Just finished the Staak chapter in Xavier Tales...

[Mr. Neutral]

....and was reminded how much I liked that SOB. Those were great years, when it was all first-time success, no expectations, packed games in Schmidt, etc.

It would have been interesting to see how the b-ball program would have progressed had Bob stayed. Either way, anyone not giving Staak major props for getting the moribund X program on the right track is making a big mistake.

And that era had some of my favorite X players-Jeff Jenkins, Richie Harris, and lesser lights like Leroy Greendidge, Eddie Johnson, etc. It was such a breath of fresh air for those of us who had seen nothing but mediocrity (or worse) in X basketball for years.

Like all of us who were there, I'll never forget the win over Evansville clinching the MCC regular season title, Hollins standing on the rim in Schmidt, and then getting hammered with the players at a jammed Dana's afterwards. Sweet.

[muskienick]

Based on what I've heard about Coach Staak, he would have been more than understanding of the boys' "spiritual" celebration (another reason I always liked him)!

Frankly, no coach before Staak (in my memory) had quite the zeal and fire in his approach to the game and none before him demanded so much from his players.

And he was the first coach during my Xavier "fan-dom" who sacificed a player with huge potential (Jon Hanley) for the good of the overall team. (Unfortunately, it was reported that Hanley's ego far outdistanced his potential.)

[muskieman]

I agree prior coaches never had the zeal and they never seemed to think they needed to sell the program to the students and public at large. Bob was always "around" whereas other coaches maybe with the exception of Krajack seemed to never be available.

[Mr. Neutral]

<<(Unfortunately, it was reported that Hanley's ego far outdistanced his potential.)>>

Hanley, playing hard, was a very good player. Not a defensive stopper by any means, but a scorer and rebounder. he could have been one of Xavier's better players.

I remember sitting in Schmidt watching a practice with classmate Jerry Helmers, who was a pretty darn good player himself. Hanley was out on the wing, stopped on a dime, turned and swished a 22-footer. Jerry just said "there aren't many guys his size who can do that".

[Masterofreality]

How about the Lew Hirt Society being featured on page 32 with our Charman and Founder Valiton scarfing up all of the glory?

[Mr. Neutral]

Yes, it was rather selfish of Jim.

I thought that the messageboards' role in the XU program would have gotten a mention, but no.

[muskieman]

Yes, it was rather selfish of Jim.

I thought that the messageboards' role in the XU program would have gotten a mention, but no.

What do you expect when they have moderators like you and me! Don't they know how we control the success and failure of this program?????

[Mr. Neutral]

Good point. If these messageboards carry the weight that some people say they do, and the XU program has done very well over the last 25+ years, then we deserve some of the credit, right?

Or do we just get the blame?

[wkrq59]

Nick,
You might not remember Ned Wulk. He had every bit of the fire and demand that Staak had and was also a pioneer in integrating the Xavier program and upgrading the athletes talent

[muskieman]

Good point. If these messageboards carry the weight that some people say they do, and the XU program has done very well over the last 25+ years, then we deserve some of the credit, right?

Or do we just get the blame?

WE Don't look at me ke-mo sah-bee!