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The Elegant Eight
By Angela Lento
The ‘Fashion 4’ project blasted off, on March 14. Along the way, the crew has been reduced from the original 65. And now 2001 A Fashion Odyssey has reached a pivotal point.
By day’s end only eight would continue on their mission to reach the land of the ‘Fashionable Four’ and all systems checked out as The ‘Sensational Sixteen’ was set to get underway.
THE SOUTH
As the crowd settled in to watch the journey continue, an announcement came over the public address system.
“Houston, we have a problem.”
Mission control on the campus of Rice was in an uproar. Willis Wilson, the No. 2 seed in the South Region was just moments away from taking the stage for his matchup with No. 3 seed Sherman Dillard (James Madison) and Wilson’s coordinator was no where to be found.
Fashion coordinator and legendary tailor ‘Bee’ was not among the notables in Wilson’s camp, against Dillard who would most assuredly be missed.
“This is a championship caliber contest,” said Wilson. “Sherman has been fly for a long time so I am going to have to be at the top of my game today.”
“Coach, it has to hurt not having your tailor here,” asked fashion assistant Jackie Bracco.
“Sometimes you have to play without one of your key guys,” said Wilson. “It’s part of the game.”
Wilson advanced to the championship catwalk contest last season, before falling to Lehigh’s Sal Mentesana.
In the early going it appeared that Wilson would have a tough time getting back to the title tilt, as Dillard jumped out in front.
Debonair Dillard used his trademark long jackets to build on his lead, but Wilson rallied with a flurry of suits to close the gap at the half.
“I feel pretty good,” Wilson told Bracco.
“Do you have a favorite suit that you can pull out the closet for the second half,” asked Bracco.
“I don’t have a favorite,” said Wilson. “They are all good.”
Guest fashion analyst Shakey Rodriguez offered his thoughts.
“I am still questioning how he got past me in last year’s tournament,” said the former Florida International coach. “I believe it was fixed. The fact that there were no, and still are no, Hispanic judges on the panel is a concern to me.”
Last season Wilson out-styled Shakey in the ‘Sensational Sixteen.’ With Rodriguez among the onlookers, the second half began.
Wilson remained close throughout, but Dillard kept his composure and was able to withstand every run.
With time running out it was clear that Wilson needed to shake it up. The mood in the Rice camp was somber with the inevitable looming.
But suddenly the Owls’ fan erupted.
Like Willis Reed charging onto the Madison Square garden floor, ‘Bee’ emerged from the tunnel pumping new life into Wilson.
The appearance of Wilson’s tailor stunned Dillard. The momentum was clearly with Wilson and he charged into the lead.
Wilson didn’t have his ‘A’ game, but on this day a ‘Bee’ would be enough.
“It’s quite an honor to get back to the ‘Elegant Eight,’ said Wilson. “I owe it all to Bee. He’s my man. He was fashionably late, but that’s okay. We’re moving on.”
Wilson would meet the winner of the No. 1 vs. No. 12 catwalk contest. Top-seeded Alabama’s Mark Gottfried was the heavy favorite, but it was clear that Campbell coach Billy Lee would not go quietly.
“We don’t get a lot of excitement in Buies Creek, North Carolina, but everyone is very excited about this,” said Lee regarding his appearance in the ‘Sensational Sixteen.’
“Mark Gottfried is the No. 1 seed and is very stylish. What are your thoughts on your opponent,” Bracco asked Lee.
“There has always been just one source of fashion to come out of the state of Alabama,” said Lee. “The hound tooth hat worn by the late-great Bear Bryant. As for our matchup, well this is like picking out the two smartest guys in the dummy class.”
The Campbell coach had entertained the crowd on his surprising stroll down the catwalk, but the stroll would come to an abrupt end. After upsetting Fran Fraschilla (New Mexico) and Tubby Smith (Kentucky) Lee was overwhelmed by Gottfried’s elegance.
No. 1 would meet No. 2 in the South Regional Final.
“It won’t be easy,” said Wilson. “Mark is a pretty stylish guy. I will need to have Bee there from the outset.”
LISTEN to Willis Wilson talk fashion.
THE EAST
Like Billy Lee, Vermont’s Tom Brennan was a surprise entry in the round of 16. Well, surprising to everyone, but Brennan. The No. 9 seed had stunned the defending champion Sal Mentesana to advance to the ‘Sensational Sixteen.’
But, like Lee, there would be no further advancement for this chic competitor.
“It was a hard fought contest,” said a victorious Ed Schilling. “I was able to get a hold of a lot of tape and my staff and I spent hours breaking it down. I think that was the difference.”
The Wright State coach, a No. 5 seed, would have to await the outcome of the much-anticipated matchup between teacher and student to find out who is opponent would be.
“I would pay good money to watch this contest,” said Schilling. “This might be the best contest ever on the runway.”
