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Post by aggie2ru on Mar 26, 2012 15:21:26 GMT -5
Straight up and down............Norfolk St had "Pee Wee " Kirkland, Bobby Dandrige, James "Hook Shot" Grant, "Pop" Pitts, Charles Bonaparte, James McKinney, etc.
You mentioned "Big G" Gilmore and "Flute" from Greensboro, North Kakie-Lakie, Mack, Pedro, Teddy Campbell, Booker, Staggs from Philly, Daryl "5 star in 4 sports in High School" Cherry from the Queen City, and "Hub" from Danville, VA.
I would say Bird would have a hard, hard, hard time cracking that line up.
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Post by aggierattler on Mar 26, 2012 16:13:50 GMT -5
Coaches Cal Irvin, Big House Gaines and Don Corbett recruited up north the majority of the time. I don't know why Eaves never took the hint. Maybe he would still be around if he had. On a personal note former great Aggie player Teddy Campbell told me a true story of how he came to A&T from Philly. He said he was recruited by "Big House" at Winston Salem and was on his way there on the train to enroll at Winston. He said the train made a brief stop in Greensboro and he looked up from his seat and saw this Black man walking towards him. It was Coach Cal Irvin approaching him. He said Coach Irvin persuaded him in 3 minutes or less to come to A&T. He said he did not know how Coach Irvin knew he was on that train. He said "I never made it to Winston to play for Big House". The rest is history. Ted Campbell was the all time leading rebounder for A&T for years - plus he could score. He played briefly in the NBA with the 76ers and in the ABA as well. He passed in 2008. Great story! I sounds almost like the way Tony Dorsett ended up at Pitt instead of Penn State. He was flying up to State College to sign with PSU when Pitt's Johnny Majors and Willie Jeffries (yes...SCSU's Willie Jeffries, who was a Pitt assistant then) intercepted Dorsett at the Pittsburgh airport and talked him into not boarding the flight and signing with Pitt. |
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saabman
Official BDF member
Posts: 12,814
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Post by saabman on Mar 26, 2012 16:32:25 GMT -5
I have a ? for ya :Where did "Pee Wee " Kirkland play before he came to Norfolk State ??
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Post by aggie2ru on Mar 26, 2012 18:27:19 GMT -5
I have a ? for ya :Where did "Pee Wee " Kirkland play before he came to Norfolk State ?? I believe you already know. But it IS a little known fact that "Pee Wee" was right in our neck of the woods at little Kittrell College in Kittrell, North Kakie-Lakie before the "chief"..... Coach Earnie Fears "pulled" him saab (just like you use to pull dem gurls outta Vanstory Hall)  . Fears was 29 when he took over as coach and stopped coaching seven years later when he became AD at Norfolk. His record during that seven year stretch? 150 wins and 31 loses. That speaks volumes by itself. Norfolk State College at that time was a school in Norfolk that had just a few buildings and was much smaller than it is now.... known as NSU. "Chief" Fears blew 'em up with the crew he brought in. Of course you know Bobby Dandridge played w/Kareem and the "Big O" with the Milwaukee Bucks. His career lasted for over 10 years. He was with them and started at small forward when they won the NBA championship. "Pee Wee" cuda called any shot he wanted to in the NBA. That was one baaaaad mama tama! |
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saabman
Official BDF member
Posts: 12,814
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Post by saabman on Mar 26, 2012 18:38:37 GMT -5
I have a ? for ya :Where did "Pee Wee " Kirkland play before he came to Norfolk State ?? I believe you already know. But it IS a little known fact that "Pee Wee" was right in our neck of the woods at little Kittrell College in Kittrell, North Kakie-Lakie before the "chief"..... Coach Earnie Fears "pulled" him saab (just like you use to pull dem gurls outta Vanstory Hall) . Fears was 29 when he took over as coach and stopped coaching seven years later when he became AD at Norfolk. His record during that seven year stretch? 150 wins and 31 loses. That speaks volumes by itself. Norfolk State College at that time was a school in Norfolk that had just a few buildings and was much smaller than it is now.... known as NSU. "Chief" Fears blew 'em up with the crew he brought in. Of course you know Bobby Dandridge played w/Kareem and the "Big O" with the Milwaukee Bucks. His career lasted for over 10 years. "Pee Wee" cuda called any shot he wanted to in the NBA. That was one baaaaad mama tama! right on my bro... ;D    |
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Post by AggieGroove on Mar 26, 2012 18:46:01 GMT -5
I started this thread some time ago and have heard all the arguments....
