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Post by iona05 on Dec 27, 2014 11:04:36 GMT -5
Came across this recruiting letter from Jimmy V while he was coaching at Iona. m.ebay.com/itm/261499530669?nav=SEARCHBest part of the letter: "we are shooting for a national championship and you can help take us there." Whether or not it was genuine or BS, can't help but admire his belief and passion. Also, it's hard not to imagine what would've come of our program had he stuck around for another 4 or 5 years. |
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Post by Super on Dec 27, 2014 12:12:03 GMT -5
Came across this recruiting letter from Jimmy V while he was coaching at Iona. m.ebay.com/itm/261499530669?nav=SEARCHBest part of the letter: "we are shooting for a national championship and you can help take us there." Whether or not it was genuine or BS, can't help but admire his belief and passion. Also, it's hard not to imagine what would've come of our program had he stuck around for another 4 or 5 years. When Jimmy V was introduced as head coach, his comments were not taken too seriously by the Iona faithful.. To paraphrase him, he said that people around Iona wanted to beat Fordham and Manhattan. He implied that he would take care of that in year one. He then indicated we would go on to play a national schedule, be the best team in the entire Metro area, play national programs in the Garden, particularly at the then coveted 9:00 game, and compete for the national championship. He was a man of his word. We actually had our best chance/pathway to a Final Four in 1979 when we lost to Penn in the opening round game where Dave Brown was injured in the opening minutes. In my opinion, we also had a pathway to the Final Four the following year. Had Jeff not signed the illegal contract, I believe Jimmy would have stayed around for the Ruland/Springer/Burtt/Vesey, Iati, et al team which might have been even better than the previous 2. |
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Post by Cjb on Dec 27, 2014 13:06:41 GMT -5
Great find, 05.
I'd love to know the recipient of that letter. Sidney Green, Tony (Red) Bruin or maybe even Gary Springer or Steve Burtt?
V could sell snowballs at the North Pole.
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Post by sharkey on Dec 27, 2014 13:49:10 GMT -5
I saw Jimmy V interviewed at a book store signing and he said playing and winning the 900PM game at the garden with Iona meant just as much to him as winning the national championship with NC State. And I believed him 100%.
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Post by gregcrow on Dec 28, 2014 8:46:29 GMT -5
I got the exact same letter!
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Post by oldtimer on Dec 28, 2014 12:12:15 GMT -5
Valvano was one of the guys that's fun to around...You would be delighted to see him turn up as you knew he would brighten and liven the day.....He never failed on away games to visit our rooms and spend a fun filled hour or so. I had a uncle now deceased exactly like him...He also told tall tales, but there was always a kernel of truth somewhere in them...On the way to a golf course one early A.M. he cracked us up with this one....... He said that he once bet a guy that he could swim across the Long Island sound...Further...He got to a couple of hundred yards of the Long Island side, but became very tired and knew he could not make it, so he turned around and swam back to the New Rochelle shore....You could expect many such tales...But you had to search for the truth....... My uncle Pete even though he never weighed more then 135 lbs was a very good golfer, boxer and all around athlete....the truth in is story was he on occasion DID make the trip with group of across the sound swimmers....... Valvano and Pete would have made a terrific old time vaudeville act...  Last time I checked the line...Iona was a 5 1/2 favorite with one house having them at -6....Would be a good statement game to make before UMASS... |
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Post by ichoops on Dec 28, 2014 18:09:04 GMT -5
Valvano was one of the guys that's fun to around...You would be delighted to see him turn up as you knew he would brighten and liven the day.....He never failed on away games to visit our rooms and spend a fun filled hour or so. I had a uncle now deceased exactly like him...He also told tall tales, but there was always a kernel of truth somewhere in them...On the way to a golf course one early A.M. he cracked us up with this one....... He said that he once bet a guy that he could swim across the Long Island sound...Further...He got to a couple of hundred yards of the Long Island side, but became very tired and knew he could not make it, so he turned around and swam back to the New Rochelle shore....You could expect many such tales...But you had to search for the truth....... My uncle Pete even though he never weighed more then 135 lbs was a very good golfer, boxer and all around athlete....the truth in is story was he on occasion DID make the trip with group of across the sound swimmers....... Valvano and Pete would have made a terrific old time vaudeville act... Last time I checked the line...Iona was a 5 1/2 favorite with one house having them at -6....Would be a good statement game to make before UMASS... Did Valvano ever give us a game after he left? |
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Post by Super on Dec 28, 2014 18:41:34 GMT -5
Valvano was one of the guys that's fun to around...You would be delighted to see him turn up as you knew he would brighten and liven the day.....He never failed on away games to visit our rooms and spend a fun filled hour or so. I had a uncle now deceased exactly like him...He also told tall tales, but there was always a kernel of truth somewhere in them...On the way to a golf course one early A.M. he cracked us up with this one....... He said that he once bet a guy that he could swim across the Long Island sound...Further...He got to a couple of hundred yards of the Long Island side, but became very tired and knew he could not make it, so he turned around and swam back to the New Rochelle shore....You could expect many such tales...But you had to search for the truth....... My uncle Pete even though he never weighed more then 135 lbs was a very good golfer, boxer and all around athlete....the truth in is story was he on occasion DID make the trip with group of across the sound swimmers....... Valvano and Pete would have made a terrific old time vaudeville act... Last time I checked the line...Iona was a 5 1/2 favorite with one house having them at -6....Would be a good statement game to make before UMASS... Did Valvano ever give us a game after he left? We played NC State in the Holiday Festival at MSG the year after he left--and lost. |
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Post by Joebird on Dec 28, 2014 19:24:16 GMT -5
Did Valvano ever give us a game after he left? We played NC State in the Holiday Festival at MSG the year after he left--and lost. But was that tourney field already set before he even left? |
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Post by Super on Dec 28, 2014 19:47:26 GMT -5
We played NC State in the Holiday Festival at MSG the year after he left--and lost. But was that tourney field already set before he even left? Don't think so! MSG loved the matchup- as I recall 34 years later.  ? |
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Post by hawaii bill on Dec 29, 2014 13:39:00 GMT -5
I got the exact same letter! That's odd, I got a letter from Valvano where he said to me "We really hope you go to St. Peter's" |
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