Daryl Johnston recalls sitting with punter Cooper Gardiner and a few other teammates at Maggie’s Tavern one night a few weeks before the 1987 season.
When it was time to pay the tab, Gardiner took out a $1 bill and a pen.
Though Syracuse wasn’t ranked in the preseason poll, Gardiner scribed “Syracuse football: 11-0 1987, one to go” on the bill and tacked it up on the wall of the tavern.
“It was a one-week-at-a-time mantra,” said Johnston, the fullback on the 1987 team. “It all kind of started before the season even began.”
Gardiner’s ambitious prediction proved to be prophetic, as the Dick MacPherson-coached 1987 team went 11-0 during the regular season. The Orangemen came back against Virginia Tech, obliterated favored Penn State and fended off West Virginia en route to an unblemished regular season 25 years ago. Despite a 16-16 tie in the Sugar Bowl against Southeastern Conference powerhouse Auburn, Johnston looks back on the season as the most incredible run of his college or professional career.
Johnston said the 1987 season trumps winning three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys because of the way the team rose up, accepted the challenge and went undefeated.
“That’s my most special season,” Johnston said. “That 1987 group was just something unique. We weren’t supposed to do that. We were nobody, and we pushed it all the way to No. 4.”
That one-game-at-a-time mentality permeated throughout the entire team. MacPherson often addressed his players with the mindset that an undefeated season wasn’t out of reach, but they had to take it one game at a time to get to that point.
“I think that in 1987 we thought we had a chance to win the national championship,” MacPherson said. “That’s how close we were.”
After decisive wins over Maryland, Rutgers and Miami (Ohio) to start the season, the players realized they had a shot at running the table.
Down by double-digits against Virginia Tech in the fourth game of the season, the Orangemen went into the locker room crushed and out of whack. Offensive coordinator George DeLeone walked to the chalkboard and wrote one word.
Character.
“We’re going to see if this team has any,” DeLeone said dramatically, walking away immediately after his pithy proposition.
That message was understood and embraced by the Orangemen, as the game took a complete 180 in the second half. Syracuse scored 28 unanswered points and came away with a 35-21 victory in front of a stunned Hokie crowd.
“It was a tough game,” Johnston said. “They had a couple of pro prospects and it was a few weeks before the Penn State game. There was the fear that we would look ahead.”
After knocking off Missouri, the game that Syracuse had been trying not to look ahead to for months was finally its only focus.
That “one to go” mentality was more pertinent than ever, as the No. 13 Orangemen had to knock off No. 10 Penn State to keep its undefeated season alive.
SU did just that, throttling favored Penn State 48-21 at the Carrier Dome. MacPherson even took out some starters in the fourth, after his team built a 41-0 cushion heading into the final quarter.
Penn State surged back to make the score 41-21, but the starters came back in to seal the deal. Johnston said the starters went right down the field to go up 48-21, leaving no doubt about who was the sharper team on that particular day.
“Everything we did we did right that day,” Johnston said. “It was amazing. I just remember how much it meant to everybody. I think it had been 17 years since we had beaten Penn State.”
Following the decisive win, Penn State head coach Joe Paterno walked into the Syracuse locker room and congratulated the Orangemen on a job well done.
“He said we were the best team he’d seen all season,” Johnston said. “That to me was our statement game. That was huge for us.”
Gardiner remembers his team fumbling the ball and coming up short in the final minutes against PSU in 1985. The win two years later stands out as one of the highlights for the former strong safety and punter Gardiner.
“Emotionally, I think guys really wanted to beat Penn State,” Gardiner said. “It was a team that we hadn’t beaten. We played them and we beat them pretty good on national television.”
After wins against Colgate, Pittsburgh, Navy and Boston College, SU was one game away from a perfect regular season, the Orangemen’s first since the 1959 national championship team.
Down 31-24 to West Virginia with 1:30 remaining, it was go-time for SU.
Johnston said he’s watched the game on tape several times over the years. He gets excited every time he sees the shot of the Syracuse offensive players right after West Virginia claimed the lead with less than two minutes to go.
They were ready to finish what they had started.
Quarterback Don McPherson ignited a drive downfield, capped by a touchdown pass to tight end Pat Kelly. Then, MacPherson called a timeout and brought his seniors over to huddle up and make a season-defining decision.
Syracuse could kick the extra point and finish 10-0-1, or the Orangemen could go for two and ensure that a tie wouldn’t be possible. They decided to take the risk.
The play was originally designed for Johnston. The fullback said McPherson froze the inside linebacker and made the right play. He delivered a pinpoint pass to Michael Owens for the two-point conversion and the win.
“It was a culmination to our season that couldn’t have been written any better,” Gardiner said. “As it turned out, West Virginia was a real good team. It was a really fitting end because it kind of capped off the regular season.”
Published on November 14, 2012 at 1:40 am
Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass
Monday, April 13, 2015
First impression: Ollie looks to make his own mark on the Connecticut program built by Calhoun
Kevin Ollie was sitting in his office early in September when a serene Jim Calhoun walked through the door ready to deliver bittersweet news.
Known for his intense coaching style and tempered disposition, Calhoun’s message was more serious than the typical tactical adjustment or word of advice.
“That was the first time in a long time I had seen him at real, real peace,” Ollie said. “The only time I really see that in him is when he’s around his grandchildren.”
Calhoun dropped the inevitable news just a few moments later. After a Hall of Fame 40-year career that yielded 873 total wins and three national championships at Connecticut, the legendary coach knew it was time to step down.
At the age of 70, Calhoun was battling hip problems and said he was ready to move onto the next stage of his life. He knew the best possible replacement was Ollie, who played four years under Calhoun from 1991-95.
Ollie took his scrappy, in-your-face style of play to the NBA, where he played for 11 teams in a 13-year career, including time playing for Larry Brown and Chuck Daly. After spending the last two years as an assistant coach at UConn, Ollie was tabbed to take over the program when Calhoun announced his retirement in September.
“I’m an empty cup and I want everybody to fill me up with positive things and things I need to do,” Ollie said. “Then I take those things and make sure they fit in with my philosophy, and I try to go out there and do it.”
Ollie was given a one-year, $625,000 contract that runs through April 4, 2013, two days before the Final Four. He’ll face a difficult challenge in his first year, as the Huskies received a one-year postseason ban due to low Academic Progress Rate scores.
Despite the ban and the coaching change, UConn forward Tyler Olander said his team is even more focused than in past years.
Olander said having someone as upbeat and personable as Ollie is exactly what the team needs. Compared to Calhoun’s frequently fiery temper, Olander said Ollie is more positive and easy to approach.
“Everything is moving forward,” Olander said. “He doesn’t really yell or be negative. I think that helps the chemistry of the team.”
Connecticut Deputy Director of Athletics Paul McCarthy said Ollie makes an incredibly strong first impression and has a talent for connecting with people.
“He’s one of those people that looks you in the eye and you know you’re dealing with a caring, genuine person,” McCarthy said. “He has a talent for connecting with people. He’s smart, engaging and immediately likable.”
UConn guard Shabazz Napier said Ollie has served as a father figure, helping him deal with the rehabilitation process after suffering a stress fracture in his right foot.
