My first exposure to Tiger Basketball came as a very young child one Saturday in March of 1971. I was playing with my Hot Wheels and I heard my mother shrieking from the den, and my father was yelling "Git him, Freddie!"



It was better than wrestling.

http://cardsandcats.com/2011/12/14/memph...ngchari-2/

I fell asleep many winter nights in the 70's listening to Jack Eaton. When Bartow left for Illinois, we were thrilled when Wayne Yates was hired to be the new head coach. After all, it was Yates who had scouted, recruited and signed Finch, Robinson, Kenon, Buford, Westfall, Washington, & Reed. Yates had been a dominating big man for the Tigers for a year or two in the early 60's, and had been retained as an assistant by Bartow after Moe Iba's termination.

And in 1974, there was a big man at Melrose who many touted as the next Moses Malone. His name was John Gunn. If the ABA had not been in its final year and on life support, it was at least possible that "Big John" would have the option to skip college altogether.

Yates' first order of business was to not only hire Verties Sails as an assistant coach, but he also secured the future signings of John Gunn, Alvin Wright, and James Bradley--the nucleus of the best high school team in Tennessee history. They had just gone 35-0, winning the state championship.

Things were looking up.

Year one, the Tigers went 20-7, just missing out on an NCAA bid. The field was only 24 teams, and a close loss to Louisville was the only thing that kept us out.

Year two, the Tigers finished 21-9, defeated Louisville at Freedom Hall, and landed an NCAA bid in a field of 32 teams.

In December of his third season, tragedy struck. John Gunn died of a rare illness, and things were never the same again. The Tigers were again a top-30 team, and were projected to make the NCAA field for a second consecutive year. They finished 20-9, but didn't make it.

Even in his FIRST SEASON, fans were screaming for Wayne Yates' dismissal as head coach. His second season began with an 0-4 record, but finished with wins over ranked teams and a 13-game winning streak, and an NCAA bid. Fans still called for Yates' head to roll.

When the star big man unexpectedly died, fans showed little sympathy. We had two newspapers and one sports talk show that continually criticized the Tigers and their coach. One reporter, in particular seemed to have a personal vendetta. He's still around. Fans quit going to games, despite the fact that even in Yates' final and worst season they soundly beat a ranked Louisville team.

The wheels came off and Yates was fired in 1979. He recruited two very good players before he left: Hank McDowell (a skinny kid who nobody wanted, but went on to an 11-year NBA career) and Otis Jackson, who was the glue of Dana Kirk's 1981-82 sweet 16 team.

I stayed loyal to the very end, but learned a bitter lesson about Tiger Basketball. It's not about wins and losses, it's about politics. Bartow & Calipari knew how to play the game. Yates and Kirk both alienated the one man who could have saved them.

Which brings us to Josh Pastner. Nice kid. He says all the right things, hugs all the right people, high fives the kids. Great role model. In all honesty, in six years has he improved in his job? Who are his mentors? Who are his friends in the coaching fraternity? Has he gone to any coaching clinics? Why did Tarik Black leave? Why did Antonio Barton leave? Why did they do better away from Memphis?

In 44 seasons of Tiger Basketball, I have endured many ups and downs, but I've always been loyal to the program. I didn't like Tic Price, but I went to every game and cheered him on. I can't do that anymore. I have reached my limit.

I gave Josh two years to show me his character. He is no different today than he was six years ago. Yeah, he's won a lot of games, but who has he really beaten? An Oklahoma State team decimated by stomach flu? A depleted Louisville team sorting out a mid-season slump? Who else has he beaten that really matters?

What I see is a kid who has gotten drunk on his own kool-aid. He has so many adoring fans telling him how wonderful he is, he's no different than Paris London, Deuce Ford, or Joe Jackson. The only difference is that Josh's adoring fans have very deep pockets.

There's a new mafia in Memphis. The old one was responsible for keeping Elvis high. This one has been trying to take over the basketball program at the University of Memphis for over 40 years. Thanks to R.C. Johnson and a weak, disinterested university president, they were finally able to succeed.

