LETTERS- YOUR VIEW: Remembering an amazing run

To the Editor: Well, 20 years ago this March, that fantasy became a reality for seniors like me in the Class of '79 and for the entire University. As one of two senior broadcasters for WXPN, I got to call every game on that magnificent run. This Saturday, during the Penn-Cornell game, the University will honor the accomplishments of the men's 1979 NCAA Final Four basketball team. The team fielded four senior starters, Tony Price and Tim Smith at forward, Matt White at center and Bobby Willis along with junior James "Booney" Salters at guard. The bench supporting the starters was terrific as well. For students today, it might be difficult for you to imagine the excitement on campus 20 years ago. I had difficulty picturing Penn's football program being a nationally ranked one during my parents' era (both graduated Penn in 1952). The upset of Temple earlier this season in a sold-out and noisy Palestra was a close approximation of every Big 5 game in the 1970s. Prior to departing for the Final Four in Salt Lake City, a giant pep rally was held at Franklin Field. The entire south stands, upper and lower, were filled to capacity to see the team off. I think more people showed up for the rally than our graduation in May. Coach Bob Weinhauer's pre-season motto, "We've got a secret," became a big blue and red button that was worn with pride all over campus. I even had a souvenir big foam No. 1 hand from our last-second Eastern Regional loss to Duke in 1978 at Providence, R.I. The hand proudly read "University of Penn State!" Well, by the time we got to Utah, the "secret" was out and people knew we were not Penn State. After the amazing highs of upset victories over North Carolina and Syracuse, the dream of a national championship was shattered by a guy named Magic Johnson and his teammates at Michigan State. The first half was probably the most painful half of basketball I had ever broadcast. Penn did what no team was supposed to be able to do. They were able to penetrate Michigan State's defense for easy shots. The problem was that Penn's players went cold and were missing layups! Despite playing better in the second half, the lead was too much to overcome. In retrospect, I think the team's goal had been to make it to the Final Four. With that accomplished, the team lost its way and the game. Magic went on to play a guy named Bird and Indiana State; they made history and we became the answer to a trivia question. Our double-overtime loss in the consolation game against DePaul was the last consolation game in the Final Four's history. What was not trivial for anyone who was at Penn in 1979 was the great feelings and cohesion generated by having a winning basketball team. Unlike the "Ivy League" era of 1940s and 1950s, many consider having good sports teams as not keeping the "Ivy" doctrine. In 1979, it seemed the only people upset with Penn's basketball success were the other members of the Ancient Eight. This year's men's basketball team has shown some great promise and a potential to win the Ivy League. I can only hope that meeting the players from 20 years ago might help turn their March Madness fantasies into the reality of a National Championship. What a ride that would be! Larry Joseph Wharton '79