After practice, Ollie often talks with Napier, advising him to keep his head up and stay optimistic during the slow recovery process. A guard himself, Ollie also gives him tactical advice as he works to mold Napier into a complete player.
“Me getting over my foot injury and having to sit out, he’s been talking to me and telling me to be patient,” Napier said. “He’s been pushing me to be 100 percent and making me work hard. Those are things you really can’t put a measure to.”
While many people on the outside consider this a year of transition swirling with off-court issues for UConn, Ollie doesn’t see the situation the same way.
“I don’t know about the instability,” Ollie said. “Me and you can look at the same wall and I can see something totally different. I see stability. I see our guys coming in with one heartbeat. It’s not me; it’s we.”
UConn’s core group of players is dramatically different than it was last year, with Jeremy Lamb and Andre Drummond leaving for the NBA and Alex Oriakhi transferring to Missouri. Changes in personnel will force Ollie to adjust quickly.
“I have to put my imprint on this team,” Ollie said. “I have to go out there and show them what I expect them to do. They know that and I understand that’s the standard of UConn basketball. I put the jersey on. I graduated from the university.”
Ollie feels prepared for the task after playing for Calhoun and working under him for two seasons. His work over the years made him the right man for the job in Calhoun’s eyes.
Ollie said he feels honored and blessed to be at the helm of such a prestigious program. He plans to use the lessons Calhoun has given him over the years to make the most of the opportunity.
“It’s a brotherhood,” Ollie said. “For 22 years, this has been a brotherhood. This is all I know: UConn basketball. It’s a special place and it’s an awesome feeling for me to come back and coach.”
Immediately immersed in his new role, Ollie has more responsibility and has taken the reins from Calhoun, yet the former coach hasn’t stepped away from UConn basketball entirely.
The Hall of Fame coach is now Special Assistant to the Director of Athletics, and serves as an aid to Ollie and the rest of the coaching staff and team.
Olander said Calhoun is still very much involved in UConn basketball and has attended multiple practices a week.
“He’s critiquing the team and giving individuals advice,” Olander said. “After every practice, he takes me aside and tells me what I’m doing well and what I should work on.”
Though Calhoun will be around, the job is Ollie’s now. With the future uncertain and the postseason unreachable, all the new coach can do is focus on the regular season.
But when he has a question, needs advice or has a moment of uncertainty, Calhoun is always present and available, watching from afar and making observations.
“He’s like a second father to me,” Ollie said. “Someone that I can really rely on when I need any questions answered. Sometimes he knows what I’m going to ask him before I even open my mouth.”
Published on November 8, 2012 at 2:01 am
Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass
Known for his intense coaching style and tempered disposition, Calhoun’s message was more serious than the typical tactical adjustment or word of advice.
“That was the first time in a long time I had seen him at real, real peace,” Ollie said. “The only time I really see that in him is when he’s around his grandchildren.”
Calhoun dropped the inevitable news just a few moments later. After a Hall of Fame 40-year career that yielded 873 total wins and three national championships at Connecticut, the legendary coach knew it was time to step down.
At the age of 70, Calhoun was battling hip problems and said he was ready to move onto the next stage of his life. He knew the best possible replacement was Ollie, who played four years under Calhoun from 1991-95.
Ollie took his scrappy, in-your-face style of play to the NBA, where he played for 11 teams in a 13-year career, including time playing for Larry Brown and Chuck Daly. After spending the last two years as an assistant coach at UConn, Ollie was tabbed to take over the program when Calhoun announced his retirement in September.
“I’m an empty cup and I want everybody to fill me up with positive things and things I need to do,” Ollie said. “Then I take those things and make sure they fit in with my philosophy, and I try to go out there and do it.”
Ollie was given a one-year, $625,000 contract that runs through April 4, 2013, two days before the Final Four. He’ll face a difficult challenge in his first year, as the Huskies received a one-year postseason ban due to low Academic Progress Rate scores.
Despite the ban and the coaching change, UConn forward Tyler Olander said his team is even more focused than in past years.
Olander said having someone as upbeat and personable as Ollie is exactly what the team needs. Compared to Calhoun’s frequently fiery temper, Olander said Ollie is more positive and easy to approach.
“Everything is moving forward,” Olander said. “He doesn’t really yell or be negative. I think that helps the chemistry of the team.”
Connecticut Deputy Director of Athletics Paul McCarthy said Ollie makes an incredibly strong first impression and has a talent for connecting with people.
“He’s one of those people that looks you in the eye and you know you’re dealing with a caring, genuine person,” McCarthy said. “He has a talent for connecting with people. He’s smart, engaging and immediately likable.”
UConn guard Shabazz Napier said Ollie has served as a father figure, helping him deal with the rehabilitation process after suffering a stress fracture in his right foot.
After practice, Ollie often talks with Napier, advising him to keep his head up and stay optimistic during the slow recovery process. A guard himself, Ollie also gives him tactical advice as he works to mold Napier into a complete player.
“Me getting over my foot injury and having to sit out, he’s been talking to me and telling me to be patient,” Napier said. “He’s been pushing me to be 100 percent and making me work hard. Those are things you really can’t put a measure to.”
While many people on the outside consider this a year of transition swirling with off-court issues for UConn, Ollie doesn’t see the situation the same way.
“I don’t know about the instability,” Ollie said. “Me and you can look at the same wall and I can see something totally different. I see stability. I see our guys coming in with one heartbeat. It’s not me; it’s we.”
UConn’s core group of players is dramatically different than it was last year, with Jeremy Lamb and Andre Drummond leaving for the NBA and Alex Oriakhi transferring to Missouri. Changes in personnel will force Ollie to adjust quickly.
“I have to put my imprint on this team,” Ollie said. “I have to go out there and show them what I expect them to do. They know that and I understand that’s the standard of UConn basketball. I put the jersey on. I graduated from the university.”
Ollie feels prepared for the task after playing for Calhoun and working under him for two seasons. His work over the years made him the right man for the job in Calhoun’s eyes.
Ollie said he feels honored and blessed to be at the helm of such a prestigious program. He plans to use the lessons Calhoun has given him over the years to make the most of the opportunity.
“It’s a brotherhood,” Ollie said. “For 22 years, this has been a brotherhood. This is all I know: UConn basketball. It’s a special place and it’s an awesome feeling for me to come back and coach.”
Immediately immersed in his new role, Ollie has more responsibility and has taken the reins from Calhoun, yet the former coach hasn’t stepped away from UConn basketball entirely.
The Hall of Fame coach is now Special Assistant to the Director of Athletics, and serves as an aid to Ollie and the rest of the coaching staff and team.
Olander said Calhoun is still very much involved in UConn basketball and has attended multiple practices a week.
“He’s critiquing the team and giving individuals advice,” Olander said. “After every practice, he takes me aside and tells me what I’m doing well and what I should work on.”
Though Calhoun will be around, the job is Ollie’s now. With the future uncertain and the postseason unreachable, all the new coach can do is focus on the regular season.
But when he has a question, needs advice or has a moment of uncertainty, Calhoun is always present and available, watching from afar and making observations.
