Cyclone History, 1983

[Cy4Lifer]

I was there! Seat in the balcony, but for the final five minutes or so, I scrambled down and was standing on the concourse walkway above the parquet seats, along with hundreds of other balcony fans, screaming our lungs out! Great game that I will remember forever, even after I get dementia!

 

[Cyfan1965]

How about taking a cap gun that looked like a snub nosed 38 into Hilton today.

 

[t-noah]

Does anyone know if Johnny really wanted to retire or if the AD refused to extend his contract? That interview really didn’t look like a guy that wanted to retire. You know he loved it here because he stuck around.

I have no doubt that Gene would have pushed Johnny out if he wanted him out. I can't say for sure that is what happened but Gene could be pretty ruthless. At the time we got the impression that Johnny was pushed out, but we had no proof of it.

Johnny told me himself that he wanted to stay another year, to coach that group of seniors before he retired.

I heard Johnny speak at a Cyclone Club event. He had been drinking...ok, it is Johnny we are talking about, and I remember him saying something like, "Hell, you sonsabitches would quit too if they offered you what they offered me!"

I remember two personal interactions with Johnny:
1) The night Grayer and Thompkins came to visit, Johnny stopped by the student section to tell us he had important recruits there and he wanted us to make noise. We actually got to go over and shake their hands. Grayer was SO shy.
2) I ran into Johnny at Hy-Vee, and stopped for a quick word, and like everyone he called me "Coach'

It looks like you guys may have been right.

So what you might be saying is that Johnny was nudged out by Smith. That sound like what I'm hearing?

Interesting. Was it because his record was faltering? Or did Smith (or others) have a new coach in mind (Tim Floyd)? Did Orr and Smith (others) not get along? Was it something else?

Regardless, Johnny elevated ISU BB to new heights!

 

[c.y.c.l.o.n.e.s]

Lots of great memories of Hilton and Cyclones basketball back then. Started at ISU the year Orr got here. My wife and I were at the Missouri game sitting even with the free throw line where Barry hit his shot. Earlier in the year I had to miss the Minnesota game because one of my professors scheduled an exam that night. What a moron. Got back to Pammel Court in time to watch the end of the game though. My wife was 8 months pregnant the next year at the double OT win against Iowa and we thought she was going to have the baby right there. There was never a better time to be a cyclone.

Not trying to fire up an age old debate but that was the loudest I have ever heard Hilton get (the OT vs Iowa). Front row balcony. Friend next to me was screaming something to me. I could see his lips move but could not hear him at all.

 

[2Xclone]

Roll call to those attending that game. My wife and I were there up in section nose bleed 232. My ears were ringing and I still could not believe we won with the likes of Falenschek.

I was there…

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Roll call to those attending that game. My wife and I were there up in section nose bleed 232. My ears were ringing and I still could not believe we won with the likes of Falenschek.

I was 8 years from even being thought of you old fart.

 

[Cyclones1969]

This interview, or another I watched recently, I think suggested Johnny might have wanted to stay another year or two but was then for sure going to retire. He said in the interview that he did it in part for the incoming recruits and coach to be, so they could have their coach for their full 4-5 years.

I could be wrong but I don't think the AD (can't remember who the AD was around Johnny's retirement in '94) would have not extended him if he wanted to continue.

It was gene smith. They had a good roster coming back. He wanted something to sell the next coach, because everyone was gone the next year. Johnny did what was best for his program he built. I remember listening to his press conference, Johnny cried. I cried with him. I can still here him say I’ll never stop cheering go cyclones.

Johnny wanted Hallihan to get the job. Gene was looking to make a splash, he wasn’t going to be at Iowa State long.

He initially targeted Stu Jackson, when he was at Wisconsin, but Gary Thompson fell madly in love with Tim Floyd, and ended up talking him into the job after he turned it down the first time.

 

[t-noah]

It was gene smith. They had a good roster coming back. He wanted something to sell the next coach, because everyone was gone the next year. Johnny did what was best for his program he built. I remember listening to his press conference, Johnny cried. I cried with him. I can still here him say I’ll never stop cheering go cyclones.

Johnny wanted Hallihan to get the job. Gene was looking to make a splash, he wasn’t going to be at Iowa State long.