At election time, they say America votes with its wallet. We should vote with our butts by not putting them in FedEx Forum seats.

You sure Finch and Robinson was signed by Yates? I thought they were signed by Iba's staff.

(12-14-2014 11:04 AM)DogFather Wrote:  My first exposure to Tiger Basketball came as a very young child one Saturday in March of 1971. I was playing with my Hot Wheels and I heard my mother shrieking from the den, and my father was yelling "Git him, Freddie!"



It was better than wrestling.

http://cardsandcats.com/2011/12/14/memph...ngchari-2/

I fell asleep many winter nights in the 70's listening to Jack Eaton. When Bartow left for Illinois, we were thrilled when Wayne Yates was hired to be the new head coach. After all, it was Yates who had scouted, recruited and signed Finch, Robinson, Kenon, Buford, Westfall, Washington, & Reed. Yates had been a dominating big man for the Tigers for a year or two in the early 60's, and had been retained as an assistant by Bartow after Moe Iba's termination.

And in 1974, there was a big man at Melrose who many touted as the next Moses Malone. His name was John Gunn. If the ABA had not been in its final year and on life support, it was at least possible that "Big John" would have the option to skip college altogether.

Yates' first order of business was to not only hire Verties Sails as an assistant coach, but he also secured the future signings of John Gunn, Alvin Wright, and James Bradley--the nucleus of the best high school team in Tennessee history. They had just gone 35-0, winning the state championship.

Things were looking up.

Year one, the Tigers went 20-7, just missing out on an NCAA bid. The field was only 24 teams, and a close loss to Louisville was the only thing that kept us out.

Year two, the Tigers finished 21-9, defeated Louisville at Freedom Hall, and landed an NCAA bid in a field of 32 teams.

In December of his third season, tragedy struck. John Gunn died of a rare illness, and things were never the same again. The Tigers were again a top-30 team, and were projected to make the NCAA field for a second consecutive year. They finished 20-9, but didn't make it.

Even in his FIRST SEASON, fans were screaming for Wayne Yates' dismissal as head coach. His second season began with an 0-4 record, but finished with wins over ranked teams and a 13-game winning streak, and an NCAA bid. Fans still called for Yates' head to roll.

When the star big man unexpectedly died, fans showed little sympathy. We had two newspapers and one sports talk show that continually criticized the Tigers and their coach. One reporter, in particular seemed to have a personal vendetta. He's still around. Fans quit going to games, despite the fact that even in Yates' final and worst season they soundly beat a ranked Louisville team.

The wheels came off and Yates was fired in 1979. He recruited two very good players before he left: Hank McDowell (a skinny kid who nobody wanted, but went on to an 11-year NBA career) and Otis Jackson, who was the glue of Dana Kirk's 1981-82 sweet 16 team.

I stayed loyal to the very end, but learned a bitter lesson about Tiger Basketball. It's not about wins and losses, it's about politics. Bartow & Calipari knew how to play the game. Yates and Kirk both alienated the one man who could have saved them.

Which brings us to Josh Pastner. Nice kid. He says all the right things, hugs all the right people, high fives the kids. Great role model. In all honesty, in six years has he improved in his job? Who are his mentors? Who are his friends in the coaching fraternity? Has he gone to any coaching clinics? Why did Tarik Black leave? Why did Antonio Barton leave? Why did they do better away from Memphis?

In 44 seasons of Tiger Basketball, I have endured many ups and downs, but I've always been loyal to the program. I didn't like Tic Price, but I went to every game and cheered him on. I can't do that anymore. I have reached my limit.

I gave Josh two years to show me his character. He is no different today than he was six years ago. Yeah, he's won a lot of games, but who has he really beaten? An Oklahoma State team decimated by stomach flu? A depleted Louisville team sorting out a mid-season slump? Who else has he beaten that really matters?

