Ancient Quaker
Masters Student
Posts: 647
Reg: 11-21-04
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12-12-18 10:30 AM - Post#268790
Didn't want this to get buried in the long game thread, as it is important to preserve history accurately.
https://www.thedp.com/article/2013/12/top-1 0-momen...
Despite the DP's glaring omission of it, it is arguable that the Penn-Villanova game played at The Palestra on December 20, 1969, was not just one of the Top 10, but the most significant ever.
The previous year, Penn had held the ball for most of the game, and The Perpetually Tanned One made a late jumper to beat Nova 32-30. That game made the DP's list, but it was one of the least entertaining basketball games I have ever attended.
For the 1969-70 season, the solid core of Wohl, Bilsky and Wolf was joined by my sophomore classmates Corky Calhoun and Bob Morse, who had been unable to play the previous season due to freshman eligibility rules. [Yes, youngsters, at that time, college basketball players couldn't play varsity until they became sophomores.] It was clear that Penn would be a strong team, but how strong had not yet been determined.
In came national Top 10 Villanova, led by its star, the late, great Howard Porter, and a strong supporting cast. The Palestra was packed (standees in the corners, unlike last night).
With the talent to match up, Penn no longer held the ball. Dick Harter and Quakers took it right at Nova. The game was close all the way, but the Quakers emerged with a 59-55 win. Other than my post-game euphoria, the details have faded from my memory, but I am sure that 13Otto can provide some game film for us, and others can fill in some details.
With the benefit of historical perspective, this game likely marked the beginning of the modern era of Penn basketball, which resulted in the 50-year fandom of many of this board's contributors.
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Penn7277
PhD Student
Posts: 1365
Loc: Lancaster, PA
Reg: 11-21-04
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12-12-18 11:17 AM - Post#268811
In response to Ancient Quaker
I remember Bob Morse well. He was the tallest person in my freshman Biology lab.
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Lefteroo
Senior
Posts: 398
Reg: 02-12-05
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12-12-18 12:15 PM - Post#268827
In response to Penn7277
I am pretty sure that was the game Corky threw in an unbelievable over his head shot that was the key to the win. (It may have been the following season, but I'm fairly confident it was in the game you're describing.)
As I recall, on our first possession we made it appear that we were going to stall again like in the 32-30 game the year before. The Wildcat fans booed vociferously. After a minute or so, Dave Wohl made believe that he was having trouble with a contact lens. The game was briefly delayed, and when it resumed, Nova coach Jack Kraft took Villanova out of its zone defense and went man-to-man, which was what Dick Harter wanted. Pretty good ploy!
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13otto
Masters Student
Posts: 779
Loc: Philadelphia, PA
Reg: 11-22-04
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12-12-18 01:50 PM - Post#268858
In response to Lefteroo
Yes, 1969-70 was the Contact Lens Game. If you click on the Link to watch the full game, just a heads up that could take a minute or so to load. Flash player might be required to watch this.
Corky's "Amazing Shot" came in the 1970-71 game. It can be seen at about 45 seconds into this 2-minute clip compilation from the second half of the game.
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Lefteroo
Senior
Posts: 398
Reg: 02-12-05
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12-12-18 04:06 PM - Post#268906
In response to 13otto
Otto, you are the greatest. I have been enjoying watching the highlights on the letsgoquakers site for years.
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xrel
Freshman
Posts: 39
Age: 59
Reg: 03-19-08
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Top 10 Penn-Villanova Games 12-12-18 05:42 PM - Post#268920
In response to Lefteroo
I've seen those tapes on that site as well, and also watched the games on Channel 17 at the time. I note that the parts of the telecast that don't involve the actual game are edited out. The games were apparently filmed directly off of the TV with a Super 8 and maybe whoever filmed it edited them out. However, if not I would love to see the entire telecast, with the "dead-time" banter between Meltzer and Swift (or Kelly) and even the commercials, if those parts exist.
The 32-30 Penn-Villanova game from 68-69 was my most memorable. I was a 13 year old huge Villanova/Howard Porter fan, and when they lost I took all of the newspaper clippings I had been saving and burned them in the fireplace!
Edited by xrel on 12-12-18 05:56 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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13otto
Masters Student
Posts: 779
Loc: Philadelphia, PA
Reg: 11-22-04
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Top 10 Penn-Villanova Games 12-12-18 06:56 PM - Post#268927
In response to xrel
That's all that exists of the 1969-70 game. It was recorded off air using a very primitive video tape recorder - a Craig VTR-6302. Just tracking down the source of the open reel tapes was a worldwide venture that spanned nearly two years (August 2006-June 2008). Numerous old-time video tape historians from the VTR community got involved in trying to determine the format. Many obsolete video tape formats such as Wollensack VTR-150, Panasonic NV-8100, Concord, Sony-CV, Diamond Power & Shibaden were eventually ruled out, before a guy in Boston correctly identified the source VTR. He then tracked down a Craig VTR from someone in San Francisco, converted the tape reel and the two-year project was history. The VTR search alone was worth the four-figure investment.
