Dave Sez

Interesting read, Dave. My wife and I were at that game (we were living in Albuquerque at the time) and it was truly unbelievable. Of all the people in the Pit, I think fewer that 1000 were cheering for Purdue by the end of the game. Overall, we had an excellent six games that weekend -- Georgia-Clemson as an excellent 8-9 (UGA went on to beat Purdue in the second round), the obligatory 12-5 upset (Drexel over Memphis), and a very good Syracuse team that went on to play for the National Championship.

One of the strangest things about that weekend? The insane number of Dragon and Catamount fans in attendance (with a decent sprinkling of Bobcats, too). One of the best things about the weekend? Beers on Central Avenue followed by hot, buttered cinnamon buns (Albuquerque's answer to "hot doughnuts now") at the Frontier afterwards.

Reminds me of the guy who coached Indiana State and Larry Bird in the NCAA championship game. Five (?) years later he was at a high school, and not even coaching.

Neither, last I heard, is the Weber State coach who knocked off UNC a couple of years back.

If you read this story carefully, I am not sure of the premise. I think that this guy had some serious issues that would have kept him from moving away from the metropolis of Cullowee.

Sounds like Hopkins may have had some issues - but it is an interesting read. The Hayes twins referred in the article were very very good players at my alma mater - UGA. Also, Walhalla, SC is not very far from Cullowhee, NC and both are located in/near the beautiful Blue Ridge mountain area of northeast Ga., the upstate western corner of SC and the mountains of western NC. - beautiful area of the country, but not necessarily basketball hotbeds.

Western Carolina is an interesting situation...I'm going to throw out a mid-to-late 1960's player (arguably first great black player in the south, preceded Charles Scott, and all other pioneers in this great game)...anyone remember Henry Logan at Western Carolina? A great great player from about 1966 - 1969 at tiny Western Carolina. Read up on Henry if you have the time.

Yeah, Hopkins has married three times. Always a warning flag, but then coaches tend to go through marriages. Good coaches are quite often obsessive, overly competitive and workaholics.

Was there some other hint that I missed?

Granted, most of the players have tattoos now, but tattooed coaches seem out of place, except maybe in the merchant marine.