Anyone have a detailed update on Legend's Night?

[ThomasMerton]

I'm looking forward to a detailed account of tonight's event. Please add all the details, including visiting recruits, legends, sights and sounds of the RC. How was the student response?
Don't forget to visit the Heart.

[Wolfpackfan]

It was incredibal night and it was great to see the legends. Bubba Gary was the life of the party. What an entertainer. They introduced all the players with Butler from '49 up to the recent graduates. Barry Munger looked to be in great shape and he even dunked it! Matt Gannt hit three threes! Paul Hoffman was a ferocious defender even with two new knees. Tim Winn was electric and scoring at will.

We saw Corey Magee (recruit from Fairport) in attendance he looks a lot bigger that 6'7" He really looked like he enjoyed the slam dunk contest. I hope Bonas made a good impression on him.

[B02]

How about some information the current team if you could

[wgt]

From GoBonnies:
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Chalk up another win for Coach Larry Weise and a fantastic start to the 2005-06 basketball season at St. Bonaventure.
About 1,500 Bonnies fans came to the Reilly Center on Saturday night for the Legends Celebration and they did not leave disappointed. Thirty-seven former Bonnies players, including four men whose uniform numbers are retired, came back to campus for the event. The alumni game ended with Weise's Brown team coming back from a 10-point halftime deficit to win 74-72, but camaraderie, memories and a chance to meet some of the Legends were the highlights of the evening.
Some of the loudest cheers of the night came during the dunk contest, which was a virtual standoff between David Capers '00 and current Bonnies A.J. Hawkins and Rodney Hannah. Hannah, who is sitting out this season as a transfer, edged Capers in the final standings.
Tim Winn '00 scored one for the alums when he topped Tyler Relph in a three-point shooting contest.
Prior to the game, fans formed long lines for autographs from the Legends. All-America Tom Stith '61 drew the most attention as he sat at a table stationed on center court. Other former players who were back included Ronald "Whitey" Martin '61, Fred Crawford '64, Ken Murray '50, Greg "Bubba" Gary '71, Paul Hoffman '72, Matt Gantt '72, Earl Belcher '81, Barry Mungar '86, Pat Allen '89 and Caswell Cyrus '00.
Donations were accepted by the current Bonnies players and all proceeds will go to the ReHabilitation Center in Olean.
St. Bonaventure officially opened practice on Friday night with a two-hour workout and then held another session on Saturday morning with many of the alumni watching. The alumni and current players dined together at the SBU Clubhouse Restaurant on Saturday afternoon.

[Copenhagen]

Wow, just sounds like an awesome event! especially for the current players! (how pumped could they be after this weekend?) and for Magee! (he would rather be at a MACC-school than be a part of this?)

We would like to hear more details from others so please......

Hopefully the "all access" service will have at least a photo slide show of the weekend!

[Friar]

Hats off to Coach Solomon and his wife for planning Legends Night. It was incredible to see all the old players and not so old players. Most of the players looked like they were truly happy to be there. However, one has to wonder about the lack of enthusiam from some of our recent grads, ie., Cyrus. All that aside it was a very pleasurable evening. There was lots to do for everyone - young kids to even the legendary fans.

I hope that Solomon can pull off another Legend Night in the future. It can be a great recruiting year. Definitely something to work on.

The slam dunk contest was pretty decent. Rodney Hannah looks like a brick wall and can leap. Just some constructive feedback: 1) It would have been nice to see the players practice. Maybe a shorter Legends game and then introduce the mens and womens basketball team. They can have a short scrimmage as well. 2) Perhaps a video with an overview of the Bona Basketball team. 3) More attention should have been paid to the our former mascot and symbol - The Brown Indian. It is a proud mascot and symbol. It is a sign of reverence and respect. Nothing less!!! 4) Games at the Olean Amory. Many of the oldtimers present played their games at the Amory. That fact was not mentioned.

Again, hats off to all who contributed. My kids and me really enjoyed the event.

[Bona3550]

Friar,

I was the always the first on to get on Cyrus during his playing days, but I think your comment about his "lack of enthusiam" was a bit out of line.

It doesn't matter whether he played in the game or not....HE WAS THERE, showing his support for the program. He signed autographs like everyone else and interacted with the fans.

As long as you called Caswell out, in your opinion, who are some of the other recent grads that lacked enthusiam?

[FriendsofAN44]

I would have to believe (due to his knee injuries) that Caswell has a clause in his contract that precludes him from playing in events such as this. Glad he still took the time out of his schedule to attend.

[Bona91]

It was a lot of fun. Had a chance to speak with Dan Putney for the first time in years (a fellow 91 grad and friend). Everything said about Bubba Gary is true, he played like a man years younger than he is. Watching David Capers compete in the dunk competition with the current players was also entertaining. All in all a great night.

[wgt]

Wolfpackfan...I'm not surprised that Bubba was "the life of the party." I taught with him in the South Bronx after he graduated Bona. He was always upbeat & the kids loved him. I'm sure he got inside the ear of the recruits that attended. His smile is always a joy to see.

[woof]

re: recent grads...
Tim and David certainly didn't lack any enthusiasm - looked like they were having the time of their lives out there. Jamie Moses told me it was an honor to be playing with/against some of the Brown Indians he grew up idolizing.

And everyone I talked to, no matter how young or 'young at heart' they are, plans on coming back the next time SBU does this...