2 MAJOR MILESTONE and BOB STAAK

[Xuperman]

I believe Xavier played 1 game in 1919 as the official beginning of the Men’s Basketball program. The start of the regular season in November marks the 100th year but more significantly IMO is that coincidentally it will be 40 years since Bob Staak arrived at X as the new Head Coach AND Athletic Director.....a perfect time to acknowledge the father of the “modern era” of Xavier basketball.

Did a little research on Staak and didn’t realize his strong ties to charter Big East members St Johns and UConn. Although the BEast had not yet formed, he was a helluva player in the early 70’s. Played his Freshman year for the Johnnies before transferring to Storrs and upon graduation was 4th on the Huskies all time scoring list. Made a brief attempt at playing in the ABA but ended up taking a variety of coaching gigs instead. He ended up as an assistant at the University of Pennsylvania under Chuck Daly and found himself coaching in the 1979 Final Four....next stop Victory Parkway.

I don’t recall seeing any Tay Baker Xavier games, so 1979 and Staak is where it starts for me. In his 1st season, the spring of 1980, is when Digger Phelps brought the Irish to Schmidt Fieldhouse. I remember thinking Tripuka, Woolridge...Man, this is BIG TIME BASKETBALL! I believe Staak recruited Anthony Hicks who really was the spark that started the fire. He was some kinda player! Another Staak moment that really stands out is the victory over Ohio State in the NIT. He got the Wake job after that which ushered in Gillen.

So, let’s hear it for the guy that got the ball rollin’....it’s been an amazing 40 YEARS!!

[XU 87]

I remember when Staak was hired. I also remember watching a bunch of games during the Tay Baker years (Nick Daniels, Steve Spivery, Gary Whitfield, Dale Haarman, to name a few.)

It's been a long and fantastic journey.

[surfxu]

Really has been an amazing ride. My first year was Byron's senior year so I missed out on the "Staak" years, that being said, through all the coaching changes and all the conference changes and heck, even a couple venue changes...Fieldhouse-Gardens-Cintas... it's been incredible the consistency and the continued growth and improvement of this program. What's even cooler is there's no sign that anything is about to let up. Travis turned that team around and got it playing like a top 30 team towards the end of the season so I think he's up for the challenge and there's been some significant wins on the recruiting trail with the guys coming in this year and how things are shaping up for next year. This whole coaching staff has a lot of energy and it's really cool they are all together this year too. Totally builds confidence with each other and with the players.

[xudash]

Great thread.

I've shared it before, but Staak held a pep rally in the Armory before the beginning of his first season. For all those in attendance that evening, it was kind of like we were all prisoners of war just released from prison. No one knew what it was like to truly be positive at a Xavier basketball game or about Xavier basketball. There was no culture of excellence and winning, coming off the Tay regime. It was almost surreal. Walking around the armory that evening, enjoying multiple 3.2 Hudy's while wondering where all this effort might lead was just a different experience. I think most people there that evening were caught up in the "what happens from here" train of thought while otherwise not really knowing how to cheer all that well or enthusiastically.

And now for a very specific point that just came to mind about progress over 40 years in this specific regard. Look at the culture now! I enjoy watching our fantastic student section during home games. They're nuts.

Staak knew that he had to almost literally build Xavier basketball back up from the ground up. He had to prime the pump of fan support. He followed up with early results that laid the foundation for Xavier basketball as we know it today.

Otherwise, thank you for reminding me of Kelly Make MeTripuka!

Digger and Al McGuire at Schmidt Memorial Fieldhouse. Good times, though we were the Christians getting wiped out at our own "coliseum"!

[Mel Cooley XU'81]

Graduating in '81 I was greeted by two years of Tay Baker, then two of Bob Staak.

Joe Sunderman remains a high-standard benchmark of those years.

He was fun to watch play . . . and compete!

A good guy then and a gentleman and ambassador for the program today.

His bobblehead watches over me as I type this post.

Hail Joe!

[Xuperman]

Yeah, Joe has become a local treasure. The Joe/Byron radio coverage is now on par with Marty/Joe Reds broadcasts for us Xavier fans, with no end in sight. I always check to see if they sync up with games on TV.....so much more informed play by play and color than the TV guys.