What I see is a kid who has gotten drunk on his own kool-aid. He has so many adoring fans telling him how wonderful he is, he's no different than Paris London, Deuce Ford, or Joe Jackson. The only difference is that Josh's adoring fans have very deep pockets.

There's a new mafia in Memphis. The old one was responsible for keeping Elvis high. This one has been trying to take over the basketball program at the University of Memphis for over 40 years. Thanks to R.C. Johnson and a weak, disinterested university president, they were finally able to succeed.

At election time, they say America votes with its wallet. We should vote with our butts by not putting them in FedEx Forum seats.

WOW....A couple more paragraphs and this could've been on sale at the book store $19.99......That was gr8 readn

Just fill in Andre Turner William Bedford Baskerville Holmes Dwight Moody Vincent Askew John Wilfong Doom Haynes Sylvester Gray and you have a novel..Put Penny in there, and close with the Calipari era!!!! Gangsterific... Mobster U

Iba signed Finch and Robinson. Yates got Kenon, Westphall, Bufurd and Dexter Reed

(12-14-2014 11:45 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  Iba signed Finch and Robinson. Yates got Kenon, Westphall, Bufurd and Dexter Reed

Coach Yates wasn't successful but he was a nice fellow and loved the university. He responded to my letters and actually followed my suggestion to change the uniforms from blue & red to to blue & gray.

(12-14-2014 11:31 AM)HobosHeroesStCornerClowns Wrote:  You sure Finch and Robinson was signed by Yates? I thought they were signed by Iba's staff.

Yes, 100% positive. Yates was a part-timer on Iba's staff. Bartow kept him for recruiting and continuity. Yates also was credited with developing the Big Cat into a rebounding machine. Robinson broke Yates' single game rebounding record of 26 when he grabbed 28.

My apologies for ranting so long this morning, but it really pisses me off to hear people like Woloshin and others who weren't even here talk about how bad things were during the Yates/Kirk years.

Yates beat ranked opponents in every season he coached. Yates had a top-30 team in each of his first three years, fourth year was top 40, good enough to get a NCAA bid today. Still, I understood and accepted it when he was forced to resign.

Dont tell me how good things are today and how bad they used to be. I was there, I've tolerated and supported bad Memphis football and basketball.

This is beyond bad. It's fraud.

(12-14-2014 11:04 AM)DogFather Wrote:  My first exposure to Tiger Basketball came as a very young child one Saturday in March of 1971. I was playing with my Hot Wheels and I heard my mother shrieking from the den, and my father was yelling "Git him, Freddie!"



It was better than wrestling.

http://cardsandcats.com/2011/12/14/memph...ngchari-2/

I fell asleep many winter nights in the 70's listening to Jack Eaton. When Bartow left for Illinois, we were thrilled when Wayne Yates was hired to be the new head coach. After all, it was Yates who had scouted, recruited and signed Finch, Robinson, Kenon, Buford, Westfall, Washington, & Reed. Yates had been a dominating big man for the Tigers for a year or two in the early 60's, and had been retained as an assistant by Bartow after Moe Iba's termination.

And in 1974, there was a big man at Melrose who many touted as the next Moses Malone. His name was John Gunn. If the ABA had not been in its final year and on life support, it was at least possible that "Big John" would have the option to skip college altogether.

Yates' first order of business was to not only hire Verties Sails as an assistant coach, but he also secured the future signings of John Gunn, Alvin Wright, and James Bradley--the nucleus of the best high school team in Tennessee history. They had just gone 35-0, winning the state championship.

Things were looking up.

Year one, the Tigers went 20-7, just missing out on an NCAA bid. The field was only 24 teams, and a close loss to Louisville was the only thing that kept us out.

Year two, the Tigers finished 21-9, defeated Louisville at Freedom Hall, and landed an NCAA bid in a field of 32 teams.

In December of his third season, tragedy struck. John Gunn died of a rare illness, and things were never the same again. The Tigers were again a top-30 team, and were projected to make the NCAA field for a second consecutive year. They finished 20-9, but didn't make it.

