Since it's off-season, some Johnny Orr...

[t-noah]

I didn't realize Johnny was 6-3, in his playing days. That's pretty tall, even now. He probably shrunk and inch or two as he got older. He played at Illinois and Beloit, and was drafted by the St/ Louis Bombers as a 6-3 'forward'! Times have changed.

Johnny Orr (basketball, born 1927) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[t-noah]

And now, here's Johnny!

I could be ready for another Johnny story?

 

[NWICY]

The Golden age of BB, not everything was blown out of proportion by social media the B8 had a great group of coaches Johnny, Eddie Suttton, Billy Tubbs, "Sit Down Norm!" Stewart they all gave as good as they got when it came to taking little digs at each other.

One of my best memories was when I think it was Terrance Allen blew a dunk during a fairly close game Johnny never even looked at who was next to him he just grabbed them by the arm and threw them towards the scorer table. It was hilarious. Actually my favorite memory was when we were playing Missouri and Barry Stevens kept hitting shot after shot from the corner he was making it rain but it was before the three point line. For the Indiana game we made painted up a bed sheet that said Good Knight Bobby on it that was fun. (Went and checked the score looks like we lost by 2 that yr. Still a great game and fun time)

No one ever worked harder to resurrect ISU BB he went to every dorm floor Fraternity and Sorority on Campus to generate student interest in ISU BB. It worked the crowds and student section grew quickly under him.

In my opinion his legacy at ISU is way more than his won and loss record. I think TJ is debatably the best coach at ISU but Johnny really got the ball rolling way back then.

 

[t-noah]

The Golden age of BB, not everything was blown out of proportion by social media the B8 had a great group of coaches Johnny, Eddie Suttton, Billy Tubbs, "Sit Down Norm!" Stewart they all gave as good as they got when it came to taking little digs at each other.

One of my best memories was when I think it was Terrance Allen blew a dunk during a fairly close game Johnny never even looked at who was next to him he just grabbed them by the arm and threw them towards the scorer table. It was hilarious. Actually my favorite memory was when we were playing Missouri and Barry Stevens kept hitting shot after shot from the corner he was making it rain but it was before the three point line. For the Indiana game we made painted up a bed sheet that said Good Knight Bobby on it that was fun. (Went and checked the score looks like we lost by 2 that yr. Still a great game and fun time)

No one ever worked harder to resurrect ISU BB he went to every dorm floor Fraternity and Sorority on Campus to generate student interest in ISU BB. It worked the crowds and student section grew quickly under him.

In my opinion his legacy at ISU is way more than his won and loss record. I think TJ is debatably the best coach at ISU but Johnny really got the ball rolling way back then.

Really great! Just what I was looking for. Johnny was a legend. He meant so much to this BB program. And you were right. There were quite a few coaching 'characters' in the Big 12, during his time.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Cyclonepride]

Listening to Johnny on the postgame lockerroom show was THE BEST. Almost as entertaining as the game itself.

 

[TitanClone]

The Golden age of BB, not everything was blown out of proportion by social media the B8 had a great group of coaches Johnny, Eddie Suttton, Billy Tubbs, "Sit Down Norm!" Stewart they all gave as good as they got when it came to taking little digs at each other.

One of my best memories was when I think it was Terrance Allen blew a dunk during a fairly close game Johnny never even looked at who was next to him he just grabbed them by the arm and threw them towards the scorer table. It was hilarious. Actually my favorite memory was when we were playing Missouri and Barry Stevens kept hitting shot after shot from the corner he was making it rain but it was before the three point line. For the Indiana game we made painted up a bed sheet that said Good Knight Bobby on it that was fun. (Went and checked the score looks like we lost by 2 that yr. Still a great game and fun time)

No one ever worked harder to resurrect ISU BB he went to every dorm floor Fraternity and Sorority on Campus to generate student interest in ISU BB. It worked the crowds and student section grew quickly under him.

In my opinion his legacy at ISU is way more than his won and loss record. I think TJ is debatably the best coach at ISU but Johnny really got the ball rolling way back then.

As someone born in 1992, the last sentence needs a few more years to ease any debate, but will likely hold true. My dad got to experience the Johnny/Hornacek teams in college, I was in Ames for Hoibergs 5 years. My brother had to suffer through McD years.