Speaking of Byron. Image how things could have gone differently if Bob Staak had not convinced him to play basketball for X instead of football in the B10?

[scoscox]

Nova is doing some cool things for their 100th program anniversary. kind of disappointed we haven't done anything

[Sonoran Desert Muskie]

I was fortunate to start at XU in 1980 and saw the quick progression of the Staak years. Went to virtually all of the games, including Ohio State. Staak really was the catalyst for XU basketball. I did go to some Tay Baker games when I was in grade school and high school, including a game against a young Al McGuire and Marquette. The only things I remember about that game were that McGuire was a raving, red- faced lunatic screaming at the refs, someone from the student section threw a cup (beer?) on the court, and MU won by about 25. Interesting tidbit ... I caddied several times for Tay Baker at Clovernook Country Club, probably around 1975-76. Tay was a pretty good golfer, maybe single digit handicap.

[XU 87]

I was fortunate to start at XU in 1980 and saw the quick progression of the Staak years. Went to virtually all of the games, including Ohio State. Staak really was the catalyst for XU basketball. I did go to some Tay Baker games when I was in grade school and high school, including a game against a young Al McGuire and Marquette. The only things I remember about that game were that McGuire was a raving, red- faced lunatic screaming at the refs, someone from the student section threw a cup (beer?) on the court, and MU won by about 25. Interesting tidbit ... I caddied several times for Tay Baker at Clovernook Country Club, probably around 1975-76. Tay was a pretty good golfer, maybe single digit handicap.

I was at that Marquette game. It was a beer can that got thrown on the court. It was actually a close game until Marquette pulled away at the end. McGuire ran the score up, as he was pressing up by more than 15 points with less than 2 minutes to go. I think Marty Wolf was lead scorer for X with about 12 points.

[paulxu]

You guys are doing a hellavu job reminding me how old I am. Thanks for that.

I know we played our first game in 1920 (no, I wasn't there) but took 2 years off for WWII. Ergo...Team 98 this year.
Probably celebrate 100 in a couple years?

[bjf123]

[QUOTE=Sonoran Desert Muskie;652173I caddied several times for Tay Baker at Clovernook Country Club, probably around 1975-76. Tay was a pretty good golfer, maybe single digit handicap.[/QUOTE]

I was a member at Clovernook from 75-76 until the recession in 2013. You might have caddied for me. Small world. Tay was definitely a single digit handicap. He won the club championship one year in the late 70s or early 80s. I played in “the Baker Group” (anywhere from 12-20 guys) that teed off every Saturday and Sunday mornings at 9:00 for many years.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[xu82]

I was at that Marquette game. It was a beer can that got thrown on the court. It was actually a close game until Marquette pulled away at the end. McGuire ran the score up, as he was pressing up by more than 15 points with less than 2 minutes to go. I think Marty Wolf was lead scorer for X with about 12 points.

I’m pretty sure I was at that game! I don’t remember the beer being thrown, but I’ll never forget the MU cheerleader named Dawn. Telling of where MY mind was those days! I wonder if she’s still thinking of me???

[xudash]

I’m
I’m pretty sure I was at that game! I don’t remember the beer being thrown, but I’ll never forget the MU cheerleader named Dawn. Telling of where MY mind was those days! I wonder if she’s still thinking of me???

Oh, absolutely. No doubt about it. Probably quietly checking you out on Facebook.

[xu82]

I’m

Oh, absolutely. No doubt about it. Probably quietly checking you out on Facebook.

She had Steffi Graf legs, and I was working or my John Belushi gut! We would have had beautiful babies!


Or at least would have had a great time trying!

[xudash]

She had Steffi Graf legs, and I was working or my John Belushi gut! We would have had beautiful babies!


Or at least would have had a great time trying!

Hello my lovely. Why don’t you skip the bus and come with me back to my penthouse suite in Le Brockman Estates, where I shall give you chilled MD20/20 and make love all over you!

[xu82]

Hello my lovely. Why don’t you skip the bus and come with me back to my penthouse suite in Le Brockman Estates, where I shall give you chilled MD20/20 and make love all over you!

That might have worked, had I not been on the first floor (but ABOVE the basement dwellers) and I had actually been able to form a word in her breathtaking presence. Good chance she’s 250# and a world class bitch. Life unfolds as it’s meant to. I’ll trust that. No complaints here!


