2024 Reunion/Class of 1964

[fjs64]

I got back home from SBU last night, and thought I would post some of my experiences. This was my 60th reunion, my classmates have gotten old, although a few were Dorian Gray like, most are showing the effects of age, canes and walkers allowed some to tour the campus.

As usual the campus was beautiful, the activities, the meals were excellent. I will highlight two presentations, one the introduction of our new AD, and the other where the tandem of Mark Schmidt and Jim Satalin talked about about the new world of NIL and the transfer portal . They were informative with humor.

I will make multiple posts in this thread, and welcome others to add their input.

Over the years I have accumulated much Bona memorabilia, brochures, annual basketball yearbooks, basketball material from end of year banquets, team photos, and more basketball memories. As I age these documents will get lost, destroyed, so I gathered them and now they are in the st bonaventure archives, along other stuff I had.

64 years ago as an newcoming frosh, we faced the rituals of integrating into Bona, it was done thru what we called Rules, something like fraternity hazing.
My dink and tie, my signs, long protected, and cherished, only to see the light of day at reunions, now are part of the Archives, along with my Bona jackets bought in 1960. Giving them, was like taking a part of me and giving it away.

Later I will post about the the new AD and the Mark and Jim show.

[123Rob]

Thank you for the donations. They are most certainly a part of you but you didn’t give them away….you are sharing them with other Bonnies, past, present, and future. Hoping many, many people will see your memorabilia and discover how much each of us share on our own Bona Journeys.

[fjs64]

On Friday was the Introductory press conference for our new AD, Bob Berretta. I suggest you watch it in totality.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dSfeBhCOn4

Upon getting to the Quick Center, I bumped into Jim Crowley. Jim had just gotten out of a meeting, where Bob had met with all the coaches and staff.
Jim was clearly impressed with the man and what he had said. Jim and I chatted a bit on his team for next year, obviously there wasn't much to talk about the previous season. Jim was optimistic about the kids he is bringing in. After the meeting, I talked with Scott Eddy, our SID, MJ Telford, who was instrumental in the hiring of Bob. Even talked with Chuck Pollock. Had a long conversation with Gene Fahey, the topic was this Board.

Watch the video, and you will hear the word....cult....yes the cult is back, and mark can now use the term in referencing the Bona nation.

Later, I will talk about Saturday's session called "the game in Upheaval"

[deaconman]

Watched the press conference and this hire is home run

[wgt]

fjs64 shared this presentation by Coach Schmidt and Sats at the reunion. 6 of our new players were introduced to the audience and were asked to give a brief bio. fjs64 said they all presented well.

The presentation provides insight into Coach Schmidt and Coach Satalin's feelings about recruiting in this new age of forming a squad.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxkAXhhqh8s

[ohs73]

fjs, you were part of a great four years at Bona. '61 was the magical season (#2 in the nation, Armory streak reached 99) and in '64 Miles Aiken and Fred Crawford led Bona to the NIT, only to have Army step on the cake at the buzzer.

I watched Bob Beretta's news conference. He hit every chord, every note precisely. That's who Bob is and why he is tailor-made for the VP/AD role. His organizational and communication skills are 2nd to none and he is a personable gentleman. In other words, a great guy.

[fjs64]

Jun 14, 2024 14:21:59 GMT -5 ohs73 said:

fjs, you were part of a great four years at Bona. '61 was the magical season (#2 in the nation, Armory streak reached 99) and in '64 Miles Aiken and Fred Crawford led Bona to the NIT, only to have Army step on the cake at the buzzer.

I watched Bob Beretta's news conference. He hit every chord, every note precisely. That's who Bob is and why he is tailor-made for the VP/AD role. His organizational and communication skills are 2nd to none and he is a personable gentleman. In other words, a great guy.

I was very lucky. I was spoiled my frosh year, with Tom, Freddie, Whitey, with Donovan at the helm. Alas, Tom and Freddie with TB, Donovan leaving for the Knicks. The bubble burst.

Weiss was a terrific coach, but he was not ready, you don’t make a 24 year old high school JV coach, the coach of a top 10 team. Finishing 14-7, when you started 6-0 vs lower level completion made us think we were better than we were. Miles Aiken was the star. Then my junior year, with a still recovering Crawford, a team with little chemistry, and finishing 13- 12 was a true let down. My senior year, finished 16-7 and then lost in the NIT.. Miles played, but was injured, this team again did not live up to my expectations.

