Spendley Stuff

This is one of those stories that is so hard to believe, but it is 100% true - let's set the stage:

1) It was 1991, first round of NCAA, at Cole Field House in College Park, Maryland. #2 seeded Syracuse played #15 Richmond. Never in the history of the NCAA (as of 1991) had a #2 seed lost in the first round.
2) This game was the 4th game of a day/night double header. The game before this was Purdue vs. Temple and I recall one of the afternoon games involved Oklahoma State, not sure of any of the other teams.

Prior to the final game of the day, I walked down onto the floor and found myself under the basket watching Syracuse take layups. As the buzzer sounded, I just walked off the court towards the Syracuse bench. No one stopped me and I immediately sat on the floor adjacent to the Syracuse bench next to a bunch of Photographers. I had just landed one of the best seats in Cole Field House.

I distinctly remember towards the end of the first half, Richmond was taking a foul shot, they were up by a point with about 1 minute left in the first half. I thought to myself, Coach Boeheim's halftime talk could be amazing. When the buzzer sounds, I am just going to run off the court with the Syracuse team and see how far I can get - after all, I had gotten the best seat in the house, maybe I could listen to Boeheim's halftime talk!!

The buzzer sounds and I do exactly as I planned, ran off the court with the team and found myself in the locker room (a small room). I remember handing out towels and quickly decided that I needed to get out of the locker room, I obviously didn't belong -except….

As I am walking out of the locker room, Coach Boeheim is walking in, we establish eye contact and he says to me please let me know when there are 5 minutes left in halftime. Realizing that Coach needed me - I immediately responded, no problem Coach, got you covered. I walk over to the exit door - open it and tap a Maryland Security guy on the shoulder and told him to knock on the door when there was 5 minutes left. I was now an integral part of this process, Coach needed me and I was going to stay and listen to his halftime talk. The one where he motivates his #2 seeded team to wake up and beat the #15 seeded team.

How disappointed I was - I remember, Coach Boeheim standing at a chalk board and drawing some plays to get the ball down to the low post. He said the Richmond players would foul and if they got in foul trouble, Syracuse would win this game. I remember saying to myself - is that all you got??? I really wanted to get up in front of the team and do something a bit more inspirational. OPPS - a knock on the door, I let Coach know there was only 5 minutes left. He acknowledges and quickly completed his talk. The players immediately leave and I stay with the coaches - I walk onto the court with Boeheim and his assistant coaches. They wanted him the start off with a press and get a quick amount of points - Boeheim refused.

I took my seat for the second half towards the end of the Syracuse bench - anxious to see what was going to happen in the second half. I can't believe I had gotten a front row seat for the biggest upset in College Basketball history (at that time).

As you will see by the video below (finally you tune posted a video of the last minute to this game). About 25 seconds into this video - you see a Syracuse player (who had fouled out) walk towards the end of the bench right past me. I am standing up playing with my mustache. Yes my biggest moment ever, on national TV and I am caught playing with my mustache.

At the end of the video after the game is over, you can also see me walking off the court with other team members, thru the bedlam of the people running on the court.

In any event, I am thrilled that youtube posted this video because I can now show indisputable evidence that I indeed was on the Syracuse Bench for a historical NCAA moment. A classic example of going with the flow and looking like you belong. A very fun night and something I will always remember.