“He’s like a second father to me,” Ollie said. “Someone that I can really rely on when I need any questions answered. Sometimes he knows what I’m going to ask him before I even open my mouth.”
Published on November 8, 2012 at 2:01 am
Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass
After run to Final Four, talented Louisville team tabbed as Big East favorite
NEW YORK – Decked in a sleek black suit with a piece of paper in hand, Louisville guard Peyton Siva walked up to the podium on the ninth floor of the New York Athletic Club.
Siva unfolded the piece of paper, looked up at the audience and grinned.
“I wrote a very long speech today, as you can see,” Siva said, revealing a completely blank piece of paper and drawing a laugh from those in attendance.
Siva, the Big East preseason Player of the Year, thanked the coaches for the recognition, but didn’t want to take all the credit.
“I’m very humbled by this award,” Siva said. “But I know that there are three other players on my team who could easily be standing in my spot right now.”
The Cardinals are ranked first in the Big East preseason coaches’ poll. After catching fire in March last season en route to a conference championship and a trip to the Final Four, expectations are high for U of L.
That top ranking is an honor for Siva, but he said his team will have to work hard to match those expectations and build off last year’s run.
“It’s a blessing and a curse for us,” Siva said. “You have that bull’s-eye on your back. We’re just going to have to keep that work ethic we had toward the end of last year.”
Louisville head coach Rick Pitino said Siva has improved considerably from his junior to senior year and is a top-five point guard in the nation. He expects Siva to lead the team and be the go-to guy for the Cardinals.
“He’s improved more from his junior to senior year than any other time in his career,” Pitino said. “Usually you see the biggest improvement from freshman to sophomore year.”
Siva can’t do it alone, though, and he’ll look to center Gorgui Dieng to be dominant for the Cardinals.
Dieng was named to the Preseason All-Big East First Team after averaging 9.1 points and 9.1 rebounds for the Cardinals last season.
Siva said Dieng has bulked up during the offseason and is stronger than he was last year.
Reaching to his left and squeezing Dieng’s muscles, Siva jokingly said the Senegal native is “kind of skinny still,” yet he believes Dieng’s length and strength will be key for Louisville this season. After totaling 128 blocks a season ago, Siva believes Dieng has a chance to lead the country in blocks this season.
While many other Big East coaches voted for Siva as Preseason Player of the Year, Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin had a different player in mind.
“You have two guys who received votes for player of the year,” Cronin said. “I voted for Gorgui Dieng. That tells you how good those guys are.”
Siva remembers last season when the Cardinals lost four out of six games. Everything unraveled for a few weeks and the players were down. Then, Louisville embarked on an eight-game winning streak, including a 50-44 Big East championship win over Cincinnati.
That run helped propel the Cardinals to the No. 2 ranking this year, but Dieng isn’t focused on that ranking.
“Rankings don’t mean anything to me,” Dieng said. “Rankings are for the fans. We want to win every game. This year we want to win it all.”
Head coach Rick Pitino said Louisville’s schedule is much more difficult than it was last year. He said his team will be tested to maintain that lofty ranking as one of the country’s elite teams.
Northern Iowa and Stanford or Missouri will present early challenges in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Pitino’s squad then travels on the road to College of Charleston and Memphis before facing off against Kentucky Dec. 29.
That’s all before entering Big East play.
If Louisville is able to make a run deep in March, one reason will be the depth of this year’s team. Pitino called this year’s team the deepest and most athletic team he’s ever had at U of L and said a variety of players can step up in crunch time.
“If they stay humble they’re going to have a great season,” Pitino said. “If they believe what they read, they’re going to fall into the trap. I know these two guys will stay humble. If we can get every single guy on this team to stay humble, we’re going to have a heck of a year.”
Published on October 18, 2012 at 1:19 am
Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass
Siva unfolded the piece of paper, looked up at the audience and grinned.
“I wrote a very long speech today, as you can see,” Siva said, revealing a completely blank piece of paper and drawing a laugh from those in attendance.
Siva, the Big East preseason Player of the Year, thanked the coaches for the recognition, but didn’t want to take all the credit.
“I’m very humbled by this award,” Siva said. “But I know that there are three other players on my team who could easily be standing in my spot right now.”
The Cardinals are ranked first in the Big East preseason coaches’ poll. After catching fire in March last season en route to a conference championship and a trip to the Final Four, expectations are high for U of L.
That top ranking is an honor for Siva, but he said his team will have to work hard to match those expectations and build off last year’s run.
“It’s a blessing and a curse for us,” Siva said. “You have that bull’s-eye on your back. We’re just going to have to keep that work ethic we had toward the end of last year.”
Louisville head coach Rick Pitino said Siva has improved considerably from his junior to senior year and is a top-five point guard in the nation. He expects Siva to lead the team and be the go-to guy for the Cardinals.
“He’s improved more from his junior to senior year than any other time in his career,” Pitino said. “Usually you see the biggest improvement from freshman to sophomore year.”
Siva can’t do it alone, though, and he’ll look to center Gorgui Dieng to be dominant for the Cardinals.
Dieng was named to the Preseason All-Big East First Team after averaging 9.1 points and 9.1 rebounds for the Cardinals last season.
Siva said Dieng has bulked up during the offseason and is stronger than he was last year.
Reaching to his left and squeezing Dieng’s muscles, Siva jokingly said the Senegal native is “kind of skinny still,” yet he believes Dieng’s length and strength will be key for Louisville this season. After totaling 128 blocks a season ago, Siva believes Dieng has a chance to lead the country in blocks this season.
While many other Big East coaches voted for Siva as Preseason Player of the Year, Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin had a different player in mind.
“You have two guys who received votes for player of the year,” Cronin said. “I voted for Gorgui Dieng. That tells you how good those guys are.”
Siva remembers last season when the Cardinals lost four out of six games. Everything unraveled for a few weeks and the players were down. Then, Louisville embarked on an eight-game winning streak, including a 50-44 Big East championship win over Cincinnati.
That run helped propel the Cardinals to the No. 2 ranking this year, but Dieng isn’t focused on that ranking.
“Rankings don’t mean anything to me,” Dieng said. “Rankings are for the fans. We want to win every game. This year we want to win it all.”
Head coach Rick Pitino said Louisville’s schedule is much more difficult than it was last year. He said his team will be tested to maintain that lofty ranking as one of the country’s elite teams.
Northern Iowa and Stanford or Missouri will present early challenges in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Pitino’s squad then travels on the road to College of Charleston and Memphis before facing off against Kentucky Dec. 29.
That’s all before entering Big East play.
If Louisville is able to make a run deep in March, one reason will be the depth of this year’s team. Pitino called this year’s team the deepest and most athletic team he’s ever had at U of L and said a variety of players can step up in crunch time.
“If they stay humble they’re going to have a great season,” Pitino said. “If they believe what they read, they’re going to fall into the trap. I know these two guys will stay humble. If we can get every single guy on this team to stay humble, we’re going to have a heck of a year.”
Published on October 18, 2012 at 1:19 am
Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass
Snapchat develops into recruiting resource for coaches 1 year after NCAA recognition
Picture Jim Boeheim taking a selfie.