Schilling was referring to the glamour game between the student, former UMass coach Bruiser Flint, and the teacher, Memphis coach John Calipari.
“The selection committee didn’t do me any favors,” said Flint. “First I had to face the sentimental favorite Denny Crum. Then I was paired against my man ‘Fang’ [Mitchell] and now I have coach Cal. I can’t imagine anyone having a tougher path than me.”
“Is it tough going against your friend and former boss,” Bracco asked Flint.
“Well, I didn’t have to scout him all that much,” Flint replied. “He told me the other day that it would be a big upset if I beat him. We’ll just have to see about that.”
For 40 minutes, neither contestant was able to get more than a ‘tie’s-length’ lead. Trailing by a cuff link, with the clock winding down, Flint went to ‘Ferragamo’ (shoes) and tied it at the buzzer.
It was only ‘fitting’ that this matchup go to an elegant extra period.
“This is unreal,” said Schilling. “Now that we are in overtime I would be glad to go back to the ticket window and pay more. This is terrific.”
In overtime, Calipari jumped ahead and was threatening to pull away so Flint called for a tailor time out.
Flint emerged from the huddle and wowed the crowd.
Flint came out with a blue-textured Canali suit, with a blue striped shirt and a blue and yellow tie. Calipari had no answer.
“No matter where I sport it, everyone says I look good,” laughed Flint. “Coach Cal might think this was an upset, but I don’t agree. The student learned well.”
Flint will now meet another familiar face in the ‘Elegant Eight’ in Schilling who was an assistant, along with Flint, under Calipari at UMass.
“I’m not surprised,” said Flint. “My road has been real tough. I bet you that [Bob] Huggins and his chest protectors doesn’t have this tough of a road to haul.”
THE MIDWEST
No. 2 seed Bob Huggins wasn’t paying attention to the comments of Flint. He was focused on his opponent Joel Sobotka, of Portland State.
“I am going to have to be perfect tonight,” said Sobotka. “Beating Riley Wallace (Hawaii) to get to this point was quite a challenge. Preparing for his Hawaiian shirts was like preparing for a box and one. You don’t see that look to often. Coach Huggins is a little easier to prepare for. We had a lot of tapes on him so we got a good feel for what he would throw at me. It won’t be easy, but I think I can give him a run on the runway.”
As it turned out, Sobotka was right. He did give Huggins a run, but it wasn’t quite enough. The Big Sky champion would come up a little short of the ‘Elegant Eight.’
“It was a great season,” Sobotka told Bracco after the contest. “I wish coach Huggins the best of luck the rest of the way.”
And as for Huggins, “The judges made the right decision,” he said. “Joel competed very hard and when you compete you always give yourself a chance to win. But like I said, the judges made the right decision. I had faith in Angela [Lento].”
Good friend Tom Penders was on hand and agreed with the result.
“It was definitely the right call,” said Penders. “My man didn’t get any calls against Stanford so it’s good to see the correct call was made tonight.”
Penders went onto to say that he was going to express his thoughts about calls, non-calls and referees in a column for College Insider.Com.
“You can expect to see that column within the next day or two,” said Penders.
Huggins, the No. 2 seed would face top-seeded Gary Waters of Kent State in the Midwest Regional Final.
It would be the second meeting in a week for the two fashion mavens who faced each other in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
“He was the victor on that day,” said Waters who slipped past St. John’s coach Mike Jarvis to reach the ‘Elegant Eight.’ “He looked kind of basic when we played them, but he stepped it up again in Cincinnati’s game against Stanford. It’s going to be an interesting matchup.”
“What about getting past coach Jarvis,” asked Bracco.
“Mike Jarvis is a classy and stylish guy,” replied Waters. “He shops on Fifth Avenue, but I shop in Paris and that was the difference.”
THE WEST
Rumor has it that Iona’s Jeff Ruland also shops on Fifth Avenue.
“That’s a ridiculous myth,” said Marist coach Dave Magarity. “About two blocks over you will find the thrift shop where Ruland gets his shark-skinned suits.”
Magarity was in attendance to see Ruland, still visibly bothered by his No. 3 seed, and Bobby Jones, from St. Francis (PA).
“So far the judges have done an excellent job,” said Ruland. “Magarity is just upset that my wardrobe is better than his and that I am still advancing. I expect to continue advancing too.”
Ruland used his power to intimidate the judges and his opponent, but Jones snapped right back.
“Jeff just signed that new eight-year contract so I expected him to ‘beef’ up his wardrobe,” said the NEC champion. “As a big guy he will try to use his size to overpower me so I will have to be quicker. My speed and quickness will be tough for the over-the-hill guy.”
Wow. How about that?
Perhaps the result wasn’t a surprise, but the margin of victory sure was. Jones ran circles around the Herculean Ruland and won going away.
