Furman, Finebaum and Greenville SC Madness Regional

    A lot was made over the weekend about South Carolina Gamecocks last appearance in the NCAA tourney was in 1973. Alex English of that team was in the crowd  in Greenville SC and they showed him several times.

    I called the Paul Finebaum show yesterday and told Paul the reason Brian Winters, Mike Dunleavy and Alex English didn't go back in 74 was Because Clyde Mayes, Bruce Grimm, Gary Clarke and other Furman Paladins beat them in the East Regional that year.

   Furman had the Big F emblem in the top right corner of your screen all weekend as a co sponsor of the Greenville Regional. But of the many mentions of Gamecocks in 73, nobody mentioned Furman in 74, least I didn't hear em.

   I was trying to tell Finebaum to take it up with Ryan McGhee his ESPN colleague whose Dad worked in marketing at Furman in the 80s but Finebaum cut me off. I don't think it was as much disrespect as he keeps his show moving on whim. At least he gave me a little oxygen with Greg McElroy when I called to talk about the Bear and George Wallace in 2012

   I checked all this out with my Freshman hallmate at Furman Clyde Mayes.  Mayes played in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks. The Furman Bonhomie is true, Furman beat them that year and advanced to play Providence.

    It was in the days when Joe Williams came to Furman from Jacksonsville Florida on heels of taking Artis Gilmore who had played at Gardner Webb to the National Championship.

   It was Furman glory days and I was there in the stands at the Old Memorial Colliseum to take much of it in.

     The Gamecocks had a second half for the ages. I do think Duke could beat them 3 of 5 games but the Cocks won the one that counted this year.  Bad call on Kennard for the fifth foul but it was Carolina's half and they deserved the win. All Hail and Glory to them and best of luck the rest of the way.

    But next year, if it comes around again, let's give Furman its due in Gamecock Roundball History.