Dabblin’ With the Cockspur: Addicted to Por…errrrr…Horn
posted by Roger Olivieri, 2/26/2009 11:36:00 AM
Hearing the student section chant, “Darr-in Horn!” for about three minutes straight was really cool.
Let’s admit it, the school, the fan base and everyone associated with the Gamecock Athletics department thinks Darrin Horn is the greatest coach in the history of basketball. I’m not being sarcastic either, I think I agree.
I made a stupid joke last night that I think bears repeating. When the final stats were handed out in the media room last night, I said to my man Dave Cloninger, “Somewhere, Odom sees the 20 in the victories column and his first thought is, ‘I didn’t know the NIT started already.”
Hah, hah, very funny, but the fact of the matter is, these Gamecocks are playing out of their minds. The fans are out of their minds and the country – given a taste on national television in March – may also be out of their minds in love with the new Cinderella.
The Big Dance is all but a “sure thing” and the university has one guy to thank for it. Horn has been the youthful spark plug needed to connect the students with the team.
He’s shown up in Russell House, hosted Bootcamp and dazzled media. He’s taken a team of underachieving athletes and turned them into heart stopping, high octane muscle cars. He’s taken two freshmen in Mike Holmes and Sam Muldrow and turned them into sophomore superstars. He’s intertwined his love for up-tempo with Mr. Up-Tempo (Downey) and found a way to choreograph a fist pumping, heart stopping, opponent sweating drag race at the Colonial Life Arena every single night.
A Columbia resident and Gamecock fan for twenty years, I can honestly say, I have never seen a basketball game with that kind of atmosphere. I was at the Antonio Grant/ Cincinnati comeback and I don’t think the two compare. Wednesday was just better…
Why do the students love him? The guys probably relate to the young man. The women, in all honesty, probably think he’s handsome. Either way – it’s working out. Check the video attached. I can’t recall the Colonial Life Arena chanting “Daaaaaave Odom! Daaaaaave Odom!”
It’s time for the South Carolina Athletics Department to open the wallets and lock the guy up in a long term contract. I can assure you one thing: the first row of boosters behind the Kentucky bench last evening was filled with important people and they were not happy. Their grimaces ranged from surprised to pissed off.
I’m sure one of them had to say, “You said this Horn guy was from Kentucky, right?”
After the way Billy Gillespie laughed off the loss saying, “The world won’t end tomorrow,” I’d be willing to bet the millions of blue grass faithful want the Gillespie era to end before the world does. They won’t have to look far for a new coach – there’s a pretty damned good one in Columbia, South Carolina.
Quick Hit: What I Overheard…
I walked into the media room just before half time to get a new battery for the camera. There were two Kentucky reporters in there talking. They’d obviously had enough and there was still roughly four minutes left in the first half. I don’t like spying on people (actually, I do) but I couldn’t help hear the frustration in their voice.
“He’s is so f@&%ing good! It’s ridiculous when you see him in person,” one blue clad reporter said to the other.
“Weren't you at Rupp last time?” said the other.
“No. This is the first time I’ve gotten to see him. Jesus. He’s really really fast and really really good.”
They were talking about Devan Downey.
I am blessed with the opportunity to talk to many people – coaches, players, fans alike. It seems like I hear those same words every time I sit in the media room after a Carolina game.
Gotta’ tell ya’, it’s a good feeling.
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Addicted to Horn
Hearing the student section chant, “Darr-in Horn!” for about three minutes straight was really cool.
Let’s admit it, the school, the fan base and everyone associated with the Gamecock Athletics department thinks Darrin Horn is the greatest coach in the history of basketball. I’m not being sarcastic either, I think I agree.
I made a stupid joke last night that I think bears repeating. When the final stats were handed out in the media room last night, I said to my man Dave Cloninger, “Somewhere, Odom sees the 20 in the victories column and his first thought is, ‘I didn’t know the NIT started already.”
Hah, hah, very funny, but the fact of the matter is, these Gamecocks are playing out of their minds. The fans are out of their minds and the country – given a taste on national television in March – may also be out of their minds in love with the new Cinderella.
The Big Dance is all but a “sure thing” and the university has one guy to thank for it. Horn has been the youthful spark plug needed to connect the students with the team.
He’s shown up in Russell House, hosted Bootcamp and dazzled media. He’s taken a team of underachieving athletes and turned them into heart stopping, high octane muscle cars. He’s taken two freshmen in Mike Holmes and Sam Muldrow and turned them into sophomore superstars. He’s intertwined his love for up-tempo with Mr. Up-Tempo (Downey) and found a way to choreograph a fist pumping, heart stopping, opponent sweating drag race at the Colonial Life Arena every single night.
A Columbia resident and Gamecock fan for twenty years, I can honestly say, I have never seen a basketball game with that kind of atmosphere. I was at the Antonio Grant/ Cincinnati comeback and I don’t think the two compare. Wednesday was just better…
Why do the students love him? The guys probably relate to the young man. The women, in all honesty, probably think he’s handsome. Either way – it’s working out. Check the video attached. I can’t recall the Colonial Life Arena chanting “Daaaaaave Odom! Daaaaaave Odom!”
It’s time for the South Carolina Athletics Department to open the wallets and lock the guy up in a long term contract. I can assure you one thing: the first row of boosters behind the Kentucky bench last evening was filled with important people and they were not happy. Their grimaces ranged from surprised to pissed off.
I’m sure one of them had to say, “You said this Horn guy was from Kentucky, right?”
After the way Billy Gillespie laughed off the loss saying, “The world won’t end tomorrow,” I’d be willing to bet the millions of blue grass faithful want the Gillespie era to end before the world does. They won’t have to look far for a new coach – there’s a pretty damned good one in Columbia, South Carolina.
Quick Hit: What I Overheard…
I walked into the media room just before half time to get a new battery for the camera. There were two Kentucky reporters in there talking. They’d obviously had enough and there was still roughly four minutes left in the first half. I don’t like spying on people (actually, I do) but I couldn’t help hear the frustration in their voice.
“He’s is so f@&%ing good! It’s ridiculous when you see him in person,” one blue clad reporter said to the other.
“Weren't you at Rupp last time?” said the other.
“No. This is the first time I’ve gotten to see him. Jesus. He’s really really fast and really really good.”
They were talking about Devan Downey.
I am blessed with the opportunity to talk to many people – coaches, players, fans alike. It seems like I hear those same words every time I sit in the media room after a Carolina game.
Gotta’ tell ya’, it’s a good feeling.
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Roger Olivieri. Roger began working with GamecockCentral in December of 2007. He currently serves as the site's chief videographer. He may be reached by email at roger(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.