But damn!

[McX]

I’m pretty sure I was at that game! I don’t remember the beer being thrown, but I’ll never forget the MU cheerleader named Dawn. Telling of where MY mind was those days! I wonder if she’s still thinking of me???

I think her name was Fawn, not Dawn. I heard, sadly, that she lost her life shortly before graduation in a kiln explosion.

[sirthought]

You guys know a lot about an opposing school's cheerleaders. Were there no women at XU at the time?

[SteveSpivery]

https://images.app.goo.gl/LWcBZuNv7tGF2Nzq7

[Xuperman]

Apparently men's basketball played 1 game in 1919. Is this disputed as the official beginning? If not, Just curious as to why there is no hoopla.

[noteggs]

Apparently men's basketball played 1 game in 1919. Is this disputed as the official beginning? If not, Just curious as to why there is no hoopla.

Read post #10 on this thread by Paul and that is probably your answer. Don’t think I’m buying his part about not being there tho lol

[Xuperman]

OK, who is Harry Gilligan? Post #10 by Paul does not clear that up. Apparently he coached 1 game in 1919. According to the google machine X lost that game but no mention of who they played or any other details. Is this not accurate....or just not considered the official beginning?

[XU88]

OK, who is Harry Gilligan? Post #10 by Paul does not clear that up. Apparently he coached 1 game in 1919. According to the google machine X lost that game but no mention of who they played or any other details. Is this not accurate....or just not considered the official beginning?

A ten second look at Wikipedia (it's on the internet so it has to be true, right) shows that Gilligan coached during the "1919-20" season. It also says the one game X played that "season" was on February 20, 1920. Looks like one game doth not make a season.

[JTG]

A ten second look at Wikipedia (it's on the internet so it has to be true, right) shows that Gilligan coached during the "1919-20" season. It also says the one game X played that "season" was on February 20, 1920. Looks like one game doth not make a season.

It's not that difficult guys, this is Team 98. When we get to Team 100, then we see the big hoopla.

[muskiefan82]

Hmmmm.......if that lone game in 1919 counts, then isn't this actually Team 99?

Season Beginning TEAM #
1919 1
1920 2
1921 3
1922 4
1923 5
1924 6
1925 7
1926 8
1927 9
1928 10
1929 11
1930 12
1931 13
1932 14
1933 15
1934 16
1935 17
1936 18
1937 19
1938 20
1939 21
1940 22
1941 23
1942 24
1943
1944
1945 25
1946 26
1947 27
1948 28
1949 29
1950 30
1951 31
1952 32
1953 33
1954 34
1955 35
1956 36
1957 37
1958 38
1959 39
1960 40
1961 41
1962 42
1963 43
1964 44
1965 45
1966 46
1967 47
1968 48
1969 49
1970 50
1971 51
1972 52
1973 53
1974 54
1975 55
1976 56
1977 57
1978 58
1979 59
1980 60
1981 61
1982 62
1983 63
1984 64
1985 65
1986 66
1987 67
1988 68
1989 69
1990 70
1991 71
1992 72
1993 73
1994 74
1995 75
1996 76
1997 77
1998 78
1999 79
2000 80
2001 81
2002 82
2003 83
2004 84
2005 85
2006 86
2007 87
2008 88
2009 89
2010 90
2011 91
2012 92
2013 93
2014 94
2015 95
2016 96
2017 97
2018 98
2019 99

[WCWIII]

Harry J. Gilligan was from the class of 1912 and served in WWI. He was an active alum sending several letters to Xavier from Europe. He returned from the War and was married in 1919. He served on the Athletics Board and was a donor to the Athletics Department. The first game in the record books was held on Feb 20 1920 was an 18-24 St. Xavier Saints defeat at the hands of St. Mary's (now Dayton). This was despite getting 10 from Noppy (Noppenberger).

Not showing up in the record books are two college victories in early 1919 by Xavier (Loyolas?) who defeated the Fort Thomas Solders 35-23 and Hamilton YMCA 30-18. This was all at the time when the high school and college were separating and the new campus in Avondale was coming to be.

Old Xavier historical material, very cool, can be found (here (https://www.exhibit.xavier.edu/)). With a subscription, you can get old newspapers (here (https://www.newspapers.com/)).