Though it sounds ridiculous, it’s not farfetched. Boeheim himself doesn’t have a Snapchat, but many college coaches around the country do. Social media has become an integral part of recruiting in college basketball, and Snapchat is the latest fad.
One year ago Wednesday, the NCAA officially recognized Snapchat as a form of electronic communication to reach out to recruits. The rule went into effect Aug. 1, 2014 and has become widespread in college basketball. Though it has not reached all programs, Snapchat is a means of recruiting that presents both pros and cons according to those who have tracked its emergence.
“At the end of the day, I don’t think kids are making decisions based off who they Snapchat with,” said Evan Daniels, the director of basketball recruiting at Scout.com, “but I think it’s certainly something that can help them get to know the coaches.”
Daniels said Snapchat can be a resource for coaches to show off their program and individual players to recruits. Maybe it’s a postgame celebration or a shot of practice — whatever gets kids excited about playing for a certain school. Recruiting is all about building relationships, Daniels said, and Snapchat has become a way to cultivate those bonds.
Memphis head coach Josh Pastner, for example, uses Snapchat as a recruiting tool, Daniels said. He said Pastner is known for relating to recruits, and Snapchat can be an effective way of doing so.
Some Atlantic Coast Conference coaches enlist their assistant coaches to tackle Snapchat recruiting. Notre Dame’s Mike Brey, for instance, said his assistants are active on the app.
“Thankfully I have a staff that helps me with my technological shortcomings,” Brey said with a chuckle. “They coach me up when I need to be better at stuff.”
Though Brey considers himself inept, he said his daughter is active on Snapchat. Because she’s on Snapchat all the time, he knows other kids are going to be on it too. Nearly everyone he’s recruiting uses the app, so he believes it’s imperative for his staff to do so as well.
Miami’s Jim Larranaga has never come across a recruit who has specifically wanted to Snapchat him. He communicates via phone and text, but many of his assistants use it as a tool.
“High school kids are very tech-savvy, “ Larranaga said, “so we try to do as much as we can with technology.”
Tyler Lydon, a power forward from New Hampshire who is committed to Syracuse, hasn’t connected with coaches on Snapchat personally. He said it would be “kind of weird” to communicate with coaches that way. Snapchat’s more for interacting with friends, he said.
He is intrigued by the idea of a general account with team updates, but he isn’t a proponent of one-on-one Snapchat interaction with coaches.
“If I were uncommitted and a coach were to Snapchat me and say what’s up, I’d probably be cool in the moment,” Lydon said. “But then you think about it and it’s kind of strange.”
Lydon says he doesn’t post anything inappropriate on his Snapchat. He calls himself a laid-back kid and said that’s not his style.
Though Lydon tries to stay away from posting questionable stories on the app, Alex Kline, the owner of The Recruit Scoop, sees a trend emerging where others in Lydon’s position aren’t as wise about what they post on Snapchat.
Kline, who is a junior at Syracuse, said the first thing he thinks of when he hears the word Snapchat is making inappropriate posts without getting in trouble. Recruits can be smart on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, Kline says, but they may act in negligent ways on Snapchat. Though Snapchat has perks in recruiting, Kline sees the trend in a more negative light.
He considers Snapchat a background check to spy on people. Though kids don’t have to accept coaches’ requests, they often do. Snapchat is considered private, but it’s really public, Kline says. He believes many people create a brand on other social media but show their true selves on Snapchat.
Though individual Snapchats can only last up to 10 seconds, Snapchat Stories stay up for a full day. Many of these big-time recruits have hundreds of Snapchat friends, including some coaches. If a player is drinking, smoking or acting inappropriately, for example, that coach may be less inclined to reach out.
Kline hasn’t seen any specific examples, though he sees the trend continuing in the coming years.
“People are trendsetters and people are followers, especially in basketball,” Kline said. “Once you’re wearing these Kobes and these Jordans, the next person’s going to do it. I think the same goes for social media.”
Although Snapchat has yet to dominate college basketball recruiting, it appears to be gaining traction around the country. Coaches can interact with recruits, and vice versa, and both parties get a chance to learn about the other.
But that might not always be a good thing.
“Some of these guys are reckless,” Kline said. “Snapchat is the new thing that’s going to expose that.”
Published on February 10, 2015 at 12:22 am
Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass
Though it sounds ridiculous, it’s not farfetched. Boeheim himself doesn’t have a Snapchat, but many college coaches around the country do. Social media has become an integral part of recruiting in college basketball, and Snapchat is the latest fad.
One year ago Wednesday, the NCAA officially recognized Snapchat as a form of electronic communication to reach out to recruits. The rule went into effect Aug. 1, 2014 and has become widespread in college basketball. Though it has not reached all programs, Snapchat is a means of recruiting that presents both pros and cons according to those who have tracked its emergence.
“At the end of the day, I don’t think kids are making decisions based off who they Snapchat with,” said Evan Daniels, the director of basketball recruiting at Scout.com, “but I think it’s certainly something that can help them get to know the coaches.”
Daniels said Snapchat can be a resource for coaches to show off their program and individual players to recruits. Maybe it’s a postgame celebration or a shot of practice — whatever gets kids excited about playing for a certain school. Recruiting is all about building relationships, Daniels said, and Snapchat has become a way to cultivate those bonds.
Memphis head coach Josh Pastner, for example, uses Snapchat as a recruiting tool, Daniels said. He said Pastner is known for relating to recruits, and Snapchat can be an effective way of doing so.
Some Atlantic Coast Conference coaches enlist their assistant coaches to tackle Snapchat recruiting. Notre Dame’s Mike Brey, for instance, said his assistants are active on the app.
“Thankfully I have a staff that helps me with my technological shortcomings,” Brey said with a chuckle. “They coach me up when I need to be better at stuff.”
Though Brey considers himself inept, he said his daughter is active on Snapchat. Because she’s on Snapchat all the time, he knows other kids are going to be on it too. Nearly everyone he’s recruiting uses the app, so he believes it’s imperative for his staff to do so as well.
Miami’s Jim Larranaga has never come across a recruit who has specifically wanted to Snapchat him. He communicates via phone and text, but many of his assistants use it as a tool.
“High school kids are very tech-savvy, “ Larranaga said, “so we try to do as much as we can with technology.”
Tyler Lydon, a power forward from New Hampshire who is committed to Syracuse, hasn’t connected with coaches on Snapchat personally. He said it would be “kind of weird” to communicate with coaches that way. Snapchat’s more for interacting with friends, he said.
He is intrigued by the idea of a general account with team updates, but he isn’t a proponent of one-on-one Snapchat interaction with coaches.
“If I were uncommitted and a coach were to Snapchat me and say what’s up, I’d probably be cool in the moment,” Lydon said. “But then you think about it and it’s kind of strange.”
Lydon says he doesn’t post anything inappropriate on his Snapchat. He calls himself a laid-back kid and said that’s not his style.
Though Lydon tries to stay away from posting questionable stories on the app, Alex Kline, the owner of The Recruit Scoop, sees a trend emerging where others in Lydon’s position aren’t as wise about what they post on Snapchat.
Kline, who is a junior at Syracuse, said the first thing he thinks of when he hears the word Snapchat is making inappropriate posts without getting in trouble. Recruits can be smart on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, Kline says, but they may act in negligent ways on Snapchat. Though Snapchat has perks in recruiting, Kline sees the trend in a more negative light.
