MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

jeloesel · August 23, 2009, 07:27:59 AM

Bob Johnson was one of the great ones. He will be missed at E&H, in the ODAC, and throughout college basketball.

http://www.ehc.edu/cgi-bin/MySQLdb?VIEW=/news/viewone.txt&newsid=4387

xcoach · August 23, 2009, 11:17:10 AM

I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Coach Johnson. I used to love sitting down on his bench with him upon arrival, shooting the bull, and listening to his music. The last time we communicated, I sent him an email wishing him the best following his retirement and commented that I hoped his musical selections would remain a staple of the E&H pregame shootarounds. In his reply, he assured me that I could count on the continued sounds of Motown reverberating through the gym at E&H. I know that whenever I hear The Temptations singing "Ain't To Proud To Beg"...I'm going to remember one of the finest men I ever met.
Stan Bright

jeloesel · August 24, 2009, 07:26:47 AM

Thanks for sharing one of your Bob Johnson memories, Stan. Everyone who knew Bob has a story to tell. The Roanoke Times story this morning adds several more.

http://www.roanoke.com/sports/college/wb/216431

jdubyadubya · August 24, 2009, 11:15:22 AM

Bob Johnson was a terrific coach and formidable adversary. All that being said, he was the most welcoming of coaches, even to the enemy. On one occasion, Carol and I were walking past his office before gametime and he motioned us to come in and sit down for a chat. Coach Johnson was a real people person. He loved to turn up the heat on his opponents - literally and figuratively! You never knew what was going to happen when you walked into the E&H gym. It's the end of an era there. Rest well Bob, you earned it.

algernon · August 24, 2009, 04:30:11 PM

When my soccer-playing son graduated from high school and went to Emory and Henry College in 2000, I was privileged to meet Bob Johnson, because he taught my son's freshman-level Western Culture course.

Every time I saw Bob Johnson in a gym after that, he always remembered and asked about my son. He was one of the friendliest people I have met. It is easy to see why he was loved by those who knew him best.

hasanova · August 26, 2009, 11:38:29 PM

Another name for Guilford basketball this season will be 6'0" guard Travis Tracy of Spartanburg (SC) Day school. Not sure how the alliances are set, but looks as though his team competed for the NCISAA championship (NC Independent School Athletic Association). From what I can gather, he can really shoot and averaged about 15 ppg in 2008-09 and played for a team representing the USA in Europe over the summer.

tigerfanalso · August 27, 2009, 11:19:12 AM

Hasa

If GC keeps collecting all of this talent the ODAC is going to be forced to "kick" them out of the conference. Sounds as though GC is really creating an "unfair advantage" over the rest of the league !!!!

You know I'm just kidding. Success breeds more success and your coach is certainly taking advantage of his programs success over recent years. I look forward to watching the Quakers play.

Now, go watch a football game. We can talk b'ball closer to Thanksgiving !!!

hasanova · August 27, 2009, 02:01:35 PM

Quote from: tigerfanalso on August 27, 2009, 11:19:12 AM
Hasa

If GC keeps collecting all of this talent the ODAC is going to be forced to "kick" them out of the conference. Sounds as though GC is really creating an "unfair advantage" over the rest of the league !!!!

You know I'm just kidding. Success breeds more success and your coach is certainly taking advantage of his programs success over recent years. I look forward to watching the Quakers play.

Now, go watch a football game. We can talk b'ball closer to Thanksgiving !!!

Yeah, it is time for football - but the season prospects look bright for the Quakers.

I think the starters will be very strong and the bench is looking deep.

We didn't boot HSC out a few years back when they were so dominant! lol You know how these things go in cycles, but the Quaker coaching staff does seem to have a good thing rolling at the moment.

Sept. 5 - 1 pm - Soup Bowl. The Tigers are in town Sept 26. Are you ready?

tigerfanalso · August 27, 2009, 03:23:39 PM

Hasa

I'm more than ready. F'ball really gets my blood pumping. My boys high school team kicks off Friday nite, the Tigers oen up with NCW on Sept 5th, than I get to go home that nite and watch BAMA put an a___ kicking on Va. Tech. It really gets no better than this !!!!

