| There is a point in the history of almost every American university when its administration makes a decision--a philosophical and financial commitment--to support or ignore a major basketball program. In a number of cases that commitment came early and elevated some schools to a level of unmatched success, such as Kentucky, UCLA, North Carolina, and Indiana. Although it is a simple thing to pinpoint when the commitment came to Eastern Michigan, the program had to take a series of progressive steps--sometimes painful ones--before it could achieve success at the highest level. That commitment was made by Dr. Harold Sponberg soon after his elevation to President of EMU in 1966. The foundation was forged, however, by another man in a single game he coached four years earlier. J. Richard "Dick" Adams was hired in 1960 to see what he could do with the sad-sack team at Eastern. The school had attempted to improve its program when it joined the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 1950...but Eastern enjoyed very little success. By 1960 it was apparent that EMU could not compete on even terms with the other IIAC schools. President Eugene Elliott evidently felt academics would suffer at Eastern if its Athletic Department pursued recruits, found summer jobs for players, or otherwise spent much money on sports. This philosophy eventually prompted Elliott to announce Eastern's withdrawal from the IIAC, effective in 1962. Ironically, Eastern's final league opponent would be another school leaving the conference, Southern Illinois University. If any one program represented the antithesis to Eastern Michigan, it was Southern Illinois. SIU was leaving the IIAC because the Salukis were just too good for the rest of the league. In 1962 Southern was nationally-ranked, had already clinched a third straight league title, and would eventually finish third in the NCAA College Division Tournament. The Hurons had, on the other hand, struggled under Adams in his first two seasons. And by the time SIU rolled into Ypsilanti in late February, EMU had clinched last place in the conference for the third year in a row. Eastern hadn't beaten SIU in seven seasons and early in 1962 had been shellacked in Carbondale by 45 points. The Salukis were a powerful team: tall, talented, and deep. Their "top dog" was forward Ed Spila, a 6'5" ex-marine who averaged nearly 15 points and 11 rebounds per game. Spila typified the tough, workhorse nature of the team, coached by future Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Harry "The Horse" Gallatin. The Hurons weren't very talented but under Adams they were always prepared. Captain Don Massey led the team with an 11-point average and sophomore Ed Gallup would eventually set a school record for career rebounds. Otherwise, Adams' cupboard was bare. |
| About 1,500 fans with evidently little else to do filed into Bowen Field House to watch the slaughter. They were pleasantly surprised when EMU's ball-control offense provided some open shots--many of which began to fall. Adams' primary concern in 1962 had been Eastern's inability to shoot from the floor (a paltry 33% in league play) but on this day their shots were finding the mark. Gallup, Massey, and backup center Russ Harvey dominated the inside game, combining for 12 rebounds and 22 points in the first half. Southern looked flat against an inspired Huron defense, but kept close on sheer talent. Eastern hit 46% of its shots and led at halftime, 41-37. Adams told his club in the lockerroom to keep up the defensive pressure; it was no time to get conservative. But Harvey had to watch himself. The junior center had provided a spark off the bench with nine points but had already collected four fouls. When Massey and forward Gary Clark missed eight of their first nine shots of the second half, Adams had no choice but to send Harvey back in. With all those fouls against a physically-intimidating team, Harvey must have felt like a lost dog in the middle of a busy freeway. He responded with the game of his life. Harvey hit five of seven from the floor and sank seven straight free throws as the Hurons began to pull away. The small Bowen crowd went crazy. Adams remembered he had "never seen a crowd so frenzied, so excited." Time was running out. Gallatin gambled, opting to put his team in a full court press to force turnovers. Huron guards Duane Lamimam, Gerald Weinart, and Chet Kraszewski broke the press repeatedly, however, assisting on several breakaway layups. Growing desperate, the Salukis then played their final card, committing intentional fouls to force Eastern to win the game at the free throw line. Unfortunately for Southern, making free throws was the one aspect of the game of basketball Adams didn't have to worry about. Eastern led the IIAC in free throw percentage...and connected on 19 of 22 second half attempts to seal the biggest Huron victory in a long, long time, 86-69. Harvey, the unheralded center, finished with an incredible 26 points. Lamimam had 19 points, Massey added 14 and Gallup finished with 11 rebounds. The turnaround began right there. Adams led Eastern to the NAIA District playoffs for the first time the following season. In 1965-66, his Hurons finished with a startling 15-3 record. Adams went on sabbatical after that campaign, and new president Sponberg found an enthusiastic go-getter named Jim Dutcher to take over as head coach. The ensuing seasons constitute one of the golden eras of Eastern Michigan basketball. And it all started with a single game, a game that Adams himself stated gave the Hurons "a foundation of confidence to build from." A foundation that would forever alter the fortunes of Huron Hardwood History. Return to: Huron Hardwood History Dave's Attic |
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| Dick Adams |
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| February 24, 1962 Ypsilanti, MI Eastern Michigan 86 Southern Illinois 69 |