Brent Blum - Remembering Dedric Willoughby

[Connor_Ferguson]

Remembering Dedric Willoughby - Cyclone Fanatic

Dedric Willoughby was the MVP of the last Big 8 Men’s Basketball Tournament. And now he is gone. The news hit me like a ton of bricks Thursday afternoon, like most of Cyclone Nation. Dedric was one of those rare Cyclone supernovas that entered all of our orbits. He was here, he was electric and […]

cyclonefanatic.com

 

[cyclones500]

Just started reading it ... I don't mean to distract from main focus - 3rd graf, should be 'orbits' instead of 'obits.'

 

[brentblum]

Just started reading it ... I don't mean to distract from main focus - 3rd graf, should be 'orbits' instead of 'obits.'

Fixed. Thank you!

 

[Cyclonepride]

That Cameron Dollar shot absolutely devastated me. That team had so much grit. Dedric was an amazing player.

 

[WISCY1895]

Brent. It's perfect. Thank you

 

[ema28]

My husband and I were talking this morning. If you were old enough to remember Dedric welll he has to be in your top list of favorite players. He was just so fun and looked so smooth when he shot the ball.

I remember him sinking those free throws in the Big8 Championship game....I will still in shock that they called a foul on Vaughn during that game!

 

[bluestarcyclone]

What a great story

 

[Cybone]

Great story, Brent.

I was at ISU when both Fred and Dedric played for the Cyclones.

It was an amazing time to follow Cyclone basketball. I have Dedric’s autograph on my pep band polo shirt from that last NCAA run.

 

[Williowa]

While I don't share your personal experience... I feel exactly the same way about the man.

It was a great time to be a cyclone because of guys like that great cyclone!

 

[cstrunk]

What a great memory to share. I was just a kid and not yet a Cyclone fan to remember him playing. Sad to hear about his passing at only 49. Too young.

 

[iahawks]

Even though I'm a Hawk fan, I always loved watching Willoughby play. He was by far my favorite Cyclone of all time. That team was very fun to watch.

This was also a great read. Thanks!

 

[madguy30]

@brentblum do you recall if there were many interactions with him during the game of HORSE that you eventually won?

It sounds like he was just a stand up/grounded person all around and those sorts of events are what make these guys legends within the community.

 

[NWICY]

Great column Blum!

 

[cyclones500]

Good read, excellent work, Blum. I don't think I knew about your head-to-head experience with Dedric at camp. What a memory to have!

 

[ISUChippewa]

Thanks for that. I needed a good cry this morning. And I'm totally serious.

 

[cytor]

Good read, excellent work, Blum. I don't think I knew about your head-to-head experience with Dedric at camp. What a memory to have!

Very good read..... and I want one of those shirts in your avatar!

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

One of my all time favorite Cyclones

 

[Antihawk240]

Well......9:54 in the morning on a Friday. I better call it a weekend. @brentblum this was a very well wrote article. You write gems, but this one was perfect. Your mentioning of Willoughby on the baseline with 1.7 seconds left against UCLA was amazing. I was an influential 16 year old that day and I remember it like it was yesterday. You are correct- the play caught the official off guard. The screen with intent to draw a foul, was original and never seen before and no one knew what to do....including the inbounder waiting for the whistle, hence the 5 second call turnover. Since then because of Willoughby (and Floyd) you see that play pop up once or twice a year.

 

[JRE1975]

Someone should read that story at his funeral,

 

[67CY]

Thanks Brent. Hopefully all Cycones get to read it