Rollie Massemino comes out of retirement

[hifigator]

I just heard an interview with a name from the past ... or at least I thought he was. Our first exhibition game tomorrow night is against a brand new NAIA program in south Florida just outside West Palm Beach. I think the name was "Northport" if I remember correctly. Anyhow their new coach is none other than former Villanova coach Rollie Massemino. Golly, how old is he? He has to be in his seventies. Granted a lot of successful coaches coach into their seventies, but I don't remember any starting up again at such an age.

Incidentally, their first home game is against none other than Villanova. I will hand it to Rollie ... he ain't messing around. He starts off a brand new NAIA program on the road at the defending National Champion NCAA and then a week or so later hosts a team like Villanova. Maybe he is getting a little senile in his old age.

[Joe Hoya]

It's Northwood University, and this is old news. Duuuuuuuh.

[hifigator]

It's really old news. That was the point. I mean, seriously, isn't he in his mid-seventies?

I heard Billy D. talking about the Big East during his playing days at Providence. He talked about the litany of legendary coaches from Thompson to Massimino, Carlesimo, Boeheim, Carmeseca, Pitino, Calhoun etc... Billy was extremely complementary and said that he doubted any one conference has ever or likely will ever match so many legendary coaches in one decade. Beyond that, how close to coaching the very same year were those guys? The only one I am not sure about is Calhoun. I think all of the others were there at the same time. Am I right?

[Deleted]

Calhoun is going into his 21st season at You Con (last season CBS ran some crap to honor him for 20 successful years on the bench there, and I remember thinking to myself how amazing it is he's been the Teflon Don for two decades now without a true blemish to his record).

They were all there in the mid-to-late 80's.

[VelvetElvis]

Northwood University used to be called Northwood Institute. It was pretty much a vocational school when I was in high school. I wonder if they will be a team of future HVAC technicians.

God, I am old.

[TigerHoya]

here's a list of their degree programs
www.northwood.edu/fl/academics/degreesanddepartments/default.asp

[PhillyHoya]

velvetelvis said:

Northwood University used to be called Northwood Institute. It was pretty much a vocational school when I was in high school. I wonder if they will be a team of future HVAC technicians.

God, I am old.

It even looks like a vo tech school. That part of town kinda creeps me out anyways.

[hifigator]

phillyhoya said:

velvetelvis said:

Northwood University used to be called Northwood Institute. It was pretty much a vocational school when I was in high school. I wonder if they will be a team of future HVAC technicians.

God, I am old.

It even looks like a vo tech school. That part of town kinda creeps me out anyways.

Granted, I am not very familiar with the area, but that sure sounds odd coming from someone from Philly.

[Joe Hoya]

hifigator said:

phillyhoya said:

It even looks like a vo tech school. That part of town kinda creeps me out anyways.

Granted, I am not very familiar with the area, but that sure sounds odd coming from someone from Philly.

You did NOT just go there. Did he go there?

(Looks around, crowd acknowledges that yes, he did in fact go there.)

Oh it is on. You will rue the day, my friend...

[PhillyHoya]

hifigator said:

phillyhoya said:

It even looks like a vo tech school. That part of town kinda creeps me out anyways.

Granted, I am not very familiar with the area, but that sure sounds odd coming from someone from Philly.

Oh please, you should know that there are plenty of swamp creatures in Florida. I'd feel a lot safer in West Philly than I ever would in oh, Cedar Key, Belle Glade, etc.

[VelvetElvis]

Leave my home town out of this discussion (Belle Glade). Having said that, I am impressed that you even know our quaint little town by name!

[hifigator]

To Philly .... what the hell is even remotely sc ary about Cedar Key for pete's sake? I mean, it is a quiet gulf coast fishing community that doesn't have a whole lot else. Granted, the beaches aren't very nice, but people pretty much go there to put their fishing boat in the water and go fish or they go there to enjoy one of the handful of excellent seafood restaurants. Well, except for the 2 weekends a year when they have their arts festivals ... those two times it's pretty "scary" only because you have about 25,000 people in a town meant for 5,000.

Velvet ... who "HASN'T" heard of Belle Glade? With Belle Glade Glades Day, Belle Glade Glades Central and at least one other high school football power, most of us sportsfans are at least somewhat familiar with it. Now Pahokee .... that's a little bit different.

[VelvetElvis]

There is only GDS and GCCHS in Belle Glade. Pahokee has produced a ton of football players for a community that size. Anquan, Rickey Jackson, Andre Waters. Clewiston has also produced several college players.

Unrelated-how do you have 703 posts?

[hifigator]

I stand corrected then. For some strange reason I could have sworn there were 3 Belle Glade high schools -- Day, Central and one other. In any case they were perenially ranked in state rankings when I was in school. I honestly don't pay as much attention to out of region high school football anymore. In any case they certainly produced some talent. My point about Pahokee is that it is total BFE and has almost nothing there .... yet cranks out some bigtime talent.

Right now I would have to say that Lakeland has probably supplanted Miami with regard to top tier high school progams although those two Cities pretty much dwarf everywhere else.

As to posts .... I'm not really keeping track, I am just participating in conversations which interest me.