge Mazik would be so proud when I returned with this gem in the morning. An outfielder, Murray played two games in the final two days of the 1923 campaign, but he did amass one career hit. Murray’s lone hit came batting ninth behind a young catcher Gabby Harnett who was batting eighth. Harnett would become a Hall of Famer. Murray would become a policeman and attorney.

Bill Steinecke (DePaul 1926-31) caught in four games in 1931 for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Unfortunately he went hitless in four at bats with a strikeout in his four-game major league career. Steinecke didn’t quit with his four at bats. Steinecke would become one of baseball’s lifers, toiling for a total of 23 years in the minor leagues as a player. He would then coach and serve as a scout for another 17 years.

I saw that Joe Wilhoit (DePaul 1906-11) was my final Blue Demon to play in the major leagues. His stats clearly indicated that he was going to outdistance his Royal Blue peers, having an accomplished four-year career from 1916-1919. The outfielder donned a uniform for four different teams (Boston Braves & Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Giants).

It wasn’t until I googled that I realized the treasure that I found – Joe Wilhoit.

My first gem was that he played in the 1917 World Series for Hall of Fame manager John McGraw – and of all teams, against the Chicago White Sox. Ultimately, Joe lined to “Black Sock” Buck Weaver to start a double play and earned a walk in two plate appearances in the Giants loss to World Series Champion White Sox.

The World Series info was truly just the beginning of the excitement. Wilhoit actually has the distinction of owning the longest hitting streak in the history of organized baseball, which includes major leagues, minor leagues and college. He is even featured in Ripley’s Believe it or Not!.

On June 14, 1919, playing for the Wichita Witches of the Western League, Wilhoit began the streak with an unassuming single. No one could have guessed that he would hit safely for the next 10 weeks – a total of 69 games. Only Joe DiMaggio would challenge his mark, hitting in 61 straight while playing for the Pacific Coast League’s San Francisco Seals.

Wilhoit was simply unstoppable during the streak, hitting .512 with 153 hits in 299 at bats. He didn’t set the record quietly, picking up two or more hits in 50 games.

This research on Wilhoit is just beginning. I have emailed Bill Rabinowitz, the researcher from the Columbus Dispatch, that scoured the papers of the Midwest to document Wilhoit’s exploits.

Then I found a website dedicated to the “Wichita Wonder”.

http://www.joewilhoit.com/joe.htm

It was written by a relative David Wilhoit. Next step was finding this relative to see if I can find out even more about this new Blue Demon treasure. Little did I know that David is the CEO of Siltronic-Samsung Wafer in Singapore. A quick e-mail through LinkedIn hopefully will provide the next step in the fast-paced research.

Other Joe Wilhoit sites
http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=15190&bid=30
http://www.independent.com/news/2009/aug/11/where-have-you-gone-joe-wilhoit/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Wilhoit

I only wonder where this research will lead… stay tuned!

Blue Demon Track Alum Dave Behof Honored with Coaching Award

2009-10-25T21:48:00.000-07:00

DePaul Track Alum Dave Behof ('93-96) was honored as The Frank J. Amato Excellence in Coaching Award at Loyola Academy's annual Hall of Fame Banquet on October 23. The award is presented annually to the Loyola Academy coach whose outstanding performance on and off the field represents the highest traditions of Loyola Academy athletics as well as the core values and ideals of the school's Ignatian mission. The final selection from the list of nominees is made by the President, the Athletic Director, Coach Frank Amato,and benefactor Tim Haggerty '81.

Behof remains active in his support of DePaul Athletics serving on statistics crews, assisting with the game production for men's basketball games and managing the timing system for Blue Demon cross country events.

Below is the text from the program, recognizing Behof's efforts and achievement.
To the track and field and cross country teams of Loyola Academy, he is indispensable and irreplaceable.With an uncompromising commitment to getting the job done right and an unwavering dedication to the young people he serves, David A. Behof has been for fourteen years the quiet force behind the scenes, one whose tireless work on behalf of Loyola and its

athletes has for too long gone unrecognized and unheralded.

Demanding and caring, Dave couples a comprehensive knowledge of the sport with an uncanny ability to connect with his athletes. Armed with a wealth of experience and expertise as well as a keen understanding of the high-school athlete, Dave has demonstrated again and again those qualities fundamental to coaching excellence.

Meticulous and thorough in his preparation for practice and meets and attentive to each athlete under his watch, he has proven himself a young master of the coaching arts. Simply put, his impact as an assistant coach for the cross country and track programs has been profound. In cross country, Dave has had a hand in twenty-three championship teams, including eight as the head coach of the freshman team. In track, he has helped guide Loyola to twenty-two team championships, and is responsible for coaching four Ramblers to individual conference titles and one to an All-State performance.