Edited by 13otto on 12-12-18 06:58 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21086
Reg: 12-02-04
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12-12-18 06:57 PM - Post#268928
In response to 13otto
I nominate this for post of the year, even though I don't understand a word of it.
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Old Bear
Postdoc
Posts: 3988
Reg: 11-23-04
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12-12-18 07:35 PM - Post#268930
In response to penn nation
Wollensack and Shibaden we pretty good with the ball, but neither one could go to his left. They didn't make it to the next level.
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OldBig5
Masters Student
Posts: 639
Age: 66
Reg: 02-18-18
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12-12-18 09:24 PM - Post#268940
In response to Lefteroo
I thought the over the head shot was in the 1971 game? I remember the 32-30 game and watching at home with my brother the Penn student. When Bilsky hit the shot he started jumping up and down. Mom thought we were fighting. I was 11 and a Penn fan for life after that even though I ended up at Temple.
I remember the 1971 game for them coming behind in the second half and maybe for what happened a couple months later. I went to catholic elementary school and facing my friend whose brother went to Villanova that March Monday morning was one of the worst days of my life.
I seem to remember the 32-30 game being a weekday game while the 70 ad 71 games were saturdays?
Does anyone else remember bullfighting from Mexico being on channel 17 on Saturdays after the Big 5 doubleheader?
I am pretty sure that was the game Corky threw in an unbelievable over his head shot that was the key to the win. (It may have been the following season, but I'm fairly confident it was in the game you're describing.)
As I recall, on our first possession we made it appear that we were going to stall again like in the 32-30 game the year before. The Wildcat fans booed vociferously. After a minute or so, Dave Wohl made believe that he was having trouble with a contact lens. The game was briefly delayed, and when it resumed, Nova coach Jack Kraft took Villanova out of its zone defense and went man-to-man, which was what Dick Harter wanted. Pretty good ploy!
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OldBig5
Masters Student
Posts: 639
Age: 66
Reg: 02-18-18
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12-12-18 09:27 PM - Post#268941
In response to OldBig5
Ok. I stand corrected on the over the head shot after reading the other posts.
Corky was my favorite player. Bobby Morse after that. Wang reminds me of Morse.
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UPIA1968
PhD Student
Posts: 1117
Loc: Cornwall, PA
Reg: 11-20-06
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12-12-18 09:41 PM - Post#268945
In response to OldBig5
I was driving my 1969 green VW bug with my new wife at Cheltenham and Frankford avenues when Stevie's shot dropped. Kraft bet that the two soph guards would fail under pressure. Opps.
Same girl and I watched the end of last night's game. 50th anniversary on Friday. She is a Temple grad but wears her Penn sweatshirts frequently. Lucky guy am I!
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QHoops
Senior
Posts: 368
Reg: 12-16-04
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12-12-18 11:22 PM - Post#268961
In response to UPIA1968
Good for you guys. Enjoy the anniversary.
I married Mrs. QHoops in 2007, and as I have told her too many times since, she observed (caused?) our Quakers departure for for ten years of wandering in the wilderness.
Color me excited for the next ten years, both at home and on the court!
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Chip Bayers
Professor
Posts: 6997
Loc: New York
Reg: 11-21-04
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12-13-18 01:00 AM - Post#268969
In response to QHoops
All this time we’ve blamed Glen Miller for destroying the program, and it turns out it was your wife?
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Quakers03
Professor
Posts: 12480
Reg: 12-07-04
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12-13-18 01:45 AM - Post#268976
In response to Chip Bayers
I got married in June 2007...I never even considered the fact that I could have been giving her grief over it. However, I still remember an in-college argument with Penn94 about Valentines Day vs Penn basketball, so since she was around for the Ugonna teams, I guess she's off the hook.
Congrats UPIA1968. That's awesome.
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QHoops
Senior
Posts: 368
Reg: 12-16-04
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12-13-18 10:01 AM - Post#268986
In response to Chip Bayers
Well, she denies it, but the timing is awfully suspicious.
And she's a Yalie, so the circumstantial case is pretty solid.
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Lefteroo
Senior
Posts: 398
Reg: 02-12-05
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12-13-18 03:58 PM - Post#269056
In response to QHoops
Mrs. Lefteroo and I met when seated alphabetically next to each other in Sociology 4, "Marriage and the Family," in old Dietrich Hall. I think it was in Lecture Hall W-1. Professor Kephart - it was his tradition to seat students alphabetically. Most important and luckiest day of my life.
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Ted
Junior
Posts: 222
Reg: 12-23-12
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Re: Top 10 Penn-Villanova Games 12-13-18 05:01 PM - Post#269061
In response to Ancient Quaker
I totally agree with Ancient Quaker about the 12/20/69 game, and its significance in Penn BB history. It also may have been the loudest game I ever attended - my ears rang for a week afterward. What I remember most about the game is Bilsky and Wohl making every foul shot down the stretch, and Wohl knuckling Bilsky's head after the latter sank the clincher. Funny the things you remember.
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