He considers Snapchat a background check to spy on people. Though kids don’t have to accept coaches’ requests, they often do. Snapchat is considered private, but it’s really public, Kline says. He believes many people create a brand on other social media but show their true selves on Snapchat.
Though individual Snapchats can only last up to 10 seconds, Snapchat Stories stay up for a full day. Many of these big-time recruits have hundreds of Snapchat friends, including some coaches. If a player is drinking, smoking or acting inappropriately, for example, that coach may be less inclined to reach out.
Kline hasn’t seen any specific examples, though he sees the trend continuing in the coming years.
“People are trendsetters and people are followers, especially in basketball,” Kline said. “Once you’re wearing these Kobes and these Jordans, the next person’s going to do it. I think the same goes for social media.”
Although Snapchat has yet to dominate college basketball recruiting, it appears to be gaining traction around the country. Coaches can interact with recruits, and vice versa, and both parties get a chance to learn about the other.
But that might not always be a good thing.
“Some of these guys are reckless,” Kline said. “Snapchat is the new thing that’s going to expose that.”
Published on February 10, 2015 at 12:22 am
Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass
SHAPING UP: After rough redshirt freshman year, Cooney finds confidence, shooting stroke for Orange
For the first time all season, Trevor Cooney was mired in a slump.
The same shots that consistently swished through the net for the first 13 games of the season clanged off the rim. He made just 10-of-39 shots in a three-game stretch to start 2014. He looked lost.
But Cooney knew he would bounce back. He bounced back from a frustrating and ineffective redshirt freshman season. A mini rut was nothing he couldn’t handle.
Cooney lit up Boston College for 21 points on Monday night, including three rim-rattling dunks and a drained 3 that proved to be the difference in No. 2 Syracuse’s 69-59 comeback win over the Eagles.
“He had a tremendous offensive game tonight,” SU head coach Jim Boeheim said.
Cooney has carried SU from downtown this season, just like his mentor Gerry McNamara did from 2002-2006. After shooting a woeful 26.7 percent from 3 last year, and averaging a shade more than three points per game, Cooney found his stroke. In addition to a 42.3 percentage from downtown this season, he’s also shooting 52 percent from inside the arc and 86.1 percent at the foul line.
Thanks to McNamara’s guidance and an improved offseason regimen centered around quickness and consistency, Cooney has emerged as one of the conference’s more complete players.
“I wanted to come out last year and make shots,” Cooney said, “and I wasn’t really able to do things right last year that I’m doing this year.”
Cooney sat behind Brandon Triche and Michael Carter-Williams as a redshirt freshman, playing just 11 minutes per game. He struggled mightily trying to fill the role as the team’s third guard as Boeheim elected to tighten his rotation.
Cooney played just 20 total minutes in the Orange’s last four NCAA Tournament games.
“When you’re worried about playing time, it’s hard to correct something like your shot,” Cooney said.
Instead of sulking though, Cooney became a sponge. He sat next to McNamara on the bench every game and absorbed everything. The shooting specialists studied the nuances of the game together — chatting, jesting and analyzing from the sideline.
When McNamara transitioned to assistant coach midway through Cooney’s redshirt year, Cooney became the protégé and McNamara his mentor.
“He has been unbelievable,” Cooney said. “He is a great coach on the floor and a great friend off the floor. He has been someone that you can just turn to for anything.”
So Cooney turned his attention to next season. With Carter-Williams and Triche gone, he knew Syracuse needed him to consistently produce in order to be a national contender.
He spent the summer getting into tip-top shape, waking up at 5:30 every morning to work out.
Instead of placing emphasis on bulking up — like he did his freshman year — Cooney focused more on his conditioning, speed and agility.
“This summer I was able to take a step back and really realize what I was doing wrong, and practice the right things,” Cooney said.
His father watched him go from being able to “play linebacker for Syracuse”, to the nimble and agile two-guard that has thrived atop the 2-3 zone this season. Now he is second in the Atlantic Coast Conference in steals.
Cooney lost about eight pounds last summer, cutting down on his late-night Wawa runs and saying goodbye to meatball sandwiches. Instead, it was mom’s cooking. More fruits and vegetables, spaghetti, chicken — what he needed to get his body healthy.
Additional training with family friend and physical therapy assistant John Noonan also helped get Cooney into shape. Going to ATI therapy center at least three times per week, Cooney completed planks, four-to-eight second sprints and exhausting workouts on the treadmill — reaching a maximum of 22 miles per hour.
“Kills you,” Noonan said. “We just kind of gave him the blueprint, and he followed it.”
Delaware native and WNBA star Elena Delle Donne, who’s worked out with Noonan since second grade and trained with Cooney, said Cooney’s drive has always been incredible. She said she could count his misses during workouts on one hand.
“He was one of those people who when I knew he was going to work out, the intensity was going to be raised,” Delle Donne said.
Now his athleticism and motor have reached a new level this year. When teams play him to shoot, he is capable of putting the ball on the floor. When they lay off him — splash. And no matter what, he demands enough attention to open up the Syracuse offense.
Against Boston College Monday night, he soared through the air for three fast-break dunks in a row.
Three points per game-26.7 percent 3-point shooting-Trevor Cooney is history.
Taking jumpers at 4:45 for 7 p.m. games he wouldn’t play in as a freshman finally paid off. Patiently waiting in line to be Syracuse’s next star proved to be the right decision.
And as his all-around game has blossomed, McNamara’s been the driving force to ensure he stays on track. McNamara mastered the intricacies of the zone. He figured out how to get open while draped by athletic defenders.
Now he’s passed those skills onto Cooney.
“He moves as well off the ball as anybody I’ve ever been around,” McNamara said.
Cooney looked up to McNamara as a kid, and now his game has flourished thanks in part to one of his role models. Cooney’s father Brian said McNamara’s “like seven things in one for Trevor.” McNamara’s “been through the fire,” as Trevor’s brother Matt Cooney put it. He can relate to Trevor.
“Gerry was obviously a legend at Syracuse,” Matt Cooney said. “Trevor is hoping to become just a part of what Gerry achieved. If you could just achieve a piece of that it would be a hell of a career.”
Now Cooney – with his reserved swagger and complete game – will look to help Syracuse accomplish something it hasn’t done since 2003, when McNamara was just a 19-year-old freshman…
Win the national championship.
Published on January 15, 2014 at 3:13 am
Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass
The same shots that consistently swished through the net for the first 13 games of the season clanged off the rim. He made just 10-of-39 shots in a three-game stretch to start 2014. He looked lost.
But Cooney knew he would bounce back. He bounced back from a frustrating and ineffective redshirt freshman season. A mini rut was nothing he couldn’t handle.
Cooney lit up Boston College for 21 points on Monday night, including three rim-rattling dunks and a drained 3 that proved to be the difference in No. 2 Syracuse’s 69-59 comeback win over the Eagles.
“He had a tremendous offensive game tonight,” SU head coach Jim Boeheim said.
