Gopher Basketball
Why do I cherish Senior Night so much? Perhaps it is transference from my own undergraduate experience, knowing full well how special those days were in my life. The end of college is a passageway into adulthood, into different responsibilities and expectations. Drinking during a weeknight, cramming yourself into dilapidate dwellings with friends, and fashioning dinners around cheap macaroni & cheese lose their charm after completing college. Friendships may endure, but often times friends find themselves spread throughout the nation, if not world, as they eagerly embark upon the newest chapter of their lives. This occurs for kids from the suburbs with barely a lick of athletic talent, and it occurs for the young men who don the jerseys of their chosen universities.
Fans of the Minnesota Golden Gophers basketball team often invest quite a bit into their squad, whether it is through dollars (season tickets, donations, merchandise, etc.) or time (posting on the Gopher Hole, volunteering at Gopher games), but no fan invests the time, energy, or emotion that a basketball player who has made it to his senior year has invested. The reality of college basketball these days is that if a player makes it to his senior year, he’s likely not a top NBA prospect; a quick perusal of the above list indicates only one player who has ever logged minutes in the association. While a strong argument can be made that a free ride through college should demand such investment on a player’s part, I believe fans often overlook the investment that players give to the game, the program, and their university. While a loss or disappointing season may bother me, my life goes on and I do not let it affect my daily life; for the players, this is their life and it is a part of their daily existence. Arriving on campus from various outposts, these players are exposed as 18 and 19 year olds to a world and microscope only a minority of adults ever experience; as they move through college they become the face of the university, for better or worse. Judgment on them as people are often formed on their abilities to put a ball in the basket, to grab a rebound off of the backboard or making the right decision under duress. Profanities and put downs are aimed at them by men twice their age, and under most circumstances these young men show a maturity beyond their years.
One of the most poignant sporting moments that I have ever experienced occurred in 2003 during Senior Day. It was the year Jerry Holman and Kevin Burleson completed their eligibility, and we were taking on Wisconsin, where a win could have vaulted the Gophers into the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1999. Burleson was completing his Gopher career that even his most ardent supporters would have to admit was at times erratic. He was continually criticized and ridiculed through all forms of the media-message boards, sports radio, print. On a team that had its share of disappointing performers, it was this fifth-year senior, the recruit from Washington, the young man who endured through the scandal of Gangelgate and the removal of Clem Haskins who received the most criticism. On Senior Day, he was presented his jersey after Holman, and as he exited the court with his framed jersey, I saw him wiping tears from his eyes. Burleson was probably twenty-two or twenty-three at the time, and I felt ashamed. I breathed Gopher basketball, catching every game, cheering passionately and pouting when a loss occurred. I felt foolish when I recognized for all my “œpassion”, it fell embarrassingly short of Burleson’s commitment and devotion to the program. I was certainly not his most severe critic, but I recalled several occasions where his play on the court elicited profanities or jokes at his expense from me. Seeing Burleson at that moment, I realized the absurdity of my reactions; I believe I became a better fan, and perhaps a better person that day, due to a stranger who I had watched for four year bouncing a ball on a basketball court.
As with Kevin Burleson, the current seniors on the Gophers squad have endured difficult times; also as with Burleson, none of these players has brought disgrace or scandal upon this program. In fact, there have been moments of sheer joy that you have all contributed to us. I’ll break down the thank you’s individually, in alphabetical order:
Adam Boone-Outside of the Vikings’ starting quarterback, I don’t think there’s been a position in Minnesota’s sporting world that has received more scrutiny than being a Gophers point guard over the past few years. Despite consistent questions about your talent, quickness, and abilities, you endured and have been the most consistent performer for the Gophers this season, and where this team would be without you, I don’t even want to think about. You dominated at Arizona State when the squad was depleted by injury and you have keyed the second half resurgence of the team. Your stretch against Michigan State, where you hit a three pointer late in the game and then followed that up with a block of Neitzel and saving the ball before going out of bounds will remain etched among my favorite Gopher memories for awhile. You’ve done this all as a sixth-year senior, after having completed your degree, and being an observer during last year’s run to the NCAA tournament. I really wish you could have been a contributor of a NCAA bound Gopher squad, as I think your character alone deserved such a payoff.
Vincent Grier-When you arrived on campus, I anticipated that you would be one of our better players, but only because I did not who else would step into the vacuum of very low expectations for our squad last year. You became our best player, and brought the most excitement to the floor since Bobby Jackson was wearing the Maroon & Gold. Your frenetic style and positive energy were a great boost to this program and the game you had against Wisconsin last year was one for the ages, against our most bitter rivals. It’s unfortunate that you broke your wrist early this season, we can only speculate how long it affected your ability to play at full strength. Watching your twisting contortions through the lane with the ball often ending up going through the net caused me to shake my head in amazement on more than one occasion.
Moe Hargrow-I’ll bring up the name Kevin Burleson again, because I feel since KB left, you have received the most criticism of any Gopher, and I was a part of that criticism. Your career as a Gopher has been tumultuous; the transfer mid-season to Arkansas three years ago, followed by the transfer back, and a very tough start to this year in the Big Ten lead to many questions about your loyalty and abilities to be a good teammate. When you were benched for the Indiana game and were hoisting shots early in the shot clock towards the end of the game, I openly speculated that you would quit the team again. I was wrong, and I apologize. Instead, you have accepted your role of coming off the bench and having your minutes reduced while still contributing to the success of this Gophers team. I really admire how you have handled this role and the abiding memory I will have of Moe Hargrow will be how he finished his Gopher career with such class and so selflessly.
Zach Puchtel-My first recognition of you was during the public scrimmage this year when you were changing uniforms between the Maroon and Gold squads, rarely getting a rest, because there was a shortage of big men for the teams. I expected that to be my only real memory of your career at Minnesota. Then I discovered that you were starting against Indiana; I thought it was a desperate ploy by Coach Monson and I anticipated that Marco Killingsworth would run you off the court. Instead, you frustrated Killingsworth to no end, and sparked a revival to this season with your physical, aggressive style that has made the end of this season very satisfying to watch. Your Gopher career might be summed up in 10 regular season games and a couple NIT games, but I have a feeling that the name Zach Puchtel will achieve cult status for Gopher fans for quite some time.
J’son Stamper-I said last week that I wished we had at least another two years of you on our squad. There are certain players who just stand out for their effort, their toughness, their leadership-you stand out in all those categories. My favorite memory of you is not actually on the floor of Williams Arena, but rather at the Salvation Army court in St. Paul during the summer Pulley league. Your team was taking on Grier’s team, and as the game was moving towards its end and your squad had no chance to win, you continued to harass Vincent defensively who told you to relax-your response was that you never relax on the basketball court. To me, that encapsulates what you brought to this program. There hasn’t been much of a pipeline between the “œU” and the Bronx, but I sure hope you begin one, particularly if those who follow play with as much heart as you do.
To all the seniors-best wishes to you in your future endeavors and I hope you took advantage of your time at the university to earn a diploma. You’ve left us with many fond memories and we appreciate the way you represented the University and the state. Thank you!