His work as a meet administrator has earned Dave a reputation for reliability and efficiency throughout the CCL, the GCAC, and the IHSA, where he is recognized for his painstaking professionalism in organizing, seeding, and scoring track and cross country meets. His expertise in using the FAT (Fully Automatic Timing) system has even brought calls from state track officials requesting his services at the state track meet. That the reputation of Loyola Academy has been burnished in the process has been a significant yet ancillary benefit. However, his primary motivation has always been to serve the needs of his athletes, and to give them the best athletic experience possible. In the end, the perfectionism that defines Dave's approach to meet organization is ultimately about the athletes themselves, about the obligation to provide the finest environment in which to compete. It is about giving his kids the competitive playing field that they deserve and that he feels responsible for providing as their coach.

Last winter, after a summer of painstaking research involving countless hours of sifting through fifty years of meet results, Dave delivered one of the most important off-the-field contributions ever made to Loyola track and field: a record book of the top fifty all-time performances in each event, indoor and outdoor, beautifully and carefully arranged. The motivating effect on the athletes was instantaneous-here it was in black and white, a history, a record of a tradition that they could aspire to be a part of. With his book, Dave has produced an historical record of athletic achievement that will have a lasting impact on Loyola's track athletes long after he is gone from the scene.

In his tenure at Loyola, Dave has left an indelible mark on the cross country and track programs of Loyola Academy, and the on the athletes with whom he has worked. With an unstinting dedication to his vocation and an abiding loyalty to Loyola and its athletes, he has coached with honor and integrity. Weariless in his devotion to his school, his athletes, his fellow coaches, and his sport, Dave has proven himself a worthy and fitting recipient of the Frank J. Amato Excellence in Coaching Award.

A 1992 graduate of Loyola, Dave returned to his alma mater to teach mathematics after earning his B.S. in mathematics from DePaul University in 1996, and his M.Ed. from DePaul in 2000. An elite miler at Loyola who went on to a fine running career at DePaul, he understands what it takes to compete at the highest level. Recently, Dave completed the Chicago Marathon in a personal record of 2 hours, 52 minutes.

DePaul Loses Hall of Famer Ron Sobie

2009-10-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

DePaul lost one of its great when Hall of Famer hoops legend Ron Sobie passed away on October 23. The esteemed Blue Demon cager amassed 1,222 career points and ranks No. 4 all-time at DePaul in career scoring average at 18.2 points per game, trailing only Mark Aguirre (24.5), Howie Carl (20.0) and George Mikan (19.1).

"We lost a true DePaul legend today," Athletic Director Jean Lenti Ponsetto said. "I think the fact that he was inducted into the first class of DePaul's Hall of Fame with names like George Mikan and Ray Meyer speaks volumes of his impact as a Blue Demon."

Born on September 21, 1934, Sobie attended Saint Bonaventure Academy in Sturtevant, Wisconsin before matriculating to DePaul University. He played as Blue Demon from 1953-56. Sobie was only the second Blue Demon to amass more than 300 points in each of his varsity seasons.

"I knew him from way back. When I was coaching high school he killed us," said DePaul Hall of Famer Jim Seri. "Ron was a great ball player, but more importantly, he was a great man."

The captain of the 1956 squad finished 29th in the country in scoring and propelled DePaul into the NCAA Tournament. Additionally he finished the season ranked 13th in free-throw shooting and ninth in rebounding.

After completing his senior year, Sobie was tabbed to play in the World Series of basketball, a 21-game tour of games between the Harlem Globetrotters and a team of College All-Stars coached by DePaul legend Ray Meyer. Sobie was named MVP of the 1956 Series. He would later return to court against the Globetrotters as a member of the Washington Generals.

Sobie was drafted by the Fort Wayne Pistons in the first round with the sixth overall selection of the 1956 NBA draft. On draft day, he was traded to the New York Knicks for Gene Shue. The 6-4 guard played parts of four seasons for the New York Knicks, appearing in 192 games and scoring more than 1,600 career points. Sobie's best NBA season statistically was in 1957-58 when he averaged 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds. He finished in the NBA's top ten in free-throw percentage, shooting .820 for that season. His NBA career was cut short by a knee injury.

"He was a great player," Said DePaul Hall of Fame Center Jim Flemming (1958-61). "He was a big guard and he could shoot from anywhere."

In addition to his skill as basketball player, Sobie was a first-rate softball player. He owned a renowned sports bar in Cicero called Sobie's Bar and Grill which often sponsored one of the top 16-inch softball teams in the country. Sobie's won the ASA Major 16" National Championship in 1966, 1967 and 1968.