Cooney has carried SU from downtown this season, just like his mentor Gerry McNamara did from 2002-2006. After shooting a woeful 26.7 percent from 3 last year, and averaging a shade more than three points per game, Cooney found his stroke. In addition to a 42.3 percentage from downtown this season, he’s also shooting 52 percent from inside the arc and 86.1 percent at the foul line.
Thanks to McNamara’s guidance and an improved offseason regimen centered around quickness and consistency, Cooney has emerged as one of the conference’s more complete players.
“I wanted to come out last year and make shots,” Cooney said, “and I wasn’t really able to do things right last year that I’m doing this year.”
Cooney sat behind Brandon Triche and Michael Carter-Williams as a redshirt freshman, playing just 11 minutes per game. He struggled mightily trying to fill the role as the team’s third guard as Boeheim elected to tighten his rotation.
Cooney played just 20 total minutes in the Orange’s last four NCAA Tournament games.
“When you’re worried about playing time, it’s hard to correct something like your shot,” Cooney said.
Instead of sulking though, Cooney became a sponge. He sat next to McNamara on the bench every game and absorbed everything. The shooting specialists studied the nuances of the game together — chatting, jesting and analyzing from the sideline.
When McNamara transitioned to assistant coach midway through Cooney’s redshirt year, Cooney became the protégé and McNamara his mentor.
“He has been unbelievable,” Cooney said. “He is a great coach on the floor and a great friend off the floor. He has been someone that you can just turn to for anything.”
So Cooney turned his attention to next season. With Carter-Williams and Triche gone, he knew Syracuse needed him to consistently produce in order to be a national contender.
He spent the summer getting into tip-top shape, waking up at 5:30 every morning to work out.
Instead of placing emphasis on bulking up — like he did his freshman year — Cooney focused more on his conditioning, speed and agility.
“This summer I was able to take a step back and really realize what I was doing wrong, and practice the right things,” Cooney said.
His father watched him go from being able to “play linebacker for Syracuse”, to the nimble and agile two-guard that has thrived atop the 2-3 zone this season. Now he is second in the Atlantic Coast Conference in steals.
Cooney lost about eight pounds last summer, cutting down on his late-night Wawa runs and saying goodbye to meatball sandwiches. Instead, it was mom’s cooking. More fruits and vegetables, spaghetti, chicken — what he needed to get his body healthy.
Additional training with family friend and physical therapy assistant John Noonan also helped get Cooney into shape. Going to ATI therapy center at least three times per week, Cooney completed planks, four-to-eight second sprints and exhausting workouts on the treadmill — reaching a maximum of 22 miles per hour.
“Kills you,” Noonan said. “We just kind of gave him the blueprint, and he followed it.”
Delaware native and WNBA star Elena Delle Donne, who’s worked out with Noonan since second grade and trained with Cooney, said Cooney’s drive has always been incredible. She said she could count his misses during workouts on one hand.
“He was one of those people who when I knew he was going to work out, the intensity was going to be raised,” Delle Donne said.
Now his athleticism and motor have reached a new level this year. When teams play him to shoot, he is capable of putting the ball on the floor. When they lay off him — splash. And no matter what, he demands enough attention to open up the Syracuse offense.
Against Boston College Monday night, he soared through the air for three fast-break dunks in a row.
Three points per game-26.7 percent 3-point shooting-Trevor Cooney is history.
Taking jumpers at 4:45 for 7 p.m. games he wouldn’t play in as a freshman finally paid off. Patiently waiting in line to be Syracuse’s next star proved to be the right decision.
And as his all-around game has blossomed, McNamara’s been the driving force to ensure he stays on track. McNamara mastered the intricacies of the zone. He figured out how to get open while draped by athletic defenders.
Now he’s passed those skills onto Cooney.
“He moves as well off the ball as anybody I’ve ever been around,” McNamara said.
Cooney looked up to McNamara as a kid, and now his game has flourished thanks in part to one of his role models. Cooney’s father Brian said McNamara’s “like seven things in one for Trevor.” McNamara’s “been through the fire,” as Trevor’s brother Matt Cooney put it. He can relate to Trevor.
“Gerry was obviously a legend at Syracuse,” Matt Cooney said. “Trevor is hoping to become just a part of what Gerry achieved. If you could just achieve a piece of that it would be a hell of a career.”
Now Cooney – with his reserved swagger and complete game – will look to help Syracuse accomplish something it hasn’t done since 2003, when McNamara was just a 19-year-old freshman…
Win the national championship.
Published on January 15, 2014 at 3:13 am
Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass
Murrell continues journey to become strong defender for SU
A few hours before every home game, Jordan Murrell zones everything else out and focuses on a different kind of game before he steps onto the soccer field.
After a 10-minute run and dribbling warm up, Murrell sits in his apartment and zeroes in on the TV screen. Eyes locked in, fingers in place, he goes to work as music by Trey Songz, Usher or Chris Brown plays in the background.
It’s Call of Duty time.
“People ask me why I do that,” Murrell said. “It just calms me mentally. I’m not too bad. I try to keep up with the rest of the world that plays all the time.”
So far this season that pregame preparation has worked for the sophomore Murrell, who has excelled as a defender for Syracuse. Murrell has anchored an Orange defense that has held opponents to nine goals on the season. He has also chipped in with some timely offense, contributing two goals and five assists.
Shining on a soccer field is nothing new for Murrell, who was born and raised in England. Judith Murrell, Jordan’s mother, said her son was wearing shin pads at 18 months old and became infatuated with the game when he watched his older brother, Joel, play.
One day, Joel was taking a team photograph and Jordan got a little jealous. He saw an opening and quickly darted into the picture, going as fast as his 18-month legs would motor.
“We knew then that he was focused and driven about playing soccer,” Judith Murrell said.
Murrell continued to hone his game on the streets of England. He said players ranged from 3 to 25 years old, so he got accustomed to playing against stronger, faster opponents at a young age.
He used to come home from school, grab his soccer ball and head out to the streets for hours.
“When I could walk I got a ball put in my feet,” Murrell said. “I used to play outside in front of my house from when I got home from school until the lights went off and I had to go inside.”
At the age of 12, Murrell left his life in England to move to Ontario, Canada. His stepfather, who was originally from Canada, decided the move would be the best way for Murrell and his two younger sisters to get a superior education.
When he arrived in Canada, Murrell continued to improve on the field and elevated his game to the next level. He joined the Unionville Milliken Soccer Club, where he played under Filipe Bento.
Bento recalls one game where he drew up a play in a frenzy to try to tie the score in the waning minutes. He called Murrell over and gave him quick, last-second instructions on how to take the free kick.
Worried that he didn’t provide Murrell with enough details, Bento was blown away when he executed the kick to perfection. Murrell sent a perfectly placed pass toward the goal and a teammate found the back of the net for the decisive goal.
“He was always very intelligent,” Bento said. “We could see that he had promise and a future in soccer. He had something different that the other kids didn’t have.”
That intelligence and talent has translated to two successful seasons at Syracuse, and he has his eyes on a Big East championship and an NCAA tournament berth this year.
Against formidable conference foes Rutgers and Louisville, Murrell ignited the Orange with three assists — all of them coming off corner kicks.
Against Rutgers, Murrell lined up for a corner two minutes into overtime. He zeroed in on teammate Lars Muller and lofted the ball toward the goal.
