Another Former RU Coach

[djrc89]

Actually ..there were four or five key moments in the A-10 run of 88-89

-the loss to St. John's in the meadowlands by a basket ...sign that we really could play

-the one point loss at the RAC to 15th ranked West Virginia when Craig's shot bounced off the rim and could have went. That left us 8-11, but very hungry

-the win at the RAC over temple and Mark Macon to make us 13-12....that was the win that got us over the hump that we could WiN against the Quality opponents. TV got a close up with bob Wenzel telling the official f u when he got T'd up

-then following the win up with wins over st Bonnie and Rhode Island on the road give us confidence that we could win and bring it away from the RAC

I remember being in Florida and I think they beat rhody on the road in January. By the time temple came around I remember knowing we would win. I think it was never close.

 

[BillyC80]

Loudest I ever experienced the RAC was that A10 tourney final against PSU.

 

[Lawboy]

Went to speak to Gruninger about the hire before it happened right after the interview. Had been called by a friend of mine who sat on the U of P athletic council and was a big deal in their alumni association. He told me Craig was the nicest guy going but was a disaster as a coach. They could not fire him because of alumni pressure but were not renewing his contract. Gave this info to Gruninger and the contact info for my friend and he told me Craig was his guy and Penn just wanted to keep him. I consequently got invited to his hoops camp and vividly remember speaking to both Craig and Tom Crowley for a while that evening. A lot of inner city kids from DC and Jersey at the camp and because of the vocabulary Craig used they had no idea what he was saying, it was over their heads. Was also invited to Wenzels first camp and it was night and day. Bob connected with the kids as he started with the line " imagine if you would that you are playing basketball for Rutgers Universirty and our team is in the final four".

 

[LC-88]

Went to speak to Gruninger about the hire before it happened right after the interview. Had been called by a friend of mine who sat on the U of P athletic council and was a big deal in their alumni association. He told me Craig was the nicest guy going but was a disaster as a coach. They could not fire him because of alumni pressure but were not renewing his contract. Gave this info to Gruninger and the contact info for my friend and he told me Craig was his guy and Penn just wanted to keep him. I consequently got invited to his hoops camp and vividly remember speaking to both Craig and Tom Crowley for a while that evening. A lot of inner city kids from DC and Jersey at the camp and because of the vocabulary Craig used they had no idea what he was saying, it was over their heads. Was also invited to Wenzels first camp and it was night and day. Bob connected with the kids as he started with the line " imagine if you would that you are playing basketball for Rutgers Universirty and our team is in the final four".

You should have said your name was Bill Walsh. Fred may have listened to you. Thx for posting your story. Great insight.