Canisius College - Azuwur Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

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' r'M'Hfwff, ,.s,,W,, ' V. ,. an s,W.,W...WW.s..,,,,,,..,',.,.m W ' ' ,,q,,,0g,f,f,f,f,f A iiff , A ' iQ'?fVJf?Uh2rivW -4 V , , f ' if ' ' ' ' ' ' V' ' l I ts J. V The Griffs Are Alright! The Griffs Are Alright! That unlikely cheer first surfaced from the dorm block during the New Hamp- shire game in January and the refrain subsequently became the rallying cry of the 1975-76 Canisius College basketball season. The Griffs Are Alright! There is a danger that in analyzing the four-word phrase its meaning may be overstated, its effect undermined. The risk must be taken here because the impli- cations of that one simple cheer are most important. Two years ago the Golden Griffins reigned as champions of the Little Three. Last season, the Griffs boasted a lineup of Top Twenty talent the likes of which has never before been seen on this campus. And yet, no one would have ever labeled those Griffs as alright. The word would never have entered your mind. Their talents far exceeded the simple term alright. And their actions off the court were certainly not alright. Several ugly incidents caused an antagonism be- tween many students and these non-al- right Griffins. Even more crucial was the fact that this collection of potential All Americans tended to associate only with each other. There was rarely so much as a casual relationship between the stud on the court and the student in the stands. But no more. The Griffs Are Alright! This cheer was a genuine, spontaneous response on the part of a small, dedicated band of Griff-fans. The dorm block was the one glittering exception to the ram- pant aloofness which bathed the rest of the Aud on Saturdays. After the stunning upset of Little Three foe Niagara University, the NU stu- dent newspaper said: The Griffs played 182 , ,,,.. , -..M sz, a J 4 over their heads and the Eagles were be- low par. Canisius was further encouraged by the vocal support of the student body, something that is lacking at NU. They may be rowdy, classless and smashed, but God love 'em. Rowdy and smashed they were, no doubt. But the members of the section proved they were definitely not class- less when, at the season finale, they pre- sented plaques, which they had paid for themselves, to the three graduating se- niors: Craig Prosser, Tim Stokes and Billy Leonard. The Griffs Are Alright! Unlike the sentimental Thank You Sabres, lwhich was a cheer of forgive- ness after the overmatched, young Buffa- lo hockey team had lost to Montreal in its initial Stanley Cup competition several years ago! this chant was not intended to say that losing was alright. To the con- trary, it was first heard at a victory, and it

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f , L X x 1 ss - 1 C X. 1315- K X , - 1 gist. 'S s 'KL' w f 1 V ' was repeated at victories throughout the remainder of the season. The fact that it became equally applicable for losses was accidental, but important. The fans and players cared very much whether Canisius won, But if Canisius lost, in the end it didn't matter. They cared, but it didn't matter. That's an important distinction. The Classic in Rochester. Canisius lost the fi- nals 91-89 to Utah in overtime, but not before a bench-emptying brawl, a super- lative performance and a disappointing finish that found John Sommers knocked unconscious at the buzzer. The Griffs had given everything they had. And still there was room for partying afterward, drink- ing beers out of the Runner-up Cup which very nearly was tossed 15 floors into the Genesee River. They cared - very much - but in the end it didn't matter. The Griffs Are Alright! After one particularly frustrating loss, one of the Griffs sat slumped over a bar stool staring at his case of OV splits. I hate losing, he muttered, his face con- torted painfully. l really hate to lose. I wasn't used to losing in high school and l don't like it. But what can you do? We try, that's for sure. It was for sure. Last year Canisius posted its best rec- ord since 1966-67 and was booed. This year Canisius ran up its worst record since 1970-71 and was cheered. The difference was this: instead of some sort of professional farm team, Canisius fielded an aggressive squad which made up in fight and hustle what it lacked in height and individual talent. The student fans had kids they knew out there and they responded. One Griff discussed the phenomena very late one night at the Park Meadow. How could anyone hate a team like us? the Griff asked in between beers. You have to love us. We hustle all over the court. lf we can't stop somebody we hack them. We may not always win, but we're always trying. And, hell, we've won some really surprising games. Indeed, the statement was made soon after the 72-70 ambush of Fairfield. Som- mers cashed a layup in the final seconds to complete the astounding upset after Canisius had trailed by as many as 18 points. The fact that the Stags later stag- gered the Griffs by 107-87 in the lVladison Square Garden Classic only made the original upset all the more impressive. There were other big wins. Road tri- umphs were registered over Rochester and Colgate. The first two games played at the Koessler Athletic Center were con- quests of St. lVlichael's and Sienna. And an anti-hero was born. Buffalo Evening News sportswriter Alan Per- gament infuriated the fans with an appar- ent disdain for the abilities of the Golden Griffins. When he picked the University of Buffalo to beat Canisius by three points, the Griffs thrashed UB by 33. The so-called Canisius Singers serenaded Pergament for the first of several times