Bull’s-eye.
Murrell hit Muller in stride and the forward’s header beat the keeper, giving Syracuse a win in its first overtime game of the season. Earlier in the game, Murrell set up Jordan Vale beautifully on a corner and Vale timed it perfectly for a score.
Head coach Ian McIntyre moved Murrell to left back because of his on-ball defense and ability to move forward and attack after making a stop. That strategy has worked flawlessly as Murrell has stopped defenders with poise and confidence.
Though Murrell played well for Syracuse last season, McIntyre has seen considerable improvement from the sophomore, who has grown into a vocal leader on a team that has done a 180.
“I think he’s more consistent and mentally tougher,” McIntyre said. “He has more resilience to his game. We’ve moved him to left back because of his quality on the ball. As he showed the other night, he’s got a very sweet left foot.”
Published on October 17, 2012 at 2:54 am
Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass
After a 10-minute run and dribbling warm up, Murrell sits in his apartment and zeroes in on the TV screen. Eyes locked in, fingers in place, he goes to work as music by Trey Songz, Usher or Chris Brown plays in the background.
It’s Call of Duty time.
“People ask me why I do that,” Murrell said. “It just calms me mentally. I’m not too bad. I try to keep up with the rest of the world that plays all the time.”
So far this season that pregame preparation has worked for the sophomore Murrell, who has excelled as a defender for Syracuse. Murrell has anchored an Orange defense that has held opponents to nine goals on the season. He has also chipped in with some timely offense, contributing two goals and five assists.
Shining on a soccer field is nothing new for Murrell, who was born and raised in England. Judith Murrell, Jordan’s mother, said her son was wearing shin pads at 18 months old and became infatuated with the game when he watched his older brother, Joel, play.
One day, Joel was taking a team photograph and Jordan got a little jealous. He saw an opening and quickly darted into the picture, going as fast as his 18-month legs would motor.
“We knew then that he was focused and driven about playing soccer,” Judith Murrell said.
Murrell continued to hone his game on the streets of England. He said players ranged from 3 to 25 years old, so he got accustomed to playing against stronger, faster opponents at a young age.
He used to come home from school, grab his soccer ball and head out to the streets for hours.
“When I could walk I got a ball put in my feet,” Murrell said. “I used to play outside in front of my house from when I got home from school until the lights went off and I had to go inside.”
At the age of 12, Murrell left his life in England to move to Ontario, Canada. His stepfather, who was originally from Canada, decided the move would be the best way for Murrell and his two younger sisters to get a superior education.
When he arrived in Canada, Murrell continued to improve on the field and elevated his game to the next level. He joined the Unionville Milliken Soccer Club, where he played under Filipe Bento.
Bento recalls one game where he drew up a play in a frenzy to try to tie the score in the waning minutes. He called Murrell over and gave him quick, last-second instructions on how to take the free kick.
Worried that he didn’t provide Murrell with enough details, Bento was blown away when he executed the kick to perfection. Murrell sent a perfectly placed pass toward the goal and a teammate found the back of the net for the decisive goal.
“He was always very intelligent,” Bento said. “We could see that he had promise and a future in soccer. He had something different that the other kids didn’t have.”
That intelligence and talent has translated to two successful seasons at Syracuse, and he has his eyes on a Big East championship and an NCAA tournament berth this year.
Against formidable conference foes Rutgers and Louisville, Murrell ignited the Orange with three assists — all of them coming off corner kicks.
Against Rutgers, Murrell lined up for a corner two minutes into overtime. He zeroed in on teammate Lars Muller and lofted the ball toward the goal.
Bull’s-eye.
Murrell hit Muller in stride and the forward’s header beat the keeper, giving Syracuse a win in its first overtime game of the season. Earlier in the game, Murrell set up Jordan Vale beautifully on a corner and Vale timed it perfectly for a score.
Head coach Ian McIntyre moved Murrell to left back because of his on-ball defense and ability to move forward and attack after making a stop. That strategy has worked flawlessly as Murrell has stopped defenders with poise and confidence.
Though Murrell played well for Syracuse last season, McIntyre has seen considerable improvement from the sophomore, who has grown into a vocal leader on a team that has done a 180.
“I think he’s more consistent and mentally tougher,” McIntyre said. “He has more resilience to his game. We’ve moved him to left back because of his quality on the ball. As he showed the other night, he’s got a very sweet left foot.”
Published on October 17, 2012 at 2:54 am
Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass
Silent but deadly: Freshman wing Johnson brings reserved personality to SU bench
B.J. Johnson stood firmly in place with his hands behind his back on the outskirts of the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center gym during media day on Oct. 18.
From his standard, squeaky-clean white, size 14 Jordans up to his No. 2 jersey and orange headband, everything was traditional. No Ron Patterson wacky hair. No DaJuan Coleman outlandish tattoos. No Jerami Grant irreversible grin.
His mother Sharon Dash watched intently from two feet to his right. Johnson’s aunt, uncle and cousin surrounded her. Dash listened as her son mentioned that he can’t swim, his favorite villain is the Joker and he loves any kind of rice.
She knew all of that. But a more challenging question stumped her.
“What’s the most fascinating thing about B.J.?” a reporter asked.
She seemed puzzled by the question. She said she misses her “sweetheart” dearly while he’s at school. When she first opened the door to the Melo Center, she said, “Where’s my son? Where’s my son?” And she loved going to every one of his games at Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania.
But she couldn’t pinpoint anything that stood out about him.
“He’s just such a plain kid,” Dash said. “Baby, you’ve got to get interesting.”
Then Johnson flashed a golden smile, revealing a slight gap between his two front teeth. He swayed back and forth, clearly uncomfortable by the entire situation. Johnson, who’s only 17, is as quiet as they come, according to his relatives. But his reserved nature and tendency to fly under the radar made him lethal in high school and may help him earn a spot in the Syracuse rotation.
The banter continued. Dash and her sister Michelle Scott quipped about just how quiet Johnson is.
“I think he talks too much,” Scott said.
“Noooo,” Dash responded, incredulously looking at her sister, taking a step back and jerking her head downward in disbelief.
“I was being facetious,” Scott responded wryly.
But Johnson’s father Bobby Johnson, who played professional basketball in Portugal and Germany, is the antithesis of quiet. When Bobby grew up in South Philadelphia, the culture was completely different. Jawing and trash talk was incessant. It was the expectation. You had to go out there and play and shut those people up, Bobby Johnson said. If you didn’t, you’d never come back on the floor again.
Johnson and his father used to wake up at 6 a.m. and head to Lower Merion to work out for an hour. Johnson was dedicated throughout, Bobby said, but he didn’t always show enthusiasm on the court.
“At one point in time I thought you had to stick a pin in him to get him to wake up,” Bobby Johnson said. “He was always laid back, and I would always tell him, ‘When you come out on the floor, we don’t need that cool sh*t.’”
He didn’t hear his son swear until he was 15 or 16.
“I think the first time I actually heard him yell out the four-letter word he was playing at one of the practices and he was like ‘F*ck!’” Bobby Johnson said. “I was like, ‘OK, you do care.’”