If the Franciscans gave Donovan a little more money, and hs stayed, it would truly have been a golden 4 years. Not bad, but not anywhere what could have been

[MM77]

fjs, did you know John Lambert class of 61'? He studied PE, and taught at Weaver High in Hartford CT, very successful high school coach. Coached Rick Mahorn of the Detroit Pistons at Weaver, won state championships class LL. Great guy I got to know through the Knights of Columbus at our church. Funny guy, great basketball knowledge. Loved watching Bonnie games with him from the TV, his analysis was amazing. Sadly he passed away about five years ago.

[ohs73]

fjs, were you there the night Niagara ended the Armory streak at 99? I can only imagine what the atmosphere was like, but would love to read your perspectives.

[thesocalkid]

I was there and sat on my Dad's knee. Just walking in to the Armory I knew it was a special game. We sat upstairs where all of the display cases of Army stuff was.

By the end of the first half the cigaret smoke was just unbearable. By the end of the game I was sitting on the floor to avoid the smoke.

Walking out after the game it was very quite.

[fjs64]

Jun 19, 2024 20:08:59 GMT -5 MM77 said:

fjs, did you know John Lambert class of 61'? He studied PE, and taught at Weaver High in Hartford CT, very successful high school coach. Coached Rick Mahorn of the Detroit Pistons at Weaver, won state championships class LL. Great guy I got to know through the Knights of Columbus at our church. Funny guy, great basketball knowledge. Loved watching Bonnie games with him from the TV, his analysis was amazing. Sadly he passed away about five years ago.

The name was familiar, but sadly did not know him. He was a senior, while Abi was a lowly freshman.

[fjs64]

Jun 20, 2024 13:00:11 GMT -5 ohs73 said:

fjs, were you there the night Niagara ended the Armory streak at 99? I can only imagine what the atmosphere was like, but would love to read your perspectives.

Yes, I was there.

The excitement for the game was mounting all week. Sports Illustrated was on campus, 100 in a row at the armory drew much attention. We had already beaten them at their place, so we were pretty confident. Saturday dawned, cold as usual, went to my Saturday classes, yes, classes on Saturday was normal.. after lunch we gathered, a bunch of us planned to leave early. The primary way to get to Olean was by thumb, hitchhiking in front of campus. I know we left early, had something to eat in Olean and then went to the Armory. Maybe around 3 pm we got to the entry door. That door was down around 6 steps, maybe 6 feet across. Se we waited, got cramped by others waiting, stinky, dirty, made worse when some kids barfed. But finally, the doors opened and in we went, to the seats designated for freshman…seniors got the better student seats. We had the freshman game, there was the Brown Indian cheering us on, and of course the now famous purple chicken.

We were 21-1 going into the game, ranked #2 in the nation. We had previously beaten the former #2 team, Bradley,75-61 at the Garden. The same place where our only loss had occured, to #1 Ohio State, 84-82. In that game Tom Stith scored 28 points in the 2nd half to mount the comeback. So now we were ready to continue our dominance. But alas, it was not to be. Trailing at the half we got close but Al Butler kept on sinking jumpers, and we lost. We were shocked, downtrodden, it could not be.

The team then lost to Duquesne, and trailed at halftime vs Canisius, but thankfully we won. What had happened…Tom had lost 15 pounds, he couldn’t gain weight, no matter how much he ate, and he always felt tired. We learned after the NCAA tournament when the team had Physicals that both Tom and Fred Crawford both had Tuberculosis. I believe, just like the Lanier injury prevented a national championship, so did TB prevent us from what would have been our 1st National championship

[ohs73]

Thank you, fjs, for sharing your memories of that historic night. I believe Taps Gallagher had the ride of his life as the Putple Eagles carried him off the Armory court in triumph.

All part of that special lore that was Little Three basketball. Such intensity.

[bona66]

I was there with my dad. Our tickets were in the row directly behind the Niagara bench. The coverage by Sports Illustrated was a really big deal. Many of us had no idea about Tom and Freddie's TB so we didn't realize how much they were weakened. I can say our seats weren't the best place after the game and the lose came as a huge shock.
When they lost to Wake Forest in the tournament, the impact of the TB was much more evident.

[ohs73]

bona66, thank you. Yeah, it was rotten circumstance that Tom and Fred contracted TB at that moment in time. Nine