He initially targeted Stu Jackson, when he was at Wisconsin, but Gary Thompson fell madly in love with Tim Floyd, and ended up talking him into the job after he turned it down the first time.

It it amazing that two of our best recent BB coaches (Floyd and Hoiberg) both left to go to the Bulls after only 5-6 years at ISU each! I still find that pretty ironic and hard to believe.

 

[cysmiley]

I had left Hilton the year before, but Norm and I had some disagreements . It was customary in the Big 8 to schedule a "shoot around" the day prior to games, but the league realized many arenas had schedules that conflicted that custom, in which case, the shoot around was scheduled for the morning of the game.

Back then Hilton had hockey games, concerts, wrestling, gymnastics, student events etc. scheduled in the winter. Prior to the 82 game, we had a hockey game the night before, which necessitated the shoot around at 8 AM the morning of the game for Norm. He hated adjusting his schedule, so was looking for a reason to go off. We had a forklift break down, plus a large crowd (for Hockey) the night before. Thus we were behind on the changeover. My guys busted their ass to get things ready, we didn't have the bleachers pulled out yet, and planned to get enough guys back (some missed class LOL) to finish later, but get the court ready for shoot around. We had one basket up and trued for height and position, the other cranked up but the foremen were still working on finalizing, and out comes Missouri from the visitors locker room.

Ole Norm goes after the guys working on the basket, yelling at them. I took offense, while working to get some bleachers run out. He and I went nose to nose ( he was taller) lol. So turned to the guys raising the basket, (they still had not removed the raising structure) and told them to drop the basket and go to the office. Norm was flabbergasted, he started yelling louder, and I said I'm going home; got to turn off the lights, but will leave enough light on to get to the locker room. The AD had some visiting team escort there (student intern), and he ran to coach's office and called Dave Cox. Coxy called my office, and they came running down to the floor to get me on the phone. He asked me to please get the basket up, and not turn out the lights. He and I laughed, and he came down to talk to Norm.

They did get their shoot around in, his players seemed amazed, but some did continue to shoot on the good basket, but were kinda laughing, Norm never did like me.

 

[StClone]

Lots of great memories of Hilton and Cyclones basketball back then. Started at ISU the year Orr got here. My wife and I were at the Missouri game sitting even with the free throw line where Barry hit his shot. Earlier in the year I had to miss the Minnesota game because one of my professors scheduled an exam that night. What a moron. Got back to Pammel Court in time to watch the end of the game though. My wife was 8 months pregnant the next year at the double OT win against Iowa and we thought she was going to have the baby right there. There was never a better time to be a cyclone.

Ha! Neighbors maybe? I lived on the last street in the northwest part of Pammel Court on the east side of the street. I think it was unit 826.

Sure a lot of younger fans will find this trip into the past a drag...but it was as fun, wild, new, and as exciting as anything today (unless we go to the Elite 8 or beyond). It was our foundation for today's success. We would walk from Pammel to the games even in the winter (what a vast empty parkinglot surrounded Hilton and Jack Trice then).

 

[Aclone]

It looks like you guys may have been right.

So what you might be saying is that Johnny was nudged out by Smith. That sound like what I'm hearing?

Interesting. Was it because his record was faltering? Or did Smith (or others) have a new coach in mind (Tim Floyd)? Did Orr and Smith (others) not get along? Was it something else?

Regardless, Johnny elevated ISU BB to new heights!

They wanted to hire a new coach with the enticement of a top group of experienced seniors returning, rather than a depleted roster.

It worked. Tim Floyd got the first, then dealt successfully with the latter.

 

[t-noah]

They wanted to hire a new coach with the enticement of a top group of experienced seniors returning, rather than a depleted roster.

It worked. Tim Floyd got the first, then dealt successfully with the latter.

He sure did. The roster he brought in his 2nd and 3rd year at ISU was great. Worked out great anyway.

Edit: To bad he wanted to go to Chicago, to follow the dynasty. Yeah that was sure to work.

 

[t-noah]

He sure did. The roster he brought in his 2nd and 3rd year at ISU was great. Worked out great anyway.

Edit: To bad he wanted to go to Chicago, to follow the dynasty. Yeah that was sure to work.

I'll bet his (TF's) 401k got a nice spike though.