April 2, 1984: Where Were You?

[Admin]

On its 25th anniversary, please discuss your recollections of where you were during the 1984 NCAA title game. (If you are younger than 30, that's OK, leave this to the older folks.)

A link to the video of the game is on the front page.

[tpk3]

michael graham

[rickr]

I was there...in Seattle. A great and memorable weekend. I remember the team showing up for a victory rally after the game ...this was in the days when Big John kept the team very isolated from alumni and fans. We probably scared the hell out of the coaches and the team..it was totally nuts.

[wisconsinhoya]

I remember being one VERY nervous 4th grader in elementary school. Thought of the game all day long. Got scared when Houston got off to a hot start from the field. Some of the lasting images I'll never forget are 1) Patrick Ewing's passing to Michael Graham on some thunderous dunks 2) Watching Michael Jackson, David Wingate and Reggie Williams knife through the Houston defense 3) Coach Thompson hugging Fred Brown and 4) seeing on the televison screen Georgetown 84 Houston 75, Georgetown Hoyas 1984 National Champions.

[detmut]

on campus watching the game in our henle apartment until we streamed out afterwards to the victory rally at wisconsin and m.

[HoyaSinceBirth]

Let's see my older brother was still 4 months away from being born. So yeah I was still a couple years away.

[RDF]

I too was in 4th grade but had nothing but confidence about winning the National Title that night. Knew the Hoyas would get it done. The win in BET Final over Cuse was the most exciting and least shown "classic" that should be shown, with the demolition of Kentucky in National Semifinal coming in close 2nd.

That day/night/following day was the greatest feeling in world and so happy for the team and Hoya fans everywhere.

[HoyaTejano]

The words "Patrick Ewing" introduced me to basketball. Naturally, being in, um, kindergarten, all I remember is a blur of blue and gray and the tallest man I had ever seen on my tv, ever.

[whatmaroon]

Also in kindergarten, in Houston, rooting for the other team. Not that I was allowed to stay up late enough to see the game (might've seen some, not sure), but that's where my affections were.

[HoyaChris]

Random memories of 1984.

I was there. For whatever reasons the sight lines in the Kingdome were much better than the sight lines in the other two domes in New Orleans and Atlanta.

Ran into Dick Vitale walking into the Kingdome. We reminded him of the great game in McDonough against Detroit - he was the former coach and then AD - and he reminded us about blowing us out at their place the subsequent year.

My memories of the semi are crisper than of the final which happens - I think - with near death experiences. We were getting beaten pretty badly in the first half by Kentucky and Patrick had gotten a couple early fouls. Late in the half we scored a couple of baskets, the last one pretty close to the buzzer on a play where Michael Jackson drove and dished off to Michael Graham for a slam. Side note, Michael Jackson never penetrated.

The second half of that game was my favorite twenty minutes of Georgetown basketball ever as Kentucky could not score for more than ten minutes. Our defense was otherworldly.

We went to a brunch at the Hoya fan hotel the next morning and spent about 3 hours watching the TV replay of the game. That was back when Billy Packer was on the top of his game and his analysis of the game was really crisp. His thoughts on the impending disaster for Kentucky when Jim Master went to man defense against David Wingate are hillarious.

The remarkable thing about the final was the high level of offensive execution in a game without a shot clock and with two dominant defensive centers. Reggie was brilliant in repeatedly slashing to the basket.

I could only stay at the victory party for about twenty minutes because I had to catch the redeye back to Chicago to close on a co-op the next morning. Missing the subsequent three hours of that party is one of my life's greatest regrets. On the plane my seat was next to Dana Kirk the then coach of VCU (and later convicted for tax evasion for funneling money to players at Memphis). He wiShut uplly spoke of what it must be like to coach players as talented as John Thompson's which is pretty ironic since he later went to jail for buying them.

[HoyaFanNY]

i was an 14 year old 8th grader that was one of two hoya fans in my entire school. unfortunately, i don't appreciate '84 as much as i should because of the disappointment i felt in '82,'85, and '89.

[idhoya]

I was 12 and we were living in Bladensburg at the time (450 Annapolis Rd. baby!) Anyway, I remember the elation and satisfaction of the win vividly because of the sadness and dissapointment from '82. I thought it was the first of many champs to come. Then '85 happened...

[nathanhm]

Stay on topic.--Admin

[Boz]

I can't remember where I was then, but where I am right now is checking online to see if either Ajira Airways or Oceanic Airlines have any flights that pass over Seattle, Wa.

[derhoya]

In my mom. I was still just a cluster of cells.

[PhillyHoya]

Just over six months old and likely watching (or at least sitting there as my parents - Dad's an alum too - watched).

[757hoyafan]

I was 7 years old @ the time, but I do not remember seeing this game. I was a fan because I remember #11 boys club took us to see my Hoyas vs Cuse @ the Cap.

[FromTheBeginning]

In the Kingdome - What a great night!

[SoCalHoya]

I was sitting on the floor watching it with my older brother. He really liked Olajuwon and Clyde the Glide, but was also a big John Thompson fan (civil rights yo!). I was a Michael Jackson enthusiast, both the Hoya and the music sensation. We were both glued to the TV and my mom kept asking us why this was so important. We ran around the living room throwing pillows as we hit the 2:00 mark in the second half.

I remember thinking, "I wonder if I'll ever see Seattle?"

Now of course, I live in Seattle. I hold out hope for another national championship soon. If for whatever reason it comes back to Seattle (is that possible since there is no dome anymore?) I swear I will host as many students as my wife will allow in my basement and make them the biggest baddest steak chili ever.

[EasyEd]

I was on a business trip, in my room, all by myself. No one to cheer with. No one to celebrate with. I was going bonkers. Tried for an hour to call my brother, also an alum, but all I got was a busy signal. Fantastically happy but not having anyone to share it with really dampened my glee.