[Olsingledigit]

Harry J. Gilligan was from the class of 1912 and served in WWI. He was an active alum sending several letters to Xavier from Europe. He returned from the War and was married in 1919. He served on the Athletics Board and was a donor to the Athletics Department. The first game in the record books was held on Feb 20 1920 was an 18-24 St. Xavier Saints defeat at the hands of St. Mary's (now Dayton). This was despite getting 10 from Noppy (Noppenberger).

Not showing up in the record books are two college victories in early 1919 by Xavier (Loyolas?) who defeated the Fort Thomas Solders 35-23 and Hamilton YMCA 30-18. This was all at the time when the high school and college were separating and the new campus in Avondale was coming to be.

Old Xavier historical material, very cool, can be found (here (https://www.exhibit.xavier.edu/)). With a subscription, you can get old newspapers (here (https://www.newspapers.com/)).

Let’s dont count a loss to U Dump as anything.

[xudash]

Let’s dont count a loss to U Dump as anything.

I second that.

They are the poster child for loserville in modern collegiate hoops.

[xukeith]

Hmmmm.......if that lone game in 1919 counts, then isn't this actually Team 99?

Season Beginning TEAM #
1919 1
1920 2
1921 3
1922 4
1923 5
1924 6
1925 7
1926 8
1927 9
1928 10
1929 11
1930 12
1931 13
1932 14
1933 15
1934 16
1935 17
1936 18
1937 19
1938 20
1939 21
1940 22
1941 23
1942 24
1943
1944
1945 25
1946 26
1947 27
1948 28
1949 29
1950 30
1951 31
1952 32
1953 33
1954 34
1955 35
1956 36
1957 37
1958 38
1959 39
1960 40
1961 41
1962 42
1963 43
1964 44
1965 45
1966 46
1967 47
1968 48
1969 49
1970 50
1971 51
1972 52
1973 53
1974 54
1975 55
1976 56
1977 57
1978 58
1979 59
1980 60
1981 61
1982 62
1983 63
1984 64
1985 65
1986 66
1987 67
1988 68
1989 69
1990 70
1991 71
1992 72
1993 73
1994 74
1995 75
1996 76
1997 77
1998 78
1999 79
2000 80
2001 81
2002 82
2003 83
2004 84
2005 85
2006 86
2007 87
2008 88
2009 89
2010 90
2011 91
2012 92
2013 93
2014 94
2015 95
2016 96
2017 97
2018 98
2019 99

Good research. So did someone at X drop the ball as this year is team #99?

[paulxu]

I don't get this. A basketball season spans Nov till March.
So this year the NCAA championship trophy will be for 2020. (not 2019)
Xavier's first game was in the 1919-1920 season...or the 1920 season.
That's 100 years ago. No games played in 2 years of WWII.

So...this is Team 98.

[muskiefan82]

No. The list I made is year season began. If you change it to year season ended, it’s still team 99

[Masterofreality]

I believe Xavier played 1 game in 1919 as the official beginning of the Men’s Basketball program. The start of the regular season in November marks the 100th year!!

Xavier lost that 1 game on February 20, 1920 to udump 24-18.

Probably why it's not being counted. 2020 will be the 100th year.

[76Retired]

I forwarded this to Bob and he was very appreciative for the kind words.

[Xuperman]

I forwarded this to Bob and he was very appreciative for the kind words.

That’s awesome! Not enough could ever be said about the significance of Bob Staak and the rise of Xavier Basketball, with an emphasis on his role as Athletic Director. One has to wonder, had he not been the right guy at the right place at the right time with the right vision, things could have easily gone in a much different direction.


I was at that Marquette game. It was a beer can that got thrown on the court. It was actually a close game until Marquette pulled away at the end. McGuire ran the score up, as he was pressing up by more than 15 points with less than 2 minutes to go. I think Marty Wolf was lead scorer for X with about 12 points.

The relationship with Marquette back in those days was an interesting one. The fact that they scheduled X on a “home AND away” bases for several years was a blessing in disguise.....with MU being a perennial powerhouse they really tossed us a bone. I would love to know more about what got that series started.

Anyway, X was never really that competitive and eventually were going to run out of opportunities to get that unlikely W, until Coach Staak engineered that Gardens shocker vs Rick Majerus!