Sad news, if true.
From 12:16pm today...
Ryan Autullo @AutulloBlade Wrote:Just received word that legendary UT men's coach Bob Nicholls died last night.
Sad News. One of the true greats.
Sad day for Rocket fans. He'll always be one of the great ones in my memory.
Nichols coached some great teams (with emphasis on the word "team"). He actually got UT into the NCAAs which has not been done since he left. RIP
I'LL NEVER FORGET THE INITIAL BASKETBALL GAME AT CENTENNIAL HALL/SAVAGE ARENA WHERE THE ROCKETS BEAT THE PREVIOUS NATIONAL CHAMPION, INDIANA BASKETBALL TEAM.
THE MEMORY IS PARTLY THE GAME , BUT MOSTLY THE RESPECT BOBBY KNIGHT POURED ON OUR COACH NICHOLS, AFTER THE GAME WITH THE MEDIA.
THAT, THEN, SPOKE VOLUMES ABOUT ABOUT WHAT COACH NICHOLS MEANT TO UT BASKETBALL.
HE LED A GREAT ERA OF BASKETBALL AT OUR SCHOOL.
RIP to one of the greatest...
As good of a person as he was a coach...
R.I.P.
http://www.utrockets.com/ViewArticle.dbm...=207016060
From the article, visitation hours for Coach Nichols will be held on Thursday, April 4 at Walker Funeral Home from 2-8 p.m. The funeral service will take place at Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, 2240 Castlewood Drive in Toledo on Friday, April 5 at 11:00 a.m.
I came to Rocket Athletics after the Coach Nichol's era, but I'm kinda suprised there aren't more postings or thoughts on boards. Just saying? Figured this string would be 30-40 posts long with memories and stories.
Here's another quick story about Bob Nichols:
As I mentioned on another thread about BN being pretty approachable, well, on one evening back in late 1976 I found him to be a bit on the testy side... It was maybe a week before the inaugural game at Centennial Hall and the arena was getting some last minute prep work done... Anyway, I was able to sneak in hoping to see the finished product because I was leaving for LA soon... I was admiring it from one of the corners when Bob Nichols popped out from out of nowhere and pretty much sounded me on why I was there, and what I was doing... After I explained that I was going to be leaving soon and unable to see the IU game, he calmed down and continued his walk on the track under the concourses... And ladies & gentlemen, the rest is history...
I ran into Coach Nichols several times over the last couple months...
Saw Coach Nichols at a CYO basketball game supporting one of his former players who is now coaching at Christ the King. Very approachable and very pleasant.
You could also find Coach Nichols at Rocket Basketball practice--just observing and nothing more. Coach K would respectfully approach and speak with Coach Nichols as-if he were a rookie coach looking for a bit of advice (I know completely out of character and rare for Coach K).
Never did I think was he frail enough to pass anytime soon.
Eternal rest, grant unto him O Lord
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
Very humble and shy person who at times struggled with the notoriaty he had attained. Probably not a lot of people who knew him are ready to think too much beyond his sudden passing. We just know that for his days at UT he dominated the conference like we are hoping will happen again with MBB and FB. His tenure was the type that could have launched us into serious discussion of changing conferences with good reason to do so.
RIP Coach Nichols.
(04-02-2013 08:29 PM)rocket 51 Wrote: [ -> ]Very humble and shy person who at times struggled with the notoriaty he had attained. Probably not a lot of people who knew him are ready to think too much beyond his sudden passing. We just know that for his days at UT he dominated the conference like we are hoping will happen again with MBB and FB. His tenure was the type that could have launched us into serious discussion of changing conferences with good reason to do so.
RIP Coach Nichols.
He had some problems as I understand it but the notoriety was largely undeserved in my opinion. You don't hang around as long as he unless the positives far outweigh the negatives.
I never had the chance to talk to Bob Nichols, only to admire his work and his work ethic. And admire I did. I always felt every Nichols-coached team did things "the right way", all the while winning much more than losing. I was furious when he was fired, and absolutely loved it when they named the court after him. Well deserved, and I'm glad he was alive to see it.