DavidsonCats.com

stan wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 21, 2024 9:39 am

I was hoping that people might want to share Lefty stories. It would be worthwhile to have an archive of them.

Lefty's elevation of the Davidson basketball program is the greatest coaching job in the history of college sports. Only Coach Snyder's tenure as football coach at Kansas State seems worthy of mention in the same breath.

In recent email from Chris:

Please take a moment to share your stories by emailing them to Lefty@davidson.edu. Feel free to include photos or memorabilia that enhance your contribution.The webpage is set to launch later this week, and your participation will play a crucial role in making this tribute a meaningful and comprehensive reflection of Lefty Driesell's time at Davidson.

cats10c9 wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 19, 2024 3:50 pm

NPR/AP labeled the photo correctly.

https://www.npr.org/2024/02/17/12322707 ... coach-dies

"I'm just tired and I've got this bad cold and I'm just going to retire," Driesell said.

Classic Lefty. Love it. Lefty was as good a talker as he was a coach, and I really envy MM15 for being able to just sit and listen to the man multiple times over the last 15 or so years.

The panel in DPH that included Snyder and Lefty is one of the most entertaining thing I have ever attended.

"I'm just tired and I've got this bad cold and I'm just going to retire," Driesell said.

Lefty made that phone call to Tom Lewis, Ga. State VP.

From Feinstein's "A Season Inside." He asked many coaches to tell their stories of their worst airplane flight. I'm quoting from memory, but Lefty's was:

"Here ah am, gonna get killed, goin' to see a kid who ain't that good.

"But Moses would've been worth it. Moses was worth dyin' for."

I have been very lucky, in that I've had a large number of one-on-one conversations with the Lefthander over the last 15 years or so and, importantly, did so as someone who was not one of his players nor was I his employee or employer. With neither of us the boss and no money involved, I had all the fun and almost none of the headaches of others interacting with him.

We replayed a bunch of old Davidson games. His memory for detail was very good, and he was surprisingly willing to laugh it off if called on some small detail. Yes, he actually would say, "Well I don't know, you know..." if it was time for him to back off a disagreement over some trivial fact (that probably wasn't essential to his point -- my bad). There were also previews of Wildcat conference tournament games, talk about Currys, and his desire to get former players into one HoF or another. It was easy to say at that late stage, but he often said he loved Davidson.

He stopped calling a few months after going into assisted living. I think he wasn't built for that, though I'm in no position to call into question the circumstances that required it.

Some of our conversations don't match up exactly with some facts asserted in this thread, but that's OK. Haziness on those subjects is part of the legend surrounding a larger than life character.

It's been a treat. RIP, Lefty.

Heard about the funeral arrangements this morning at Church. Service will be at First Presbyterian in Norfolk at 1 pm on Monday, March 4. His wife’s funeral was at Royster Presbyterian, but I guess the larger church is needed for the expected crowd. Visitation before service right down the street from the church at HD Oliver Funeral Apartments and private family burial after the service.

I have pictures which I can’t figure out how to post of his “walls of fame” from his condo - every inch covered with memorabilia. Love that the first basketball on the wall is from the Davidson win over Wake. Also incudes a picture of him as a player for state champs Granby High, the SI cover which hangs on my wall, and a million other cool things.

I have a picture, from one of my townie friends, of Lefty, Red Auerbach and Pete Maravich at a summer camp at DC. If I can figure out how, I will post it.

cat44 wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 26, 2024 9:51 am

I have a picture, from one of my townie friends, of Lefty, Red Auerbach and Pete Maravich at a summer camp at DC. If I can figure out how, I will post it.

Maravich, Rod Knowles, Lefty, Auerbach, Turry, Jerry Kroll, ?

DC69Wildcat wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 26, 2024 11:45 am

cat44 wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 26, 2024 9:51 am

I have a picture, from one of my townie friends, of Lefty, Red Auerbach and Pete Maravich at a summer camp at DC. If I can figure out how, I will post it.

Maravich, Rod Knowles, Lefty, Auerbach, Turry, Jerry Kroll, ?

Kroll is correct. I’m pretty sure that is Warren Mitchell on the far right.

wildforthecats wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 26, 2024 12:02 pm

Kroll is correct. I’m pretty sure that is Warren Mitchell on the far right.

Yeah, my question mark is for the guy on the far right.

Great pic.

Kid in the middle looks familiar.

Question for the wizards - top of PM’s shirt reads “ Edwards”; what does it read below?

Looks like "Phys Ed"

Sure does, thanks.