Before I handicapp this game I have to tell you a little about Abe Lemmons..
I was a sophomore at North Texas State Unv in 1970. Was cut the year before from the freshmen team because back then sophs couldn't play. North Texas was a power house in the Missouri Valley coming of an 18 -8 season knocking off Drake who lost to UCLA in the final 4 and ranked Louisville I was no near a D-1 player of that caliber. I could shoot and in an open court could pass on any fastbreak . No one had my court awareness . But I wasn't the fastest or athletic enough and playing against all highly recruited HS stars from all over the US. I deservedly knew I wouldn't make the team . But Coach White the freshmen coach and varsity assistant askedmme to be team manager. No way.. That was to below me .. but he offered me a job in the athletic and intramural department.
One saturday morning I was told to work the gym and conference room .North Texas St was having a big HS basketball clinic with over 200 HS coaches attending. I would sign people in and take care of refreshments.
I got to see and hear Henry Iba who just lost the gold medal in the Olympics in Munich and many other famous coaches.. Many from the Southwest conference . But then they introduced Abe Lemons from Pan American Univ. Although not an x's and O's coach he told stories and I think I said I wanted to be like him and coach. I never laughed so hard at his stories and one liners. His one liners have become legendary and you can even google them now . Two of his quotes I made into signs and had them framed in my office when I coached HS basketball My all time favorite was " there are only 2 plays in basketball, Romeo and Juliet and take it to the hoop. " It was the only one I remember him saying that day. But that morning after seeing him and a few other D-1 coaches made me think someday I want to coach basketball.. I was already a double major in PE and History and a minor in elementary education.
So tonight I have a season ticket to Texas home games this year. Already have one for Tex St games. But tonights No Colorado- Texas game is called the Abe Lemmons Classic " at the Erwin Center in Austin. I think about Abe and how he influenced me some how to become a HS coach for over 30 years ...
Texas -21 over No Col ***
Will come back and explain why .
" finish last in your conference your called an idiot,finish last in medical school your called a doctor. "
" coaches who shoot par in the summer are the guys I want on my schedule "
About Track coaches " tell them to stay left and then get back as fast as you can "
When his center got 1 rebound in the 1st half of a game " " thats one more rebound then a dead man"
I was a sophomore at North Texas State Unv in 1970. Was cut the year before from the freshmen team because back then sophs couldn't play. North Texas was a power house in the Missouri Valley coming of an 18 -8 season knocking off Drake who lost to UCLA in the final 4 and ranked Louisville I was no near a D-1 player of that caliber. I could shoot and in an open court could pass on any fastbreak . No one had my court awareness . But I wasn't the fastest or athletic enough and playing against all highly recruited HS stars from all over the US. I deservedly knew I wouldn't make the team . But Coach White the freshmen coach and varsity assistant askedmme to be team manager. No way.. That was to below me .. but he offered me a job in the athletic and intramural department.
One saturday morning I was told to work the gym and conference room .North Texas St was having a big HS basketball clinic with over 200 HS coaches attending. I would sign people in and take care of refreshments.
I got to see and hear Henry Iba who just lost the gold medal in the Olympics in Munich and many other famous coaches.. Many from the Southwest conference . But then they introduced Abe Lemons from Pan American Univ. Although not an x's and O's coach he told stories and I think I said I wanted to be like him and coach. I never laughed so hard at his stories and one liners. His one liners have become legendary and you can even google them now . Two of his quotes I made into signs and had them framed in my office when I coached HS basketball My all time favorite was " there are only 2 plays in basketball, Romeo and Juliet and take it to the hoop. " It was the only one I remember him saying that day. But that morning after seeing him and a few other D-1 coaches made me think someday I want to coach basketball.. I was already a double major in PE and History and a minor in elementary education.
So tonight I have a season ticket to Texas home games this year. Already have one for Tex St games. But tonights No Colorado- Texas game is called the Abe Lemmons Classic " at the Erwin Center in Austin. I think about Abe and how he influenced me some how to become a HS coach for over 30 years ...
Texas -21 over No Col ***
Will come back and explain why .
" finish last in your conference your called an idiot,finish last in medical school your called a doctor. "
" coaches who shoot par in the summer are the guys I want on my schedule "
About Track coaches " tell them to stay left and then get back as fast as you can "
When his center got 1 rebound in the 1st half of a game " " thats one more rebound then a dead man"
