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Post by hsaxon on Mar 29, 2020 20:28:39 GMT -5
Charlie, Since you were the co-captain of this team (along with Jim Higgins C'70, RIP), and in the thick of it, I would be very interested in your account of the infamous Jacksonville U. fight game. For those on this forum that don't know much about this game, Jacksonville was a small program that came out of nowhere that year to make it to the NCAA final game where they lost to UCLA. Led by All-Americans Artis Gilmore 7'2", and Rex Morgan 6'5", they averaged almost 97 points per game. They also had 6'10" Pembrook Burrows, Gilmore and Burrows being known as the "Twin Towers", and were ranked #18 in the country at the time. They played in tiny, on-campus Swisher Gymnasium, capacity 1,360, (McDonough Gym capacity was 2,500), and the locker rooms were located in the basement of the gym. The game was a week before Christmas 1969. Two fights broke out, Coach Magee pulled the team off the court just before half-time, fearing for the safety of the team, since JU's rabid fans had stormed the court during the second fight ( cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DS19691219.2.120&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1). The refs forfeited the game to JU, Georgetown protested the decision to the NCAA, and later that season the NCAA ruled the game a no contest. Mike told me it was a pretty hairy scene, and from the locker room he could hear JU's fans howling for Hoya blood. One of the stories I heard was that as JU's 6'5" Rex Morgan came charging up the the sideline past the Georgetown bench to join the fray, Jim Higgins, all 6'1" of him, stood up from the bench and, defending Hoya honor, slugged Morgan in the face. Ten or eleven years ago I took a drive to the Jacksonville public library and researched the microfiche reels of the local newspapers, and saw the bloodied photo of Rex Morgan's face. One of JU's players claimed that Art White had broken his arm or wrist and he had to miss some games. Charlie, some sources note that the game was played at the larger Jacksonville Coliseum (capacity 10,276), do you remember it there or at the smaller Swisher gym? Also, what was it like going up against the 7'2" Artis Gilmore? Pat I hope Charlie responds - I can't wait to read this. The NCAA Final 4 that year was at Cole Field House, and a friend of mine who worked at the UCLA radio station got me tickets. I was a Bruin fan long before I ever heard of Georgetown, so I was especially thrilled to see the Bruins pound Jacksonville. I think the final was 80-69. The turning point came when Sidney Wicks dunked on Artis Gilmore with the Bruins trailing in the first half. The basket was disallowed, of course (no dunk rule), but you could just feel the momentum shift after that. I was also class of '72, but I never met Mike. I was, however, friends with his teammate Mark Mitchell, who lived in my cluster at Harbin sophomore year. |
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Post by hsaxon on Mar 29, 2020 20:34:13 GMT -5
I am class of '72 and I knew Mike relatively well. The Washington Post report was that Art White had punched their 6'5" guard Blevins and that started the ruckus. Jacksonville has three players seven foot tall or taller.
By the way, McDonough's listed capacity was 3,800 and, when end zone bleachers were installed and there were standing room only seats, it was reported as 4,600 in The Washington Post. A great place to watch a game.
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Post by hoyabrother on Mar 29, 2020 21:30:44 GMT -5
I am class of '72 and I knew Mike relatively well. The Washington Post report was that Art White had punched their 6'5" guard Blevins and that started the ruckus. Jacksonville has three players seven foot tall or taller. By the way, McDonough's listed capacity was 3,800 and, when end zone bleachers were installed and there were standing room only seats, it was reported as 4,600 in The Washington Post. A great place to watch a game My capacity source was Wikipedia. Perhaps capacity was added as the years went on. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonough_Gymnasium Full name McDonough Memorial Gymnasium Address Georgetown University Washington, D.C. 20057 Coordinates 38°54′27″N 77°04′39″WCoordinates: 38°54′27″N 77°04′39″W Owner Georgetown University Operator Georgetown University Capacity 2,500 Construction Broke ground May 20, 1950 Opened December 8, 1953 Construction cost $250,000 Tenants Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball (NCAA) (1951–1981 and occasional games to 2009) Georgetown Hoyas women's basketball Georgetown Hoyas women's volleyball James "Jabbo" Kenner League (1982–present) |
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Post by hoyabrother on Mar 29, 2020 21:42:10 GMT -5
I am class of '72 and I knew Mike relatively well. The Washington Post report was that Art White had punched their 6'5" guard Blevins and that started the ruckus. Jacksonville has three players seven foot tall or taller. By the way, McDonough's listed capacity was 3,800 and, when end zone bleachers were installed and there were standing room only seats, it was reported as 4,600 in The Washington Post. A great place to watch a game My capacity source was Wikipedia. Perhaps capacity was added as the years went on. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonough_Gymnasium Full name McDonough Memorial Gymnasium Address Georgetown University Washington, D.C. 20057 Coordinates 38°54′27″N 77°04′39″WCoordinates: 38°54′27″N 77°04′39″W Owner Georgetown University Operator Georgetown University Capacity 2,500 Construction Broke ground May 20, 1950 Opened December 8, 1953 Construction cost $250,000 Tenants Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball (NCAA) (1951–1981 and occasional games to 2009) Georgetown Hoyas women's basketball Georgetown Hoyas women's volleyball James "Jabbo" Kenner League (1982–present) The capacity description within the body of the Wikipedia article differs from the thumbnail above. Naming and construction The building is named for Rev. Vincent J. McDonough, S.J., Georgetown's athletic director from 1916 to 1928. Legend has it that three days before his death on September 3, 1939, he was asked what he wanted for the 25th anniversary of his priesthood, to which he replied, "You give the boys a new gym and I'll be happy." Though he did not live to see it, ground was broken for construction of the new gymnasium on May 20, 1950, the cornerstone was laid on October 14, 1950, and the official ribbon-cutting and opening was held December 8, 1951. When it opened, its capacity was 4,000 for basketball and 5,500 for general events.[1] Air conditioning was installed in the building in 1988.[2] |
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Post by hoya70hoops on Mar 30, 2020 13:06:55 GMT -5
Jacksonville 1970: Sorry I can't add a lot of detail to the fight story. My recollections of a lot of the 1970's are hazy. We were playing in a smallish gym, with the stands close to the court. Jville was a 'chippy' (jerky!) team from the start. Lots of jaw'ing which was less prevalent in those years. Art White got in the first punch - I think his right cross was on the front page many national sports pages. Higgins was a warrior. I had known him since 8th grade CYO ball and he did not back down. The fans jumped in right away and of course it was mostly pushing and yelling. I weaseled my way out of the action and against a wall. Coach Magee shooed us into the dressing room and refused to let us out when the fans lingered on the court.