Sobie was inducted into the inaugural class of the DePaul Athletic Hall of Fame in 1976 and was added to the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.

The wake for Ron Sobie will be held at Chapel Hill Gardens West in Oakbrook Terrace (17 West Roosevelt Road) from 3-9 p.m. on Mon., Oct. 26. The funeral will be held Tues., Oct. 27 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph's Church, 4801 Main Street, Downers Grove, IL 60515.

Ron Sobie also will be memorialized as a part of the 2010 Hall of Fame Memorial Mass on January 31.

2009 Open Practice

2009-10-22T08:07:00.000-07:00

Let the Good Times Roll…or should I say Bounce!

On Sat., Oct. 17, men’s and women’s basketball kicked off their respective seasons with an “Open” practice, which allowed fans first-hand insight on what the prospects look like for 2009-10.

The first 300 guests to enter McGraw Arena received complimentary lunch and T-shirts. The fans were then allowed to take their lunch inside the gymnasium and catch a glimpse of both the men’s and women’s squads.

The women took the floor first as they displayed an array of shooting and fast break drills. Coach Doug Bruno wrapped up the women’s practice by thanking all of the fans who were in attendance and by expressing his expectations for the season.

Next, the men’s team took the floor. Coach Jerry Wainwright went through staff and team introductions, prior to the beginning of practice. Once introductions were finished, each of Wainwright’s assistants led the team in a drill focusing on their expertise. Fast break drills, shooting, and defensive slides were all part of the hour-long men’s session. Upon completion, Wainwright also thanked the fans for attending and for their continued support of the program.

2009 Ice Cream Social

2009-10-20T18:10:00.000-07:00

What better way to celebrate the academic accomplishments of DePaul student-athletes…I scream, you scream, they all scream for ICE CREAM!

On Thurs., October 15, the Athletics Academic Advising (AAA) staff along with the Director of Athletics, Jean Lenti Ponsetto, celebrated the outstanding academic accomplishments of the DePaul student-athletes.

The DePaul staff, faculty and coaches were in attendance as Jean Lenti Ponsetto, honored various student-athletes for their hard work in the classroom. Jean challenged the student-athletes to continue to excel in the classroom and the importance of striving for academic excellence.

The event was as sweet as it could be with the main course consisting of ice cream plus all the fixings. All in attendance were treated to an ice cream sundae buffet, which consisted of three flavors of ice cream, crushed Oreos, nuts, fudge, whipped cream, and multi-colored sprinkles!

Many of the student-athletes’ professors were in attendance who were recognized for their leadership and support of the student-athletes.

Men's Basketball Alum Honored

2009-10-20T17:11:00.000-07:00

DePaul Men’s basketball alum George Poulos (‘66-68) will be recognized for his lifetime of service to Wells Park and the Chicago Park District with a ceremonial naming of a stretch of West Sunnyside near Wells Park. The celebration will be held on November 7 at 11:30 a.m. at Sunnyside and Oakley Ave. in Chicago. Coffee and cake will be served immediately following in Welles Park.

That evening, a reception will be held from 5- 10 p.m. at La Villa Restaurant & Pizzeria at 3632 N Pulaski Rd. For more information, please call John Giordano at 1-773-415-4203 or John Moran at 1-773-418-1575. Tickets are $25 which includes appetizers, beer, wine, soda, and coffee.

Poulos was at home in Lincoln Park, playing basketball for both DePaul University and DePaul Academy. George played high school ball at DePaul Academy, actually playing lights and heavyweights, for Coach Bill Gleason. Poulos then attended DePaul University where he lettered from 1965-68 under Basketball and DePaul Hall of Famer Ray Meyer. The team combined for a 48-28 mark, including a 1966 NIT berth.

After graduating from DePaul, he married Michelle Turone and George started out teaching, but soon switched to working at Wells Park until he retired from the Chicago Park District in 1998. While at Wells, he started many innovative programs and was commonly known as real student advocate, especially the underprivileged. After retiring from the Park District, he was hired by DePaul graduates Principal John Butterfield and Assistant Principal Betty Martinez, to be the Director of Guidance at Mather High School.

If you have photos to share or what to make a video testimonial to George, please email giptribunephotos@gmail.com.

Free Throws Galore! World Record Acheived!

2009-10-16T19:17:00.000-07:00

DePaul University continued its celebration of the "POWER OF WE WEEK" with the second annual free throw marathon. Nearly 200 students, faculty and staff came together on Thursday to participate in the Free Throw Marathon. This year the DePaul University community attempted 18,659 free throws!

