1975SHjoe wrote:A tribute to Smokey is on the detroittitans.com web site. He was 80, dies from cancer.
Hoopster_Now_In_DC wrote:1975SHjoe wrote:A tribute to Smokey is on the detroittitans.com web site. He was 80, dies from cancer.
RIP- Probably the most successful coach in program history.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSPkvZnsD2k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VdrAxBqlXo
ptctitan wrote:Hoopster_Now_In_DC wrote:1975SHjoe wrote:A tribute to Smokey is on the detroittitans.com web site. He was 80, dies from cancer.
RIP- Probably the most successful coach in program history.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSPkvZnsD2k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VdrAxBqlXo
For a coach, Smokey Gaines did have the most successful consecutive two-year winning percentage in program history. Too bad that we could not have afforded a higher salary for him so he could have stayed.
Vitale's final year as coach and Smokey's first year as coach produced the best two-year record in program history, 50-8 for an .862 winning percentage.
Perry Watson's 1997-99 winning percentage was .806; and, he won 50 games in those two seasons.
However, Royal Campbell had a 25-5 record for the three seasons of 1910-11 to 1912-13 for a winning percentage of .833 versus Gaines's .823.
It's hard to say how Smokey would have fared under the new austerity that began affecting our school in the early 1980s. But his two years and Perry's two years are the best coaching runs here in recent history. Here's hoping that Coach Davis can join them soon.
ptctitan wrote:Hoopster_Now_In_DC wrote:1975SHjoe wrote:A tribute to Smokey is on the detroittitans.com web site. He was 80, dies from cancer.
RIP- Probably the most successful coach in program history.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSPkvZnsD2k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VdrAxBqlXo
For a coach, Smokey Gaines did have the most successful consecutive two-year winning percentage in program history. Too bad that we could not have afforded a higher salary for him so he could have stayed.
Vitale's final year as coach and Smokey's first year as coach produced the best two-year record in program history, 50-8 for an .862 winning percentage.
Perry Watson's 1997-99 winning percentage was .806; and, he won 50 games in those two seasons.
However, Royal Campbell had a 25-5 record for the three seasons of 1910-11 to 1912-13 for a winning percentage of .833 versus Gaines's .823.
It's hard to say how Smokey would have fared under the new austerity that began affecting our school in the early 1980s. But his two years and Perry's two years are the best coaching runs here in recent history. Here's hoping that Coach Davis can join them soon.
Commissioner wrote:
As I recall the issue with Coach Gaines was less salary than the inability to provide resources for the program. Is that true? You would know better than I.
The-Dude wrote:RIP Coach Gaines.
Denny, thank you for your notable illustrations on the matter. A small note regarding that colossal upset over #4 Memphis St, that victory took place during the 84/85 season. While your assessment of our 80’s is veracious, that was Coach Sicko’s banner season. The team went 16-12 and asides from the noted victory, they also beat Minnesota, and took #6 Syracuse to the wire. Greg Wendt, Kieth Gray and Co.
The-Dude wrote:Thanks Commish.
Not to derail this honorable topic but It’s little know fact that Coach Sicko was on the verge of turning UD into a national powerhouse but unfortunately, the dominos started falling and never stoped. If I may, please let me talk story:
Sicko led that 84-85 to a national level of respect and recognition. He was able to get Greg Wendt to transfer over from Duke and had an epic recruiting class coming in that included G John McIntyre, C Willie Carter, and F Dan Kennedy. In particular, John McIntyre was one of the top recruits in the County and had it not been for Glen Rice, he could have won Mr. Basketball. More importantly, word spread that we were getting national stars Derrick Coleman and Nathan Buntin and Underrated PG Bill Wood. It appeared that Sicko and his coaches were putting together a top 20-level team. How things unraveled is complicated but there are a couple of pillars to point out. During the start of the 85-86 campaign, John McIntyre who was projected starter and was expected to be a prolific scorer, became injured with a groin pull. He never recovered that season. A couple more untimely injuries coupled with a very tough schedule and apparent good fortunes turned to into a downward spiral. Behind the scenes, the University of Missouri illegally hired two highly influential Detroit City recruiters who got John McIntyre and Nathan Buntin to flip. When Buntin committed to Missouri, Coleman also looked elsewhere. It may seem like a strange Correlation, however, the Missouri illegal recruiting was a highly Detrimental to Coach Sicko and his vision of building a power house. Seems like a make believe fairly tale but the potential was real...
The-Dude wrote:Thanks Commish.
Not to derail this honorable topic but It’s little know fact that Coach Sicko was on the verge of turning UD into a national powerhouse but unfortunately, the dominos started falling and never stoped. If I may, please let me talk story:
Sicko led that 84-85 to a national level of respect and recognition. He was able to get Greg Wendt to transfer over from Duke and had an epic recruiting class coming in that included G John McIntyre, C Willie Carter, and F Dan Kennedy. In particular, John McIntyre was one of the top recruits in the County and had it not been for Glen Rice, he could have won Mr. Basketball. More importantly, word spread that we were getting national stars Derrick Coleman and Nathan Buntin and Underrated PG Bill Wood. It appeared that Sicko and his coaches were putting together a top 20-level team. How things unraveled is complicated but there are a couple of pillars to point out. During the start of the 85-86 campaign, John McIntyre who was projected starter and was expected to be a prolific scorer, became injured with a groin pull. He never recovered that season. A couple more untimely injuries coupled with a very tough schedule and apparent good fortunes turned to into a downward spiral. Behind the scenes, the University of Missouri illegally hired two highly influential Detroit City recruiters who got John McIntyre and Nathan Buntin to flip. When Buntin committed to Missouri, Coleman also looked elsewhere. It may seem like a strange Correlation, however, the Missouri illegal recruiting was a highly Detrimental to Coach Sicko and his vision of building a power house. Seems like a make believe fairly tale but the potential was real...
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