My pick remains with Bird! He is still the greatest player to ever wear an A&T uniform.
Ask our opponents who played against him .... my two homeboys (went to Central) from Goldsboro still talk about Bird today!
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Post by aggierattler on Mar 26, 2012 18:51:39 GMT -5
Maybe this should be a whole new thread, "The Greatest Basketball Game in A&T History," huh?
Anyway, I was talking to former A&T SID Joe Faust about this today, and this is what he says about that A&T-Norfolk State game in the CIAA Basketball Tournament:
"That is the game that made the CIAA. I missed it by a year ; I came to JCSU in 1968. That A&T team was heavy with legendary Philly players…Mack, Staggs, Campbell, and Bob Booker. These guys are still legendary in Philly ; unfortunately Staggs and Booker were one-and-done before it was trendy. Staggs played professionally for three years in the old ABA . There was no better jumper the Booker, he was 6-3 and could absolutely fly. Mack and Teddy Campbell had good four-year careers.
Norfolk State’s team was also incredible…Pee Wee Kirkland was the best ball handler I had ever seen ; at the time he was making lots of money selling drugs and it cost him his career. Dandridge went on to be a big-time pro and Bonaparte was an outstanding deep shooter (sad they did not have a three point line then).
The tragedy with this game, like Wilt’s 100 point game, there is no video and very few photos. A true tragedy."
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Post by aggierattler on Mar 26, 2012 19:03:02 GMT -5
This is from another one in my group who commented about this game:
"Pop Pitts may have been gone from Norfolk State by then. Hook Shot Grant, Dandridge and maybe Bonaparte all fouled out. Aggies blew several late leads compliments of Daryl Cherry who made several bad choices down the stretch. Smooth as silk Carl Hubbard was stellar in the A&T backcourt. Aggies were fresh off CIAA title from previous year when they defeated Earl Monroe & Winston-Salem State in semifinals and later Howard in championship. Norfolk State had entered tournament as one of top seeds previous year after winning tournament in 1965. NSU was upset by Howard in semifinals (may have been first round) in 1967. Coach Ernie Fears was so mad it was reported the team left Greensboro after the game. Fluke (Elmer Austin) was not on that team. Big G Gilmer, Elsroy (Sonny) Watts and Charles Greer and perhaps Stanley Turner were among G-boro players on the team. Yeah, Teddy Campbell, Soapy Adams, George Mack, Booker and Staggs for the Aggies!"
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Post by aggie2ru on Mar 26, 2012 21:04:10 GMT -5
I started this thread some time ago and have heard all the arguments.... My pick remains with Bird! He is still the greatest player to ever wear an A&T uniform. Ask our opponents who played against him .... my two homeboys (went to Central) from Goldsboro still talk about Bird today! I understand where your coming from.....I remember when Bird was a "potential fellowman, sir" You know where I'm coming from! Ain't nuthin wrong with what you feel....it's all in the eye of that person. I've seen a whoooooooole bunch of 'em. My man, Bird was a dagum good un but he would have had a harrrrrrrd time cracking a few teams starting five.....'59-'60 team and '67, '68, and '69 teams. He MAY have been first man off the bench with those aforementioned teams. |
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Post by aggie2ru on Mar 26, 2012 21:11:19 GMT -5
This is from another one in my group who commented about this game: "Pop Pitts may have been gone from Norfolk State by then. Hook Shot Grant, Dandridge and maybe Bonaparte all fouled out. Aggies blew several late leads compliments of Daryl Cherry who made several bad choices down the stretch. Smooth as silk Carl Hubbard was stellar in the A&T backcourt. Aggies were fresh off CIAA title from previous year when they defeated Earl Monroe & Winston-Salem State in semifinals and later Howard in championship. Norfolk State had entered tournament as one of top seeds previous year after winning tournament in 1965. NSU was upset by Howard in semifinals (may have been first round) in 1967. Coach Ernie Fears was so mad it was reported the team left Greensboro after the game. Fluke (Elmer Austin) was not on that team. Big G Gilmer, Elsroy (Sonny) Watts and Charles Greer and perhaps Stanley Turner were among G-boro players on the team. Yeah, Teddy Campbell, Soapy Adams, George Mack, Booker and Staggs for the Aggies!"You know what was amazing about the talent of a few of those guys??? Not gonna name names but a few got high before and after the game. Just think how good they really were! Your probably right about "Flute" Alston he came to A&T in '68. Stanley Turner, however, never played for Ayantee. "Sonny"...I'm not sure.....he was right also about Charles Greer from da 'Boro. That crew was the first class that Cal Irvin recruited playas from Greensboro. Before that his thought was to leave the home boys alone and not recruit them because they knew all the "hole in the walls" ;D in town to get missing in |
