Hardwood Club Dinner..

[cto]

This dinner is held every year after conclusion of the regular season. JB speaks about the season and the outlook for the post-season, and he talks about the seniors. The seniors all get to speak, and a worthy former Syracusian is given the Vic Hansen award. It is a great event, and I am always surprised that more folks here do not attend it.

I am not Tomcat of the total recall, and tonight I was seated at a table where I could not take notes. Therefore this report will be pretty superficial. That said, here are some of the highlights.

1) Craig Forth, center on our 2003 NC team, and currently a principal in the Albany area, was honored with the Vic Hansen award. He was there with his wife, his two beautiful children and his parents Murray and Maggie whom I got to know when Craig was a student here. JB noted Craig was SU's only two-time Academic All-American, and he wondered how Craig managed to get one B among his otherwise straight-A record here.

2) JB was effusive in his praise of both Trevor Cooney and Michael Gbinije. Both players spoke positively about their experiences here. I had not heard this before but apparently Adrian Autry was key in getting Michael to transfor here from Duke.

3). JB was was very insightful and funny in his introductions of all the other players. I will not try to recapture it here. All I will say is that more people should attend this dinner if they want an inside look at the players and non-playing basketball personnel. Plus AD Mark Coyle and all the other senior athletic department folks were there, wandering around during the pre-dinner reception and chatting with all who wanted to meet them.

I know this is a pretty boring report about an evening that definitely was not boring. Solution: Attend one of these dinners and you will not be bored.

PS... The good news is that I did not get arrested after the dinner this year. I remembered that Harrison is a one-way street near the On Center.

 

[Moontan]

How was the food?

 

[realorange]

It's nice to see a positive report on this site. Refreshing!

 

[Headmaster 9]

Obie9 and I were trying to figure out how many years we've been going to the Hardwood dinner... Too many to count!

I always love JB's player intro's. His sense of humor always shines through. It has been awhile since I've seen him choke up about exiting players. A true testimate to Cooney & G and who they are as people as much as players . Say what you want about TC but he bleeds orange and has an outstanding work ethic. G has improved tremendously and had been our MVP all year. We can't wait to follow him in the Olympics this summer.

It was great to see Craig back being honored for not only his scholar- athletic accomplishments, but his dedication to his career outside of Badketball . From a fellow principal, I can attest to the fact that he works harder every day now than he ever did!

The silent auction to benefit the Conrad McCrea scholarship fund is always a favorite...however I personally think the items up for bid have gone down in quality in the past couple years. There is an autograph line... Buy a poster and take it down a line to have players sign. Great way for kids to meet players but used to be able to take an item of your own through too. No longer allowed to do that so players are approached all through dinner.

Always love the highlight reel, the staff does a nice job every year. Senior player remarks are good... Christian, Trevor and Mike all did a nice job.

Oh... Food is usually awful. We have often eaten afterward.

It is a great way to end regular season & wish the team well in the post season. Go Orange, beat Pitt ... And the rest off them too!

 

[pfister1]

I had not heard this before but apparently Adrian Autry was key in getting Michael to transfor here from Duke.

That can't be true because our assistant coaches are all terrible recruiters.