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Post by kperk1959 on Mar 8, 2018 16:19:20 GMT -6
GREAT high school basketball talent in the Shoals in the 70s and 80s. 1976 3A-4A All area basketball team: Otis Boddie - Bradshaw 6-2 senior guard 26 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists. In state tournament averaged 31 points and 16 rebounds and won the championship in the state's largest classification, dominating the tournament as no one had before or since. Took UNA to THREE Final Fours and a National Championship. UNA's greatest player. Drafted by the LA Lakers with another guard, 6-9 Ervin "Magic Johnson. Tim McCormick - Central 6-2 junior guard 17 points, 51% from the field, 81.5 from the line, 6 assists, 32 points against Colbert County Missed 7 games with an ankle injury. Bested Otis Boddie and the Bruins 63-53, avenging an earlier 8 point loss in the dome (which would be their only regular season loss) in a home game moved to the Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum to accomodate the crowd. Interest around the state was high and the game lived up to the hype. Played between ropes strung up around the out of bounds lines to accomodate as many fans as possible, the noise was incredible as the Cats pulled away down the stretch for the win over the future 4A State Champs for a 2-1 season edge. Chris Bragwell - Russellville 6-10 215 pound senior center 29 points, 12 rebounds. Scored 57 points on 26 fieldgoals against Cullman. 59% from the field and 80% from the line. Played for CM Newton at Alabama. Not making the team but should have were future Alabama cornerback, Ricky Tucker and David "Dookey"(don't ask me) Baugh 6-4 220 pound bruiser, rebounder and shot blocker. He was key to Central's 27-1 regular season that ended when Colbert County (Central had already beaten them by 26 points) used a slow-down, stalling offense to slow down an offense that scored more than 70 points eleven times, more than 80 four times and more than 90 twice. A LOT of people lost their Tuscaloosa motel deposits. Central should have won the state a couple of times but this was the most disappointing. Shoals area coach of the year was an easy choice. The late Larry "Snuffy Smith was a star at UNA and will always hold the single game scoring record of 55 points. One of the best basketball coaches I've ever seen. I was all for him replacing Bill Jones but by then he was burning out. He won a record eight consecutive county championships and posted a 198-48 record at the school for a winning percentage of an astounding 81%! Rest in peace, Snuffy. Scroll to sports pages news.google.com/newspapers?nid=ie8Y0QrpMWAC&dat=19760319&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
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Post by kperk1959 on Mar 8, 2018 16:33:27 GMT -6
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Post by kperk1959 on Mar 8, 2018 16:39:15 GMT -6
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Post by kperk1959 on Mar 8, 2018 16:45:17 GMT -6
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Post by kperk1959 on Mar 8, 2018 16:58:19 GMT -6
I love this picture. This is how you get 5,000 people in a 3400 seat gym in the good ole days. I've seen that catwalk so full they had to make everyone evacuate it so the opponents could get to the radio booth. Then the fans would jam right in behind them. haha
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Post by kperk1959 on Mar 8, 2018 17:05:25 GMT -6
Man, could Otis turn the corner or what!
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Post by brandon on Mar 8, 2018 19:13:37 GMT -6
Thank God your back Perk...
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Post by tuna85 on Mar 9, 2018 9:55:48 GMT -6
Thank God your back Perk... KPerk has my vote for Resident Historian! Certainly enjoy reading about the foundations that have preceded where we are today.
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Post by brandon on Mar 9, 2018 11:07:00 GMT -6
Thank God your back Perk... KPerk has my vote for Resident Historian! Certainly enjoy reading about the foundations that have preceded where we are today. Just think of were we would be if we would have moved up in our hay day, before Troy and JSU.... I know, we can't dwell on the past. But I think UNA and Florence would have had more to offer than Troy and Jacksonville. Probably be in a better conference than the Scum Belt too, I mean SUN belt.
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Post by tuna85 on Mar 9, 2018 11:42:55 GMT -6
KPerk has my vote for Resident Historian! Certainly enjoy reading about the foundations that have preceded where we are today. Just think of were we would be if we would have moved up in our hay day, before Troy and JSU.... I know, we can't dwell on the past. But I think UNA and Florence would have had more to offer than Troy and Jacksonville. Probably be in a better conference than the Scum Belt too, I mean SUN belt. Absolutely should have made this move 30 years ago. But it is what it is. We still have more to offer...just have to make up for lost time. Roar Lions!!!
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Post by unafied on Mar 9, 2018 15:59:13 GMT -6
I have no idea, so if it’s a well known secret please feel free to correct me. But I always wondered if having that D2 championship game kept some of our people from wanting to move up. And I mean, I was always proud of what it meant for the Shoals, but it should have never stood in the way of what was best for UNA. Maybe it played no role whatsoever in our reluctance, but I have a hard time believing that’s completely true.
