Friday, February 13, 2009

Hoya Paranoia



Could it possibly be 29 years ago?
Feb. 13, 1980


It's the last home game at Manley Field House. Syracuse has a 57-game homecourt winning streak. It's the last home game for SU seniors Louis Orr and Roosevelt Bouie. The Hoyas ruin the festivities, knocking off the Orangemen 52-50. But it's what Georgetown coach John Thompson said after the game that makes this game famous. "Manley Field House is officially closed," Thompson declared. These words would ignite a rivalry for the ages.

Don Assman and I sat in the top of row of Manley that evening and watched in disbelief. Here was Thompson, a senior at Providence when I was a sophomore, bringing havoc to the Orangemen.