Before Lower Merion’s state championship game against Chester (Pa.) High School, Johnson and his father drove to the rehabilitation center because Johnson had sprained his ankle and needed treatment. Bobby tried to elicit some sort of enthusiasm out of his son — to make sure he was ready for the biggest game of his high school career.
After losing to Chester three years in a row, Johnson and the Aces were out for revenge. But Johnson was calm, unfazed by the pressure of the situation.
“I got ‘em, dad,” he said coolly.
“He got ‘em!” Bobby said. Lower Merion beat Chester 63-47, ending the Clippers’ 78-game in-state winning streak. Johnson finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds. But the fire was never fully there.
When Bobby Johnson first watched his son play at Lower Merion, he sat there wondering if the other fans would get riled up like he did.
“When I first went to the games, the Lower Merion people are sitting there like it’s a cricket match,” Bobby said. “I remember being like, ‘What the — ain’t anybody going to get the guys going?’”
Months later, removed from one of the most dominant stints at Lower Merion since Kobe Bryant’s hey-day, Johnson comes to SU as the No. 17 small forward in the class of 2013. Yet on media day, few reporters come his way. He stands far from the center of attention as reporters crowd around stars C.J. Fair and Grant.
Most people don’t expect Johnson to play much this season. He may not. But his quiet confidence will help prepare him if he does. He’s not a blue-chipper, 5-star guy, Bobby said, but he works every day.
“Sometimes it’s better to be that guy that comes in under the radar and just does what he needs to do,” Bobby said. “Then all of a sudden everybody’s saying, ‘I knew he would be that guy.’”
Bobby Johnson recalls asking his son a question back in high school.
“It was funny because I asked B.J., ‘Suppose this summer you really blew up and had Roy Williams knocking on your door. Would you want to go to North Carolina?
“And he was like, ‘No.’
“I said ‘If Coach K was knocking on your door, would you want to go to Duke?’
“And he was like, ‘No.’
“He had a plan, and it’s what he wanted to do.”
Now Johnson’s ready to live out the dream he has had since seventh grade: star at Syracuse. Jim Boeheim said Johnson has surprised the coaching staff up to this point. He’s young, but he can ball.
“I’m just really excited to be here and for the season to start,” Johnson said. “That’s pretty much all I’ve been waiting for and now it’s here.”
Published on November 6, 2013 at 3:28 am
Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass
From his standard, squeaky-clean white, size 14 Jordans up to his No. 2 jersey and orange headband, everything was traditional. No Ron Patterson wacky hair. No DaJuan Coleman outlandish tattoos. No Jerami Grant irreversible grin.
His mother Sharon Dash watched intently from two feet to his right. Johnson’s aunt, uncle and cousin surrounded her. Dash listened as her son mentioned that he can’t swim, his favorite villain is the Joker and he loves any kind of rice.
She knew all of that. But a more challenging question stumped her.
“What’s the most fascinating thing about B.J.?” a reporter asked.
She seemed puzzled by the question. She said she misses her “sweetheart” dearly while he’s at school. When she first opened the door to the Melo Center, she said, “Where’s my son? Where’s my son?” And she loved going to every one of his games at Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania.
But she couldn’t pinpoint anything that stood out about him.
“He’s just such a plain kid,” Dash said. “Baby, you’ve got to get interesting.”
Then Johnson flashed a golden smile, revealing a slight gap between his two front teeth. He swayed back and forth, clearly uncomfortable by the entire situation. Johnson, who’s only 17, is as quiet as they come, according to his relatives. But his reserved nature and tendency to fly under the radar made him lethal in high school and may help him earn a spot in the Syracuse rotation.
The banter continued. Dash and her sister Michelle Scott quipped about just how quiet Johnson is.
“I think he talks too much,” Scott said.
“Noooo,” Dash responded, incredulously looking at her sister, taking a step back and jerking her head downward in disbelief.
“I was being facetious,” Scott responded wryly.
But Johnson’s father Bobby Johnson, who played professional basketball in Portugal and Germany, is the antithesis of quiet. When Bobby grew up in South Philadelphia, the culture was completely different. Jawing and trash talk was incessant. It was the expectation. You had to go out there and play and shut those people up, Bobby Johnson said. If you didn’t, you’d never come back on the floor again.
Johnson and his father used to wake up at 6 a.m. and head to Lower Merion to work out for an hour. Johnson was dedicated throughout, Bobby said, but he didn’t always show enthusiasm on the court.
“At one point in time I thought you had to stick a pin in him to get him to wake up,” Bobby Johnson said. “He was always laid back, and I would always tell him, ‘When you come out on the floor, we don’t need that cool sh*t.’”
He didn’t hear his son swear until he was 15 or 16.
“I think the first time I actually heard him yell out the four-letter word he was playing at one of the practices and he was like ‘F*ck!’” Bobby Johnson said. “I was like, ‘OK, you do care.’”
Before Lower Merion’s state championship game against Chester (Pa.) High School, Johnson and his father drove to the rehabilitation center because Johnson had sprained his ankle and needed treatment. Bobby tried to elicit some sort of enthusiasm out of his son — to make sure he was ready for the biggest game of his high school career.
After losing to Chester three years in a row, Johnson and the Aces were out for revenge. But Johnson was calm, unfazed by the pressure of the situation.
“I got ‘em, dad,” he said coolly.
“He got ‘em!” Bobby said. Lower Merion beat Chester 63-47, ending the Clippers’ 78-game in-state winning streak. Johnson finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds. But the fire was never fully there.
When Bobby Johnson first watched his son play at Lower Merion, he sat there wondering if the other fans would get riled up like he did.
“When I first went to the games, the Lower Merion people are sitting there like it’s a cricket match,” Bobby said. “I remember being like, ‘What the — ain’t anybody going to get the guys going?’”
Months later, removed from one of the most dominant stints at Lower Merion since Kobe Bryant’s hey-day, Johnson comes to SU as the No. 17 small forward in the class of 2013. Yet on media day, few reporters come his way. He stands far from the center of attention as reporters crowd around stars C.J. Fair and Grant.
Most people don’t expect Johnson to play much this season. He may not. But his quiet confidence will help prepare him if he does. He’s not a blue-chipper, 5-star guy, Bobby said, but he works every day.
“Sometimes it’s better to be that guy that comes in under the radar and just does what he needs to do,” Bobby said. “Then all of a sudden everybody’s saying, ‘I knew he would be that guy.’”
Bobby Johnson recalls asking his son a question back in high school.
“It was funny because I asked B.J., ‘Suppose this summer you really blew up and had Roy Williams knocking on your door. Would you want to go to North Carolina?
“And he was like, ‘No.’
“I said ‘If Coach K was knocking on your door, would you want to go to Duke?’
“And he was like, ‘No.’
“He had a plan, and it’s what he wanted to do.”
Now Johnson’s ready to live out the dream he has had since seventh grade: star at Syracuse. Jim Boeheim said Johnson has surprised the coaching staff up to this point. He’s young, but he can ball.
“I’m just really excited to be here and for the season to start,” Johnson said. “That’s pretty much all I’ve been waiting for and now it’s here.”
Published on November 6, 2013 at 3:28 am
Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass
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