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Post by aggie2ru on Mar 26, 2012 21:14:40 GMT -5
Maybe this should be a whole new thread, "The Greatest Basketball Game in A&T History," huh? Anyway, I was talking to former A&T SID Joe Faust about this today, and this is what he says about that A&T-Norfolk State game in the CIAA Basketball Tournament: "That is the game that made the CIAA. I missed it by a year ; I came to JCSU in 1968. That A&T team was heavy with legendary Philly players…Mack, Staggs, Campbell, and Bob Booker. These guys are still legendary in Philly ; unfortunately Staggs and Booker were one-and-done before it was trendy. Staggs played professionally for three years in the old ABA . There was no better jumper the Booker, he was 6-3 and could absolutely fly. Mack and Teddy Campbell had good four-year careers.
Norfolk State’s team was also incredible…Pee Wee Kirkland was the best ball handler I had ever seen ; at the time he was making lots of money selling drugs and it cost him his career. Dandridge went on to be a big-time pro and Bonaparte was an outstanding deep shooter (sad they did not have a three point line then).
The tragedy with this game, like Wilt’s 100 point game, there is no video and very few photos. A true tragedy."For real man. No joke....I would pay good money just to see that game as it was played again! I've seen a lot of games in person and live and it is the best MBB college game ever played! |
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Post by AggieGroove on Mar 26, 2012 21:26:55 GMT -5
I started this thread some time ago and have heard all the arguments.... My pick remains with Bird! He is still the greatest player to ever wear an A&T uniform. Ask our opponents who played against him .... my two homeboys (went to Central) from Goldsboro still talk about Bird today! I understand where your coming from.....I remember when Bird was a "potential fellowman, sir" You know where I'm coming from! Bird and me on the same line, bruh? Where u from? |
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Post by aggie2ru on Mar 26, 2012 21:31:41 GMT -5
I understand where your coming from.....I remember when Bird was a "potential fellowman, sir" You know where I'm coming from! Bird and me on the same line, bruh? Where u from? I know a whole lotta grooves and I use to like me sum swings. Always much love and respect to any groove! |
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Post by aggieblackie on Mar 26, 2012 21:36:38 GMT -5
AggieGroove, look my man ... it is evident that you did not see the players in the CIAA in the 50's, 60's and early 70's. The CIAA had all of the talent in it because of segregation. The CIAA Tournament was the most scouted conference in America. The ACC and other conferences were
inferior to the CIAA. Those large white colleges would not play CIAA schools back in those days.
They knew what the outcome would be. I believe Duke played NCC a secret game back then
and got blown out and NCC had maybe the 3rd or 4th best team in the CIAA at that time. Imagine what A&T, Winston and Norfolk would have done to Duke.
When Bird was at A&T during your era he might have been the best. I can name two players
I consider better than Bird and they played in the 70's and that is June Harris and James Outlaw.
June according to Red Aurebach of the Celtics said June was the best defensive guard in America.
The teams that Bird played against were not as talented as the CIAA of the 60 - early 70's. As
I previously stated before ... Bird ball handling skills to me were not that good. He could shoot
very good but when he played in the big games (NIT) he was just ordinary.
You may be bias towards Bird because he is your "Brother" in Groove.
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Post by aggieblackie on Mar 26, 2012 21:53:15 GMT -5
Hey, we forgot Lonnie Klutz who was a Big Red Mean Machine. He played for the Chicago Bulls for a "minute". Al Carter was very good, James Blackman, Chucky Evans and Butch Walker were
decent.
Stanley Turner did play for A&T. His picture is in one of the year books. I think the 67/68 book.
He was from Dudley.
Aggie2tru is very correct. Some of the basketball players did get high before the games and
still would shoot the opponents lights out. I remember this very well. I mean "High".
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