By Kerry Keating, Assistant Coach, Tennessee Volunteers

Responding to Marist  Head Coach Dave Magarity


Recently, Dave "don't call me Gene Shallot" Magarity decided to do a column on college coaches favorite actors, actresses, movies, etc. In that, he referenced an e-mail I had sent to him in which I made reference to one of my favorites, Robert DeNiro and his movie, The Bronx Tale. I had generously offered to give him a rest one week by writing my review of the movie with a spin: how it could parallel college coaching.

Well, before I had to get back to work and start helping Buzz again, (since that e-mail we are 4-0), Dave had used the results of Buzz's response to his favorites along with my e-mail in his most recent piece, "Actors and Actresses". So, in light of those developments, I figured I could tailor my 15 minutes into a work that maybe only Magarity and Joe Dwyer could appreciate. so...(this is where if it were TV, the fuzzy lines and soapy screen would come over my face as I ponder into the sky)...

...I can envision myself, Dave Magarity and PJ Carlesimo, back in the day, all young and impressionable, sitting on the stoop, challenging each other to do impressions of famous coaches.

"Hey, Slim (Magarity - everybody goes by their nickname when they sit on the stoop) do The Wizard!!" On cue, Magarity rolls up the newspaper in his hand, folds his arms, fake shouts to the street while pointing the paper and sits back down with his arms and legs crossed.

"Ok, ok, who's this?" Promptly, "Stick" (although Keating would like to think that this moniker came from his tenacious "D" on the blacktop, it more describes his physique) jumps up and throws a chair into the street, almost maiming Phil the Peddler. (come 'eer ya fairies!)

"That's The General!!", sighs Slim and Junior (Peter "Big Pete" Carlesimo is, was and always will be a legend. Not even his own son, who bears the same name, could be referred to in any form as Pete, or Peter for that matter. Just Junior. There is only one Pete in this neighborhood.)

Junior runs up the stairs, grabs a blue blazer out of the closet, runs back down, "ok, ok." While messing up his hair, donning the blue blazer and frequently putting both hands on top of his head with a look of amazement on his face like they just called his point guard's fifth foul, Junior finally goes to the signature move. A side version of the "hook 'em" hand gesture. Waving their hands at Junior like he just made a bad call on a block-charge, they answer in unison, "That's Cremins!" Slim and Stick seem disappointed. Too easy. You see, Cremins had five players, but he only used three. (Denver, 1990)

Honestly, I would beg to differ with Magarity. If you notice in the picture that was on the front page, I got Buzz's back. Like my man Todd Wilkinson told Barney in My Blue Heaven: "I'm witch ya. I'm witch you. When I say I'm witch ya, that means I'm - witch - you." I don't think Barney Fife was ever that prepared. Or Bold. And besides, Andy never resorted to the threat of violence. Notice where my left hand is - before anything goes down. Sometimes the threat is greater than the actual action.

In that picture, taken during a particular play at the Georgia Tech win back in December, Buzz had an issue with one left-to-be-unnamed referee. (CI-A rules - no names in columns referring to those men both wearing stripes and in the witness protection program, and we coaches know there are plenty of those out there.) But I let Buzz know - go ahead, "I'm witch ya." Most assistants would stand in front, keeping the Boss at bay from the "rats" , but not here. We're ready to roll in Knoxvegas. Or at least give the impression that we are.

Apparently, the official time keeper got the message. On the last inbounds play, just the threat of going to the jacket caused enough delay for the clock to start and for Jon Higgins to get his half court shot off in 0.5 seconds. After promptly locking the door with the 50 foot three, Buzz stated, "Now ya's can't leave" with a win. Tennessee 70, Georgia Tech 69. And a huge road win.

Griffith and Fife would have "aw shucks" -ed that game away. Gotta be tough on the road. You and your team are all ya got. Legend has it that we have been known in final pregame talks on the road to ask the players to "gimme what ya' got!!", kick a few Gatorade coolers and re-state: "GIMME WHATCHA GOT!!" in a fit of rage that only Al Pacino ("Heat") can respect.

While we are on the subject, a much often discussed topic is the end of game strategy when trailing by two possessions. How does a team get back in position to win on the last possession? They are many theories, most based on personnel, but I prefer the easy way. If your ballhandler can go the length with the ball in 5 seconds or less, go for the quick two. As many times as the clock allows.

Obviously, a four point play is nearly impossible, unless your opponent is up three and is trying to foul intentionally to supposedly NOT allow you to tie it. Imagine, an "intentional" unintentional foul before you get the three up, but somehow, on the foul, a shot goes up and in - from behind the arc.

Now THAT'S a hard four.