Good luck to the Quakers and I'll be in town on Sept. 26th. Hope to see you and all of the other Quaker fans and thanks for not kicking the Tigers out of the ODAC when Coach Shaver had them on a roll; hopefully Coach Vick will "me to" what Tony was able to accomplish.

hasanova · August 27, 2009, 11:26:53 PM

Quote from: tigerfanalso on August 27, 2009, 03:23:39 PM
Hasa

I'm more than ready. F'ball really gets my blood pumping. My boys high school team kicks off Friday nite, the Tigers oen up with NCW on Sept 5th, than I get to go home that nite and watch BAMA put an a___ kicking on Va. Tech. It really gets no better than this !!!!

Good luck to the Quakers and I'll be in town on Sept. 26th. Hope to see you and all of the other Quaker fans and thanks for not kicking the Tigers out of the ODAC when Coach Shaver had them on a roll; hopefully Coach Vick will "me to" what Tony was able to accomplish.

Quakes have six home games this season and "road" game with Greensboro's about 4 miles .... so, I get to see seven games without even leaving the city limits! Our real road trips are Methodist in Fayetteville, BC and CUA up in DC. Let me know your whereabouts on Sept. 26 ... it's homecoming, so there should be a nice crowd - a lot of interest in seeing the stadium upgrades as well.

Everyone needs to keep the faith in basketball ... Quakers were 3-21 just 10 years ago! I think they'll be plus 20 again this year, so it's definitely fun right now. Good luck against the Bishops next weekend!

tigerfanalso · August 28, 2009, 11:21:17 AM

Hasa

Again, good luck to the Quakers.

I'll be easy to find on the 26th. I'll be the old man, gray hair and all, about 40lbs overweight, screaming at the top of my lungs, wife telling me to sit down and be quite, kids acting like they don't know me. Probably have some sort of HSC hat, faded by the sun of course, probably handcuffed by security for trying to sneak a beverage into the gates.

I'll be really easy to find !!!!!

hasanova · August 28, 2009, 03:52:42 PM

Quote from: tigerfanalso on August 28, 2009, 11:21:17 AM
Hasa

Again, good luck to the Quakers.

I'll be easy to find on the 26th. I'll be the old man, gray hair and all, about 40lbs overweight, screaming at the top of my lungs, wife telling me to sit down and be quite, kids acting like they don't know me. Probably have some sort of HSC hat, faded by the sun of course, probably handcuffed by security for trying to sneak a beverage into the gates.

I'll be really easy to find !!!!!

There will be a few dozen guys on the Guilford sideline fitting your general description, but since you'll be in the HSC stands and wearing a Tiger cap you may, indeed, be a little easier to spot.

Guilford security probably only has so many pairs of handcuffs, so make sure you get yours early ... perhaps during the security check at the gate or, at the very latest, during pregame warm-ups. lol If the Greensboro PD assists, however, I'm sure more handcuffs will be available!

I look forward to meeting you!

jeloesel · August 30, 2009, 11:51:44 AM

About 500 people gathered on the Bob Johnson Court at Emory & Henry yesterday for a memorial service honoring coach Johnson. As you would expect, many of his former players, assistant coaches, and members of the E&H staff were there, and as were most of the ODAC coaches and staff. There were quite a few coaches from outside the ODAC community as well. All of the speakers had their favorite Johnson stories. He left a great legacy, but he'll be missed in the ODAC and the larger basketball world.

jdubyadubya · August 31, 2009, 08:19:06 AM

Well said Jim.

tigerfanalso · September 02, 2009, 04:36:23 PM

Is EMU a serious contender for the ODAC Championship or is all of that discussion just hype from the EMU faithful ?

I don't pretend to have an answer, I'm interested in hearing from all of those in the know w/i the ODAC.

To me Guilford is the clear favorite probably followed by VWC. The rest of the league will be competitive but I don't see any other team making a serious run.

Thoughts !!!!!!!