The Free Throw marathon wasn't the only activity creating a buzz around campus. The event concluded with an attempt to break the world record for the biggest game of Knock-out. In June, the New York Knicks set the record for the longest game of Knock-out played, with 101 contestants. But with the support of the DePaul staff, coaches, fans, and students, the record now belongs to DePaul!

With a total of 112 contestants the Knicks record was smashed Thursday night at McGrath Arena. The game featured players of various skill level and age. Approximately nine rotations were completed before the line was narrowed down to the final five players. Shots, rebounds, and put-backs were constant observances as each player fought to make it to the final round of two. Joe Anhalt was crowned the 2009 world record attempt Knock-out champion and Ryan Darcy was the runner- up. Third and fourth-place finishes went to Drew Olson and Alexander Ruiz, respectively.

For their efforts and skills on the hardwood Anhalt received a skybox at All State arena to one non-conference men's basketball game; Darcy was awarded court-side tickets to both a men's and women's basketball game; and both Olson and Ruiz received Free Throw Marathon jackets.

Cross Country Welcomes World Champion Eammon Coghlan

2009-10-13T11:59:00.000-07:00

DePaul Cross Country welcomes three guest speakers Eammon Coghlan, a three-time Olympian and world championship winning /Gold Medal athlete, spoke to the Cross Country team about the importance of persevering and maintain a positive attitude in the bleakest of moments.

Coghlan used his experience as a collegiate student-athlete to effectively convey his message to the DePaul Cross Country Team. His delivery was genuine and his message powerful… “Have Tunnel Vision; Believe in yourself and your abilities; and never, ever worry about the other runners.”

Coghlan reminisced about his journey to Villanova from Dublin, Ireland to run track. He talked about his ups and downs…and encouraged the student-athletes to listen to the people closest to you, because “they’re the most important.”

Coghlan who is the author of “Chairman of the Boards” was in town for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Track Alumni Meet to Celebrate Columbus Day and Coach Amidei

2009-10-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

In attendance from (left to right): Ryan Rupcich (asst. coach), Pat Savage, Stephanie Williams, Jim Barry, Bob Geiger, John Caldow, Bill Drennan, Nate Blackman, Fred VanDenHende, Ralph Motto, George Gabauer, Lloyd Schlegel, Jim Faron

In what has become a tradition, fourteen DePaul track alumni celebrated Columbus Day at the Cliff Dwellers. The alumni use the annual holiday as a chance to get together and to celebrate Blue Demon Track and Field.

The celebration began in the early eighties at the invitation of the late Hall of Fame track coach Don Amidei. A member of the Cliff Dwellers, Amidei would invite his alumni that worked as educators since he knew they would have the day off.

"It was a thrill to see so many of our alumni come out for our Columbus Day Reunion," Coach Pat Savage said. "It is fun to see old friends and talk about the growth of Blue Demon track & field and cross country."

This year, DePaul track expanded the invitation to all its track alumni. Alumni ranging from Nate Blackman from the class of 1951 to Stephanie Williams class of 2009 enjoyed the chance to meet and talk about Blue Demon track & field and cross country.

Track Alumni are invited to mark their calendar for the 2009 Track & Field and Cross Country Alumni Dinner on November 27 at 7 p.m. in the Hall of Fame Foyer of McGrath Arena. For more information, call Marge Mazik at 773-325-7240.

Help Support the Free Throw Marathon and Blue Demon Community Service

2009-10-13T11:15:00.001-07:00

On Thursday, DePaul Athletics will host its annual Free Throw Marathon from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. The Free Throw Marathon raises gifts to fund DePaul's community service efforts. Annually our student-athletes preform thousands of hours of community outreach.

One of the biggest and most recognizable outreach efforts is hosting area students for home contests. Annually, we have hosted students from disadvantaged schools for a home women's basketball game, giving them a taste of college life. We don't just provide students with free tickets, all students receive transportation, a tickets and a DePaul t-shirts. The games are often the first time students are exposed to a college campus.
The youth day game is just one of the many community service projects in which our student-athletes participate. With your help, we can increase those efforts and provide greater outreach on behalf of DePaul.

In addition to the young people that these efforts touch, the value is also in developing the leadership skills of our student-athletes in the spirit of St. Vincent dePaul. Any donor making a gift of $100 or more receives membership in the Champions Club!

Click this link to support the 2009 Free Throw Marathon!
http://www.depaulbluedemons.com//quest/Questionaire.dbml?SPSID=68823&SPID=7777&&QID=68850&DB_OEM_ID=15600