His legacy is similar to McCarney's

 

[singsing]

Johnny was great! I ran with a lot of the team so met him on several occasions. It wasn't too tough to sit down and have a drink with him. He was every bit as tall as Fred, and was noticable taller than Terry Woods and Mike Born. No one should be more appreciated than Johnny for what ISU basketball has become. That game against Oky state with Big Country is still the best game I've ever attended in any sport. First and only time I could actually feel a building bounce and shake under my feet. Thank you for the memories Johnny!

 

[CloneFanInKC]

Really great! Just what I was looking for. Johnny was a legend. He meant so much to this BB program. And you were right. There were quite a few coaching 'characters' in the Big 12, during his time.

Thanks for sharing!

Big 8 but your point still stands.

 

[swiacy]

The home wins against KU & Mizzou were the loudest I’ve attended. Yes, the upper level was shaking. A relative is a major donor & he purchased Johnny’s residence when JO moved off Georgia. JO was a classic natural people person.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Johnny played for the NBA franchise that lasted one season in Waterloo in 1949-50.

That one year is included in the lineage of the current Atlanta Hawks.

 

[pourcyne]

He was a dinger, Coach.

 

[Lineup]

and he will kick your ass too!!

 

[t-noah]

Big 8 but your point still stands.

Thx! I meant to say Big 8, lol

 

[t-noah]

Johnny was great! I ran with a lot of the team so met him on several occasions. It wasn't too tough to sit down and have a drink with him. He was every bit as tall as Fred, and was noticable taller than Terry Woods and Mike Born. No one should be more appreciated than Johnny for what ISU basketball has become. That game against Oky state with Big Country is still the best game I've ever attended in any sport. First and only time I could actually feel a building bounce and shake under my feet. Thank you for the memories Johnny!

This is one of the things I've learned from this thread. I did not realize that he was a tall man, 6-3! I had in my mind that he was about 6-0, or something.

 

[t-noah]

"“Dead? Hell, I shot 88 today. I’m doing fine.” — March 2009, to a reporter tracking down a rumor that Orr had died in Florida."

 

[Pope]

When I was in my early days as a staff member at ISU, Johnny would walk into our office unannounced, right past our receptionists, down the hall, and into my office. He'd plop down into the chair across my desk and say "How ya doing coach".

Then he'd start dropping F bombs right and left as he'd explain whatever it was he was concerned about. I always had to jump up and close my office door because I knew the F bombs were loud and clear to the folks outside. But he was never dropping the F bombs in a mean and angry way. It was just how he talked.

I was a huge Cyclone basketball fan and I was pretty young for a staff member, so it was a little intimidating to have this legend walking into my office asking for help with various issues (and explaining those issues with the verbaige of a drunken sailor). But he always knew I would do everything I could within the rules to help, so we had a very good relationship.

I miss Johnny. Some might say he lacked a filter between his brain and his mouth, but he was a very good man with a very good heart. He was the perfect coach for Iowa State at that time...maybe the only coach who could finally make our basketball program nationally relevant.

 

[t-noah]

When I was in my early days as a staff member at ISU, Johnny would walk into our office unannounced, right past our receptionists, down the hall, and into my office. He'd plop down into the chair across my desk and say "How ya doing coach".

Then he'd start dropping F bombs right and left as he'd explain whatever it was he was concerned about. I always had to jump up and close my office door because I knew the F bombs were loud and clear to the folks outside. But he was never dropping the F bombs in a mean and angry way. It was just how he talked.

I was a huge Cyclone basketball fan and I was pretty young for a staff member, so it was a little intimidating to have this legend walking into my office asking for help with various issues (and explaining those issues with the verbaige of a drunken sailor). But he always knew I would do everything I could within the rules to help, so we had a very good relationship.

I miss Johnny. Some might say he lacked a filter between his brain and his heart, but he was a very good man with a very good heart. He was the perfect coach for Iowa State at that time...maybe the only coach who could finally make our basketball program nationally relevant.

Thank you for that great story!

 

[t-noah]

 

[MartyFine]

 

[CoachKM]

As a Student at my hometown Minnesota Juco a bunch of us attended the NCAA's at the Metrodome in1986. I immediately became an ISU fan that weekend after Hornacek's game winner and then the team beating Michigan. I chose to attend the U to Dubuque to get away from home, play more football and see what else was out there, even though that meant putting up with hack fan for a time.

While student teaching in the Dubuque schools there was talk of ISU basketball one day in the teachers lounge. An "older" female teacher told me she attended Dubuque Senior High and Johnny Orr was her history teacher while also being the basketball coach. She said he used the colorful language even then while teaching high school students. Made me laugh then and now.