Even in his FIRST SEASON, fans were screaming for Wayne Yates' dismissal as head coach. His second season began with an 0-4 record, but finished with wins over ranked teams and a 13-game winning streak, and an NCAA bid. Fans still called for Yates' head to roll.

When the star big man unexpectedly died, fans showed little sympathy. We had two newspapers and one sports talk show that continually criticized the Tigers and their coach. One reporter, in particular seemed to have a personal vendetta. He's still around. Fans quit going to games, despite the fact that even in Yates' final and worst season they soundly beat a ranked Louisville team.

The wheels came off and Yates was fired in 1979. He recruited two very good players before he left: Hank McDowell (a skinny kid who nobody wanted, but went on to an 11-year NBA career) and Otis Jackson, who was the glue of Dana Kirk's 1981-82 sweet 16 team.

I stayed loyal to the very end, but learned a bitter lesson about Tiger Basketball. It's not about wins and losses, it's about politics. Bartow & Calipari knew how to play the game. Yates and Kirk both alienated the one man who could have saved them.

Which brings us to Josh Pastner. Nice kid. He says all the right things, hugs all the right people, high fives the kids. Great role model. In all honesty, in six years has he improved in his job? Who are his mentors? Who are his friends in the coaching fraternity? Has he gone to any coaching clinics? Why did Tarik Black leave? Why did Antonio Barton leave? Why did they do better away from Memphis?

In 44 seasons of Tiger Basketball, I have endured many ups and downs, but I've always been loyal to the program. I didn't like Tic Price, but I went to every game and cheered him on. I can't do that anymore. I have reached my limit.

I gave Josh two years to show me his character. He is no different today than he was six years ago. Yeah, he's won a lot of games, but who has he really beaten? An Oklahoma State team decimated by stomach flu? A depleted Louisville team sorting out a mid-season slump? Who else has he beaten that really matters?

What I see is a kid who has gotten drunk on his own kool-aid. He has so many adoring fans telling him how wonderful he is, he's no different than Paris London, Deuce Ford, or Joe Jackson. The only difference is that Josh's adoring fans have very deep pockets.

There's a new mafia in Memphis. The old one was responsible for keeping Elvis high. This one has been trying to take over the basketball program at the University of Memphis for over 40 years. Thanks to R.C. Johnson and a weak, disinterested university president, they were finally able to succeed.

At election time, they say America votes with its wallet. We should vote with our butts by not putting them in FedEx Forum seats.

WHO are the two that left ? WHO and WHO ?

You're talking about some real history there.

I would suggest we all hold our horses and continue to go to games and support the present Tigers and it's staff... until the end of the season .

Not going to games would be counterproductive. Besides, you might miss some good games.

Just my VHO.

(12-14-2014 07:08 PM)DogFather Wrote:  

(12-14-2014 11:31 AM)HobosHeroesStCornerClowns Wrote:  You sure Finch and Robinson was signed by Yates? I thought they were signed by Iba's staff.

Yes, 100% positive. Yates was a part-timer on Iba's staff. Bartow kept him for recruiting and continuity. Yates also was credited with developing the Big Cat into a rebounding machine. Robinson broke Yates' single game rebounding record of 26 when he grabbed 28.

You are right. I forgot about Yates being hired in 1969 by Iba and retained by Bartow. You have great memory.

(12-14-2014 07:22 PM)DogFather Wrote:  My apologies for ranting so long this morning, but it really pisses me off to hear people like Woloshin and others who weren't even here talk about how bad things were during the Yates/Kirk years.

Yates beat ranked opponents in every season he coached. Yates had a top-30 team in each of his first three years, fourth year was top 40, good enough to get a NCAA bid today. Still, I understood and accepted it when he was forced to resign.

Dont tell me how good things are today and how bad they used to be. I was there, I've tolerated and supported bad Memphis football and basketball.

This is beyond bad. It's fraud.

How did you feel between 1997-2002, or between 1997-2005 for that matter?

Great account of some Tiger Bball history!

