Bob Cousy on Choosing a Unique School
November 17th, 2008 - byI would be shocked if the more than a handful of the nations top basketball recruits know much about Bob Cousy. After all, it has been more than 61 years since Cousy led Holy Cross to the Men’s Basketball Championship. But even though the program hasn’t won an NCAA tournament game since 1952, Cousy remains convinced of the greatness of his alma mater. The championship team was honored this week and Boston.com caught up with Cousy.
“In my opinion, there’s not another school in the country with this kind of sports legacy,” he says. “Given the logistics, the size of the school, the recruiting budget, the lack of television market - we’re hidden away in a little town.
“And despite all that, you have an NCAA basketball championship, an NIT championship, the only school in New England to win the college baseball World Series, an Orange Bowl, multiple All-Americans . . . it’s quite a legacy.
“The school has focused on academic life and reputation and integrity - as it should - but they have not exploited their rich sports history, which is unique and singular.”
His admiration for his school is echoed by his teammate Togo Palazzi.
“It’s a wonderful thing to have this happen,” says Palazzi, a rugged frontcourt man who looks like he could still give Doc Rivers 20 minutes a night. “Holy Cross represents four of the most productive and happy years of my life. I’m so happy that my mother wanted me to go there. It’s great that they’re doing this, and thank God we’re all still around.
“We all know that the philosophy of the college is that academics comes first, but this gives Coach Willard another way to promote the basketball history and tradition of the school.”
Everyday at NCSA we help athletes make the important decision of where to attend college. It is our goal to make sure these athletes look back on their decision with same fondness as the legends.