“He’s getting old,” said Jones. “My quickness was just too much for the big guy.”
The media braced for what would almost certainly be an intense post runway press conference from Ruland.
Reporter: “Jeff what happened?”
Ruland: “First of all, call me coach Ruland. Secondly, that’s a stupid question.”
Reporter: “Do you feel good about advancing this far?”
Ruland: “Next question.”
Reporter: “Do you think Bobby Jones can win it all?”
Ruland: “He beat me so he should win it all. That’s it. No more questions.”
Jones would face top-seeded Melvin Watkins for the right to advance to the ‘Fashionable Four.’ The Texas A&M coach edged out UL-Lafayette’s Jessie Evans who was disappointed, but pleased to have reached the ‘Sensational Sixteen.’
“Last season I got no love,” said Evans. “It was an early exit from the field in 2000 so I feel great to have gotten to the final sixteen this season. I picked up a brand new Canali sport coat for tonight’s contest, but Melvin [Watkins] was just too much. His depth is awful good.”
On March 27th, the eight will compete for a spot in the ‘Fashionable Four.’
THE DAY’S RESULTS:
EAST
No. 5 Ed Schilling (Wright State) defeated
No. 9 Tom Brennan (Vermont)No. 3 Bruiser Flint (***) defeated
No. 2 John Calipari (Memphis)SOUTH
No. 1 Mark Gottfried (Alabama) defeated
No. 12 Billy Lee (Campbell)No. 2 Willis Wilson (Rice) defeated
No 3. Sherman Dillard (James Madison)MIDWEST
No. 2 Bob Huggins (Cincinnati) defeated
No. 11 Joel Sobotka (Portland State)No. 1 Gary Waters (Kent State) defeated
No. 4 Mike Jarvis (St. John’s)WEST
No. 10 Bobby Jones (St. Francis-PA) defeated
No. 3 Jeff Ruland (Iona)No. 1 Melvin Watkins (Texas A&M) defeated
No. 5 Jessie Evans (UL-Lafayette)
Be sure to listen to Angela Lento talk fashion on the 'Adam Paul Show' at 2:30 (EST) every Friday.
CLICK HERE TO SEND ANGELA YOUR COMMENTS
(Head Coach: 3-8-2002) 1. Bruiser Flint
2. John Calipari
3. Gary Waters
4. Willis Wilson
5. Jay Wright
6. Paul Graham
7. Tubby Smith
8. Rick Pitino
9. Melvin Watkins
10.Mike JarvisPlaying Catch with Satchel Paige
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Being No. 1 Suits Rutgers' Gary Waters Just Fine
Jan 21 FPI: John Calipari Tops Fashion Power Index
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Jan 7 FPI: Gary Waters Tops Fashion Power Index
Though Styles Differ, Smith and Pitino at Top of Their Game
December FPI: Georgetown and Drexel Top The Lists
Jesse "The Body" Ventura and a Kid at Delaware
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Auctioning off Auburn coach Cliff Ellis
UCLA's Steve Lavin Talks Fashion
John Feinstein Plugs Fashionable Four
(Assistant: 3-8-2002) 1. Wayne Brent
2. Gary Stewart
3. Steve Sauers
4. Ronny Thompson
5. Tony Jones
6. Patrick Sellers
7. Reggie Hanson
8. Lew Hill
9. Tom Schuberth
10.Jennifer Johnston
AMERICA EAST:
Tom Brennan
ATLANTIC COAST:
Skip Prosser
ATLANTIC SUN:
Don Maestri
ATLANTIC 10:
Bob Hill
BIG EAST:
Gary Waters
BIG SKY:
Joel Sobotka
BIG SOUTH:
Pete Strickland
BIG TEN:
Jerry Dunn
BIG 12:
Melvin Watkins
BIG WEST:
Kevin Bromley
COLONIAL:
Bruiser Flint
CONFERENCE-USA:
John Calipari
HORIZON:
Ed Schilling
IVY LEAGUE:
James Jones
METRO ATLANTIC:
Don Harnum
MID-AMERICAN:
Stan Joplin
MID-CONTINENT:
Homer Drew
MID-EASTERN:
Cy Alexander
MISSOURI VALLEY:
Barry Hinson
MOUNTAIN WEST:
Charlie Spoonhour
NORTHEAST:
Bobby Jones
OHIO VALLEY:
Kyle Macy
PACIFIC-10:
Paul Graham
PATRIOT LEAGUE:
Sal Mentesana
SOUTHEASTERN:
Tubby Smith
SOUTHERN:
Bob McKillop
SOUHTLAND:
Mike Deane
SOUTHWESTERN:
Lafayette Stribbling
SUN BELT:
Dennis Felton
WEST COAST:
Michael Holton
WESTERN ATHLETIC
Willis Wilson
Take a stroll down last season's Runway to the Fashionable Four
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