My other memory was that I felt we could have won that game. Even though we were losing by about a dozen midway in the first half, we were not playing our best yet and they really were not that intimidating despite their size. I was working out my strategy for scoring at will against the 7'2" future NBA Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore. Fate had a different plan. IMHO they were lucky to get a 'no contest'. They were a good team - losing by 18 in the NCAA final was no shame when playing against UCLA.
We only went to Florida once in my time at Georgetown. Our second game on the trip was at Florida State. They were the best team I every played against - Dave Cowens (later Celtics MVP) was their center. They were NCAA ineligible that year or I suspect they would have busted up UCLA (or anybody) in the tournament.
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Post by hoyabrother on Mar 30, 2020 17:50:18 GMT -5
Jacksonville 1970: Sorry I can't add a lot of detail to the fight story. My recollections of a lot of the 1970's are hazy. We were playing in a smallish gym, with the stands close to the court. Jville was a 'chippy' (jerky!) team from the start. Lots of jaw'ing which was less prevalent in those years. Art White got in the first punch - I think his right cross was on the front page many national sports pages. Higgins was a warrior. I had known him since 8th grade CYO ball and he did not back down. The fans jumped in right away and of course it was mostly pushing and yelling. I weaseled my way out of the action and against a wall. Coach Magee shooed us into the dressing room and refused to let us out when the fans lingered on the court. My other memory was that I felt we could have won that game. Even though we were losing by about a dozen midway in the first half, we were not playing our best yet and they really were not that intimidating despite their size. I was working out my strategy for scoring at will against the 7'2" future NBA Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore. Fate had a different plan. IMHO they were lucky to get a 'no contest'. They were a good team - losing by 18 in the NCAA final was no shame when playing against UCLA. We only went to Florida once in my time at Georgetown. Our second game on the trip was at Florida State. They were the best team I every played against - Dave Cowens (later Celtics MVP) was their center. They were NCAA ineligible that year or I suspect they would have busted up UCLA (or anybody) in the tournament. Thanks for the perspective. Interesting comments, especially about Florida State's chances in the NCAA.  Swisher Gymnasium, Jacksonville University. |
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Post by hsaxon on Mar 30, 2020 20:58:17 GMT -5
I am class of '72 and I knew Mike relatively well. The Washington Post report was that Art White had punched their 6'5" guard Blevins and that started the ruckus. Jacksonville has three players seven foot tall or taller. By the way, McDonough's listed capacity was 3,800 and, when end zone bleachers were installed and there were standing room only seats, it was reported as 4,600 in The Washington Post. A great place to watch a game My capacity source was Wikipedia. Perhaps capacity was added as the years went on. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonough_Gymnasium Full name McDonough Memorial Gymnasium Address Georgetown University Washington, D.C. 20057 Coordinates 38°54′27″N 77°04′39″WCoordinates: 38°54′27″N 77°04′39″W Owner Georgetown University Operator Georgetown University Capacity 2,500 Construction Broke ground May 20, 1950 Opened December 8, 1953 Construction cost $250,000 Tenants Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball (NCAA) (1951–1981 and occasional games to 2009) Georgetown Hoyas women's basketball Georgetown Hoyas women's volleyball James "Jabbo" Kenner League (1982–present) 2,500 is the current capacity. They have removed a lot of seating, e.g., balcony seating. It was 3,800 (and up to 4,600 with "end zone" bleachers and standing room) when the men's team played there full-time. |
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Post by hsaxon on Apr 8, 2020 21:19:43 GMT -5
Hoyabrother - thanks for sharing the audio and sharing the memory of your brother Mike. He was a wonderful guy and teammate. A real straight-shooter in every sense. I miss him - he went way too soon. My favorite was the re-hearing the energy of McDonough Gym. On-campus basketball would be so much more fun for fans and players. Charlie Adrion C'70 Charlie Adrion - a great Hoya player and rebounder. Mike Laughna (10.8) and Charlie Adrion (9.9) are third and fourth, respectively, in career rebounds per game for Georgetown. |
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DFW HOYA
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 5,929
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Post by DFW HOYA on Apr 8, 2020 21:27:47 GMT -5
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Post by augustusfinknottle on Apr 14, 2020 11:15:24 GMT -5
I was in school at the time and I’m pretty sure the Post had a photo of Art White following through on a right uppercut.
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SSHoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
"Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown."
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Post by SSHoya on Apr 14, 2020 11:44:17 GMT -5
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