Shama: Jim Dutcher "recently renewed his driver’s license and eats what he wants."

[BleedGopher]

Big scoop per Shama:

Happy birthday next week to Jim Dutcher who coached the Golden Gophers to the Big Ten championship in 1982. Dutch turns 93 on April 17 and is healthy. He recently renewed his driver’s license and eats what he wants.

Dutch told Sports Headliners he does have arthritic knees and uses a walker to help his mobility and prevent a fall. His brother Norman is 97 and lives in Alpena, Michigan.

David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Go Gophers!!

 

[Word]

I always enjoyed Jim when he did the tv commentary.

 

[ShushPush]

Jim should fling his walker at Bobby if they ever meet again.

 

[SplitDecision]

Great to hear! Fantastic memories as a high schooler going to Jim Dutcher BB Camp at St. Olaf. Phil Saunders taught me the finer points of shooting free throws. Watched some great teams in the Barn but none top '76-'77 team (24-3/15-3 conf) with three 6'10" guys and starting five: Mychal Thompson, Ray Williams, Osborne Lockhart, Kevin McHale, Phil Saunders and Dave Winey coming off bench! Ray Christianson called all the games on radio. Johnny Orr had a fantastic Michigan team 16-2 but MN was elite. No 3-pt line, big bodies jostling, and lot of gunning by MN guards opening up the lane for our bigs. As a kid sitting behind a pillar in obstructed seats, it still remains one of my fondest sports memories.
The following year, Earvin Johnson, Gregory Kelser, Jay Vincent playing for Heathcote were unbelievably good. With Dutcher at the helm, March 4, 1978 remains my most memorable game of any sport I've seen live. Julius Perlt on PA going crazy. With time expiring and the Barn never louder, Earvin Johnson turns around at the elbow with hand in face swishes a fadeaway jump shot to win the final Big Ten game of the season 71-70 and the Big Ten title. Despite the stellar record, only the Big Ten Champions made the NCAA Tournament, and MSU went on to lose to #1 Kentucky (Jack Givens, Rick Robey, Kyle Macy). 15 years later, I spent 4 hrs in a golf cart playing Northwest Invitational with Kevin McHale caddying, and I asked him if my memory was accurate on the events that transpired, and he assured me it happened exactly as such.
MN Gopher basketball needs to have all those guys more involved in the program--Dutcher, McHale, Mychal Thompson, Clem Haskins, Tubby, etc.! Jim Dutcher was such a straight shooter, and the whole controversy at that time was just ridiculous. NCAA was a bunch of Nazis.