I do not agree with some of your logic and views, but that was a great post.

(12-14-2014 07:22 PM)DogFather Wrote:  My apologies for ranting so long this morning, but it really pisses me off to hear people like Woloshin and others who weren't even here talk about how bad things were during the Yates/Kirk years.

Yates beat ranked opponents in every season he coached. Yates had a top-30 team in each of his first three years, fourth year was top 40, good enough to get a NCAA bid today. Still, I understood and accepted it when he was forced to resign.

Dont tell me how good things are today and how bad they used to be. I was there, I've tolerated and supported bad Memphis football and basketball.

This is beyond bad. It's fraud.

I will say this about Wayne, he probably gets in the NCAA every year but one if the tourney was 64 teams. Winning 20 games meant something back then. He just couldn't control the nutcases.

(12-15-2014 05:17 AM)Stammers Wrote:  

(12-14-2014 07:22 PM)DogFather Wrote:  My apologies for ranting so long this morning, but it really pisses me off to hear people like Woloshin and others who weren't even here talk about how bad things were during the Yates/Kirk years.

Yates beat ranked opponents in every season he coached. Yates had a top-30 team in each of his first three years, fourth year was top 40, good enough to get a NCAA bid today. Still, I understood and accepted it when he was forced to resign.

Dont tell me how good things are today and how bad they used to be. I was there, I've tolerated and supported bad Memphis football and basketball.

This is beyond bad. It's fraud.

How did you feel between 1997-2002, or between 1997-2005 for that matter?

1997-2000. We could see the light at the end of the tunnel after that. I see you and your buddies just can't get over the year when Banks went AWOL

I hope the Tigers win tonight!

(12-15-2014 08:44 AM)Willie Becton Wrote:  I hope the Tigers win tonight!

It's sad that you have to HOPE for a win over UNC Central

(12-15-2014 08:44 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  

(12-15-2014 05:17 AM)Stammers Wrote:  

(12-14-2014 07:22 PM)DogFather Wrote:  My apologies for ranting so long this morning, but it really pisses me off to hear people like Woloshin and others who weren't even here talk about how bad things were during the Yates/Kirk years.

Yates beat ranked opponents in every season he coached. Yates had a top-30 team in each of his first three years, fourth year was top 40, good enough to get a NCAA bid today. Still, I understood and accepted it when he was forced to resign.

Dont tell me how good things are today and how bad they used to be. I was there, I've tolerated and supported bad Memphis football and basketball.

This is beyond bad. It's fraud.

How did you feel between 1997-2002, or between 1997-2005 for that matter?

1997-2000. We could see the light at the end of the tunnel after that. I see you and your buddies just can't get over the year when Banks went AWOL

You saw the light at the end of the tunnel at the end of the 2005 season, before the Laurinberg class was signed? We had 9 players from that season and the season before leave the team of their own volition or through some sort of suspension.

We had a dozen losses that could be termed embarrassing, and we were the most dysfunctional team in the country. Incredible how much supposed patience you had back then. You are for sure either misremembering or not telling the truth.

(12-15-2014 08:45 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  

(12-15-2014 08:44 AM)Willie Becton Wrote:  I hope the Tigers win tonight!

It's sad that you have to HOPE for a win over UNC Central

It's sad that you hope for a loss.

(12-15-2014 09:25 AM)Stammers Wrote:  

(12-15-2014 08:45 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  

(12-15-2014 08:44 AM)Willie Becton Wrote:  I hope the Tigers win tonight!

It's sad that you have to HOPE for a win over UNC Central

It's sad that you hope for a loss.

Link?

(12-15-2014 09:29 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  

(12-15-2014 09:25 AM)Stammers Wrote:  

(12-15-2014 08:45 AM)Brother Bluto Wrote:  

(12-15-2014 08:44 AM)Willie Becton Wrote:  I hope the Tigers win tonight!

It's sad that you have to HOPE for a win over UNC Central

It's sad that you hope for a loss.

Link?

Run rabbit run.