I have been enjoying Deuce's monster dunks this year. Seems to be a crowd favorite.

I came across this You tube video of the greatest ETSU dunker of all time , Calvin Talford.

I hope you got to see him in the flesh but if not enjoy the video.

If you did, I hope it brings back some great memories.

Dunks

My absolute favorite non-Moc. What an athlete.

He was like Steph Curry...as an opposing fan, no matter how much you wanted to see Davidson or ETSU lose, there is no way you could dislike watching either one of those guys play the game.

(and that goes for Mister Jennings too).

You know what was even better than the dunks on that video? Seeing Pepper. A real mascot with some life.

Bring back Pepper.

Wasn't Talford all-state in four sports in high school?

Yes, probably the best athelete I,ve ever seen, period. He excelled in all sports. I think he was all state in football and baseball.
He was a class act, the likes we will never see again.

(01-14-2016 09:29 AM)prosec34 Wrote:  You know what was even better than the dunks on that video? Seeing Pepper. A real mascot with some life.

Bring back Pepper.

The new Bucky is trying. Well it depends on who is in the costume, but at least one of them has a bit more spirit and gets out on the floor with the dance team and cheerleaders. He's also starting to interact with the fans more. I'd still love to see more, but we at least have some improvement in that area this year.

He was also a state record holder (and I believe still is) in the high jump in high school. What an incredible athlete.

Great video! My friends and I always marveled at Talford's amazing, and seemingly effortless, athletic skill. He was almost nonchalant when he pulled off the bounce-it-between-the-legs, off-the-backboard, turn-run-grab-it-and-slam-it dunk that helped him win the national collegiate dunk contest.

The actual dunk was the easy part. You could give me a 100 attempts and I am not sure I could coax a single proper bounce off the backboard -- much less do it on the first try and in front of a national television audience.

And chattanoogamocs is right, even opposing fans could not dislike watching him play. He was always smiling and friendly, and his love for the game was readily apparent. That attitude, combined with his unparalleled skills, made every Buc game, home or away, a can't-miss event.

It's been 25 years, but he still looks like he could step on the court and play today. Those of us who saw him and those teams in their heyday count ourselves very fortunate.

I'm not 100% sure it was Talford, but there was a middle-aged gentleman who looked just like him that used to play pickup at the CPA a few years back. He didn't flash dunks, though he did put a simple one down every now and then. This gentleman could still move, pass, and shoot smooth at his age, which appeared just right to be Talford. I'd like to think I was privileged to have been playing ball with him, purely by luck. Many Buc greats have returned to visit the humble hills of East Tennessee. I will probably never know.

(01-14-2016 05:42 PM)shampoo Wrote:  I'm not 100% sure it was Talford, but there was a middle-aged gentleman who looked just like him that used to play pickup at the CPA a few years back. He didn't flash dunks, though he did put a simple one down every now and then. This gentleman could still move, pass, and shoot smooth at his age, which appeared just right to be Talford. I'd like to think I was privileged to have been playing ball with him, purely by luck. Many Buc greats have returned to visit the humble hills of East Tennessee. I will probably never know.

I talked to Talford a couple of years ago, we were both heading to the game, he looks the same as he did in College and his voice is very distinctive, as for coming back to visit I am pretty sure he is still local, he worked security at the Dome from time to time.

Yeah, he's here, and I think still playing, although not as much as he used to.
I know he was playing within the last few months. Always a great dude; still is.

It's been a few years since I graduated, but Calvin could still be found on the ETSU campus playing hoops at the CPA as of 2009. He doesn't get above the rim like he use to but he still has game. He'd wear guys on the team out in the off-season at the CPA.

It was must see TV.

(01-15-2016 11:32 AM)BucNut22 Wrote:  It's been a few years since I graduated, but Calvin could still be found on the ETSU campus playing hoops at the CPA as of 2009. He doesn't get above the rim like he use to but he still has game. He'd wear guys on the team out in the off-season at the CPA.

It was must see TV.

Ok, I've attended ETSU since undergrad in 2008, currently entering last semester of MBA program. I am certain I got to run a game or two on the court with Talford. What an honor!