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Post by brandon on Mar 9, 2018 16:50:02 GMT -6
I have no idea, so if it’s a well known secret please feel free to correct me. But I always wondered if having that D2 championship game kept some of our people from wanting to move up. And I mean, I was always proud of what it meant for the Shoals, but it should have never stood in the way of what was best for UNA. Maybe it played no role whatsoever in our reluctance, but I have a hard time believing that’s completely true. UNA wasn't the actual "host" of the game, though it was because of the championship game in Texas that Florece "The Championship Committee" put a bid in. Mr. Lyles and others attended the game in Texas, against NDSU and said, aside from the game, it just felt like any other game. They new they could do it better. As far as the game being in Florence, I have found no rule saying that Florence would lose the game if UNA moved to D1. UNA really had nothing to do with the game. Honestly, we could be D1 and the game still be here. But, it honestly became a financial hindrance to the City. Most games didn't draw enough to cover the bid. So they would lose money. I don't know How many thousands of free tickets were given out a day or 2 before most games. And being in Florence was a double edged sword for the City. If UNA was in, the City didn't gain much at all for restaurants and hotels, most peaple lived within driving distance. I would like to see a FCS bowl game in Florence. Like I have said before, the Ivy League champ vs the highest ranked team that didn't make the playoffs or play in the Celebration Bowl.
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Post by tuna85 on Mar 9, 2018 17:56:00 GMT -6
I have no idea, so if it’s a well known secret please feel free to correct me. But I always wondered if having that D2 championship game kept some of our people from wanting to move up. And I mean, I was always proud of what it meant for the Shoals, but it should have never stood in the way of what was best for UNA. Maybe it played no role whatsoever in our reluctance, but I have a hard time believing that’s completely true. I always thought it had some effect. I also think for a pretty good while, especially after the threepeat, there was an appreciation or desire to be the big fish in a small pond. The championship game was a big feather in the hat for the Florence and the Shoals area. Maybe, at the time, a much needed feather. I remember, in the mid '80's, the area had lost some major employers...one being the Ford Automotive Aluminum plant. That's been awhile and the economic recovery is, I think, ongoing. UNA could be the engine which will further spur the local economy if nurtured correctly.
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Post by unafied on Mar 9, 2018 18:30:17 GMT -6
I have no idea, so if it’s a well known secret please feel free to correct me. But I always wondered if having that D2 championship game kept some of our people from wanting to move up. And I mean, I was always proud of what it meant for the Shoals, but it should have never stood in the way of what was best for UNA. Maybe it played no role whatsoever in our reluctance, but I have a hard time believing that’s completely true. I always thought it had some effect. I also think for a pretty good while, especially after the threepeat, there was an appreciation or desire to be the big fish in a small pond. The championship game was a big feather in the hat for the Florence and the Shoals area. Maybe, at the time, a much needed feather. I remember, in the mid '80's, the area had lost some major employers...one being the Ford Automotive Aluminum plant. That's been awhile and the economic recovery is, I think, ongoing. UNA could be the engine which will further spur the local economy if nurtured correctly. I agree about how it boosted the image of the Shoals. I remember as a kid back in the late 80s my dad would always talk it up to me, and we went to several even before 1993. I think the area was very proud to have it. And Brandon, while I agree that we weren’t necessarily the “host” for the game, I do think there were some who probably felt, whether it was true or not, that the game and UNA went hand-in-hand. It might not have been as loud of an outcry 20 years ago as it would be now, but I’m sure a lot of D2 schools would have pitched a fit if UNA moved up and the game stayed here. I guess it’s all a moot point with the game now being in Kansas City, but for years I got the impression that it had to be in a D2 town (which I agree with, it should be). Plus I’m sure some here felt we “owed” it to the NCAA not to ruin a good thing. Again, not saying any of this was true or even logical... but it’s just the impression I’ve always gotten.
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Post by brandon on Mar 9, 2018 21:29:59 GMT -6
I always thought it had some effect. I also think for a pretty good while, especially after the threepeat, there was an appreciation or desire to be the big fish in a small pond. The championship game was a big feather in the hat for the Florence and the Shoals area. Maybe, at the time, a much needed feather. I remember, in the mid '80's, the area had lost some major employers...one being the Ford Automotive Aluminum plant. That's been awhile and the economic recovery is, I think, ongoing. UNA could be the engine which will further spur the local economy if nurtured correctly. I agree about how it boosted the image of the Shoals. I remember as a kid back in the late 80s my dad would always talk it up to me, and we went to several even before 1993. I think the area was very proud to have it. And Brandon, while I agree that we weren’t necessarily the “host” for the game, I do think there were some who probably felt, whether it was true or not, that the game and UNA went hand-in-hand. It might not have been as loud of an outcry 20 years ago as it would be now, but I’m sure a lot of D2 schools would have pitched a fit if UNA moved up and the game stayed here. I guess it’s all a moot point with the game now being in Kansas City, but for years I got the impression that it had to be in a D2 town (which I agree with, it should be). Plus I’m sure some here felt we “owed” it to the NCAA not to ruin a good thing. Again, not saying any of this was true or even logical... but it’s just the impression I’ve always gotten. Oh yeah, I agree they went hand and hand. But it was not a rule. Personally, I felt like it was an unfair advantage for UNA (or any team) to have the Championship game played at their home. Just like, though I understand the reasons, but at least the A-Sun basketball tournament championship should be a neutral sight game. They could have all other rounds at campus sights and have the finals in Macon, the A-Sun headquarters city.
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