You Tube: Rutgers v. Ohio State 1978 Holiday Festival
- Thread starter ColonelRutgers
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Was at the Ohio state game in 1978
Under the hoop where James slammed in the game winner
Under the hoop where James slammed in the game winner
Back then we would almost sell out the Garden. Win in the Big 10 and RU fans will come out of the woodwork. Great to near names out of the past - Brown, Strickland, Madlinger, Troy, Bailey, Anderson. OSU's Kelvin Ramsey and Herb Williams were probably the best players on the court though.
Hard to believe that was almost 40 years ago. I was a junior at RU and just finished a holiday meal at home with my family, when I asked my uncle if he felt like taking a drive into Manhattan to see the game.
We somehow managed to park right across the street from the Garden, just after tip-off, walked in and saw this outrageous triple overtime battle. As I recall Bailey and Ransey were each awarded Co-MVP of the tourney.
My uncle is 82 now and he still raves about that game. What a night -- we were so excited talkin about it on the way home that we drove right past our exit on the turnpike, lol.
We somehow managed to park right across the street from the Garden, just after tip-off, walked in and saw this outrageous triple overtime battle. As I recall Bailey and Ransey were each awarded Co-MVP of the tourney.
My uncle is 82 now and he still raves about that game. What a night -- we were so excited talkin about it on the way home that we drove right past our exit on the turnpike, lol.
I remember the game running late into the evening. My friend had to leave while the game was still in regulation time to catch the last bus back to his home in NJ. I decided to sneak down into some courtside seats somewhere along the baseline in the second half. One of the best Rutgers games ever.
Correct...my dad and I didn't get out of the Garden until past midnight and I didn't get home until way past 1 AM....glad it was winter break and no school
I was at this game, and it was certainly one of the most fun RU games to watch, and one of the best RU games ever.
I have now watched the video (thanks for posting it), and I have to say I have forgotten how GOOD that team was - and how many good players there were on that team.
Besides the obvious, James Bailey as one of RU's best ever players (I think a toss-up between him and Sellers as to who was the best, with Lloyd a very close 3rd), as I watch, I had forgotten just how good Abdel Anderson was. Troy was just a Freshman or Sophomore in this game - and was really quite good, even then. I had forgotten that Tom Brown was a very good PG - not a star, but solid defensively, a good shooter, and a very good ball handler and passer. Strickland was also very, very solid. The bench included McDaniel - who had a terrific 1st half against OSU, I am seeing - Bailey had foul trouble and was limited in his minutes. Darius Griffin was a reserve on this team - and was a defensive dynamo even then - and a good rebounder. There is one player whose name I did not recognize, who played ... and Matt Madlinger played a little in the 1st half (not that good, but man was he a good shooter in High School).
Of course, Ransey and Herb Williams were great for OSU. I had forgotten that OSU had upset #1 Duke to advance to play RU - and RU had beaten St. Johns to play OSU. The Holiday Festival had set it up to make sure 1 of the 2 local teams was in the Finals - no doubt expecting St. Johns to face Duke, but got RU versus OSU - and as good a game as good have been wished for.
I have now watched the video (thanks for posting it), and I have to say I have forgotten how GOOD that team was - and how many good players there were on that team.
Besides the obvious, James Bailey as one of RU's best ever players (I think a toss-up between him and Sellers as to who was the best, with Lloyd a very close 3rd), as I watch, I had forgotten just how good Abdel Anderson was. Troy was just a Freshman or Sophomore in this game - and was really quite good, even then. I had forgotten that Tom Brown was a very good PG - not a star, but solid defensively, a good shooter, and a very good ball handler and passer. Strickland was also very, very solid. The bench included McDaniel - who had a terrific 1st half against OSU, I am seeing - Bailey had foul trouble and was limited in his minutes. Darius Griffin was a reserve on this team - and was a defensive dynamo even then - and a good rebounder. There is one player whose name I did not recognize, who played ... and Matt Madlinger played a little in the 1st half (not that good, but man was he a good shooter in High School).
