Favorite Larranagaisms

Hdog · Post by **Hdog** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:01 pm

I was at BG for Larrinaga’s first two years here. We had a bird’s eye view of the bench area while sitting at floor level under the basket at the north end of AA. When he wanted to get a players attention, Larranaga would let out a loud, shrill whistle that would penetrate even the loudest din of AA. He didn’t even use his fingers to whistle. It is to this day the loudest I have ever heard someone whistle. I have not watched any GMU games this tourney, but I will be watching for that trademark whistle during the final four weekend.

As disappointed as I was that BG never tasted the NCAA during Larranaga’s time [his first recruiting class was dynamite], I am elated for a guy who paid his dues and has reached the pinnacle of his profession. Bravo Jim.

Post by **ZiggyZoomba** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:12 pm

The whistle is, VERY OBVIOUSLY, still there.

The other big Larranaga-ism I would bring up would be his exaggerated traveling call. He'd do the normal arm-over-arm travel call, but he'd take it up notches unknown so that the top of his call would be above his head and the bottom would be down near his waist.

Another similarity between the Falcons under Larranaga and GMU under Larranaga was a 1-4 set that ends up in a back-pick and a lob... At BG the play was called "Houston" and was run to Joe Moore quite a bit. I saw it twice against UConn yesterday. Don't know if it's still called Houston, but it's the same play.

Hdog · Post by **Hdog** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:32 pm

I remember that play. We did a "roadie" to Crisler Arena to watch them against the Wolverines and they ran that play to Lamon Pipen. He slammed it with authority and it silenced the crowd as they let out one of those loud gasps. My roommate was a photographer for the BG News and got the shot as Lamon was hanging on the rim. Beautiful.

At AA, I always enjoyed the befuddled looks on the opposing players when we ran that. Joe Moore could sky!

Dayons_Den · Post by **Dayons_Den** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 10:15 pm

Joe Moore's middle initial was 'A' - never a more fitting acronym.

I know exactly the play you talk of and I am pretty sure Jimmy L. calls for the play specifically. If you remember when Joe Moore would flush one down he would immediatly turn and point to his girlfriend in the crowd, which I heard Coach L was not a fan of him pointing to her.

It is cool to see GMU playing like old BG teams, I am seeing flashes of Michael Huger in Tony Skinn and the trapping defense with Jim whistling and telling them when to trap is like a weird flashback.

Good for GMU. Good for Jim.

Post by **ZiggyZoomba** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 6:39 am

I grabbed a couple of old Jim Larranaga shows off of VHS last night and will be converting them to QuickTime movies as time permits. Some good stuff here!! Jimmy L as well as a spot on Antonio and Jay. I think Metz will flip for these.

Oh... and the scrable defense was another Larranaga-ism that I've seen at BG and also at GMU this season. In fact, his profile on their website mentions it.

I was at that game in Ann Arbor too, and that photo of Pippin was the cover of the schedule card for the next season, wasn't it?

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 6:44 am

I loved the scramble defense. The opponent had no clue it was coming. Then all of a sudden, BAM! All hell breaks loss.

dduncan · Post by **dduncan** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 7:19 am

Joe Moore. He was one of the NYC kids, if I remember correctly? The guy could jump out of the gym, yet couldn't shoot outside of 12'.

Michael Huger was a classic. Real skinny PG that fit Larranaga's system perfectly. Same with Venrable.

I was at Crisler (92) and lucky enough to watch the 2nd half from press row, courtside seats. And the Fab 5. Sitting next to Jeff Blanzy (now in Chicago). He was working a woman friend of his for most of the 2nd half.

able1 · Post by **able1** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:39 am

Joe Moore. He was one of the NYC kids, if I remember correctly? The guy could jump out of the gym, yet couldn't shoot outside of 12'.

Sounds alot like another guy from that era... Tom Hall.[/quote]

dduncan · Post by **dduncan** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:52 am

Sounds alot like another guy from that era... Tom Hall.

I somewhat agree. Tom Hall had tons of athletic ability. The difference between Hall and Moore, was Tom being a post up PF. Moore was a SG/SF that was more of a transition scorer than anything.

Tom Hall had the longest arms and actually developed some good low post moves. His free throw shooting was horrible, at least during the games. I remember watching some of their practices (yes, I was very bored) and Hall would make free throw after free throw. Couldn't make them in the game.

Here's another typical Larranaga photo...him wearing a warmup suit. The whole suit.

edit...can't upload the pic...

Goose · Post by **Goose** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 10:32 am

How could you not love this run by George Mason and Jim Larranaga! His whistle is getting all the press, but I keep looking for them to catch him on the sideline doing the exaggerated traveling move that Grant mentioned.

As for those old BG teams, Tom Hall and Joe Moore were a couple of guys that could jump out of the gym! Tom Hall was also a MAC Champion High Jumper, so he definitely had some hops.

I will second those who see the similarites between Tony Skinn and former BG point guards like Micheal Huger and Clinton Venable. Back in the day when Michael Reghi announced a BG game he called any point guard BG put out on the floor "The Maestro". Years later Jerry Seinfeld ripped off Reghi and wrote an episode for his show about "The Maestro".

Metz · Post by **Metz** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:15 am

ZiggyZoomba wrote:I grabbed a couple of old Jim Larranaga shows off of VHS last night and will be converting them to QuickTime movies as time permits. Some good stuff here!! Jimmy L as well as a spot on Antonio and Jay. I think Metz will flip for these.

You're right!! You need to upload them when you convert them $\:D/$

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:24 am

Goose wrote:Years later Jerry Seinfeld ripped off Reghi and wrote an episode for his show about "The Maestro".

"The Maestro" was born in Findlay. He also played Neidermeyer in Animal House.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0582420/

Hdog · Post by **Hdog** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:46 am

ZiggyZoomba wrote: I was at that game in Ann Arbor too, and that photo of Pippin was the cover of the schedule card for the next season, wasn't it?

I'm not sure, can't remember. However, a quick story: My roomie printed out several 8 x 10s of the pic. Somehow word got around about the shot and one night [after the season as I recall], Lamon shows up at our apartment asking to see my roomie. I'm thinking "what the hell is this about". Then, he pulls out the 8 x 10 pic and hands it to Lamon. I said wait a minute and had Lamon sign my copy of the pic. I later framed it and gave it to my brother for a Christmas gift. It hangs in his office to this day. [Pretty funny how star struck we were about BG hoops!!

]

Another Larranaga-ism: I know you all remember how he would just absolutely rip players during timeouts. You could hear exactly what he was saying to the unfortunate guy on the other end of his tirade. I even think a few F-bombs were mixed in if I remember correctly. Also, I believe I'm correct in that it got so bad at one time during first year or two of his tenure that it around campus that he was a "racsist". I know he wasn't though. Anthony Robinson [a fellow Canton Mckinley high school grad of mine], who almost transfered after two years with Weinert, loved playing for Coach L.

Post by **ZiggyZoomba** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:53 pm

Metz wrote:
ZiggyZoomba wrote:I grabbed a couple of old Jim Larranaga shows off of VHS last night and will be converting them to QuickTime movies as time permits. Some good stuff here!! Jimmy L as well as a spot on Antonio and Jay. I think Metz will flip for these.
You're right!! You need to upload them when you convert them $\:D/$

http://www.ay-ziggy-zoomba.com/downloads/SrNight97.mov

This first one is 12MB... kinda big, but pretty cool.

dduncan · Post by **dduncan** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 10:26 pm

Great stuff. Thanks. More please...