Of course, Ransey and Herb Williams were great for OSU. I had forgotten that OSU had upset #1 Duke to advance to play RU - and RU had beaten St. Johns to play OSU. The Holiday Festival had set it up to make sure 1 of the 2 local teams was in the Finals - no doubt expecting St. Johns to face Duke, but got RU versus OSU - and as good a game as good have been wished for.
Best game I ever attended and I have been at all the big ones except 1989 Penn State. Took the train to NYC for Garden games often.
In this game there were 8 seconds left in the first OT and we're down 4. Strickland hits 2 free throws, we steal the in-bound and tie it. Listen to the crowd volume at that point. It was awesome to be there.
In this game there were 8 seconds left in the first OT and we're down 4. Strickland hits 2 free throws, we steal the in-bound and tie it. Listen to the crowd volume at that point. It was awesome to be there.
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Things like this give me hope for the future. People sometimes forget that we're not some school with no fanbase. 40 years ago the Garden was rocking as RU took down OSU.
Billy Clarke was the other PG who played in that game. I was there as well and I have always loved that game. Abdel Anderson stole two passes with his long arms at the end of one of the sessions. We were down by 5 points with 15 seconds and Strickland made a foul shot and with 2 other baskets we kept the game going. I still want to find a copy of the win over St. John's in the finals of the ECAC championship at MSG in March 1976 and our loss to St. John's in March 1979 in Greensboro, NC in the NCAA. Both games were televised. Someone must have a copy of those two games.
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I was at this game.... what I remember without watching the video on it yet, was that the RU team and the fans thought that the Texas guards would be crap and easy to beat..... one of them looked small and chubby....as I recall it was exactly the other way around....it seemed they would get a rebound and one of their guards would get the pass ahead of everyone else for easy shots..... will have to watch... a game I expected to win
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yeah, as I have oft mentioned, I had my coat on, ready to leave a loser, several times in this game...was more than happy to take it off, stay for more
Classic game!! Easily one of RU's top five hoop games of all time.
I can still hear the small contingent of Ohio State fans near the Buckeye bench chanting OH - IO after timeouts when they were winning. In the end our boys silenced them!!
Who here remembers or was at the exciting game against UNLV at the Spectrum around this same time? I forget the year but recall it was an afternoon doubleheader with a women's game.
I can still hear the small contingent of Ohio State fans near the Buckeye bench chanting OH - IO after timeouts when they were winning. In the end our boys silenced them!!
Who here remembers or was at the exciting game against UNLV at the Spectrum around this same time? I forget the year but recall it was an afternoon doubleheader with a women's game.
Went to both of the games in the Holiday Festival. Had tickets in the first row for the St. John's game and then a few rows back for OSU. For a long time, that final was the best game I ever attended in any sport. (now #2 behind the 92 NLCS game 7).
Those Garden appearances were big deals in those days.
Those Garden appearances were big deals in those days.
Wow. I had never seen the video of the watch award presentation after the win. I had a brown jacket on with my beard and was about 155 pounds. Times have really changed in the 40 years......
That was the best game I have ever been involved with.
Best of Luck,
Groz
That was the best game I have ever been involved with.
Best of Luck,
Groz
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I was at this also..... a family friend got me tickets in the first row.... as I recall we were ahead late but lost it near the very end with an outside shot..... a game we easily could have won, and should have.
one of the UNLV fans was making excuses all during the game, saying that the team played a bunch of games close together, and was probably tired.....
Unionst:
I think the 1989 RU vs PSU Atlantic 10 Championship game could be argued as the #1 RU game ... I would argue that game should be ahead of RU-OSU.
Also the RU-St. Bonaventure 1976 game, to close RU's undefeated regular season.
I might rank both of those ahead of the RU-OSU Holiday Festival game.
And, as others will point out, the RU upset of #1 (were they #1, or just top 10?) WVU, or maybe the RU upset of UCLA in the Meadowlands ... and a couple of others I am surely missing ... rank up there also.
I think WVU was #6 in 1982 when RU upset them but that's a bit before my time.
