Lombardi Owes it All to SMU

[Stallion]

anybody notice the reference to SMU in HBOs Lombardi. Apparently after winning 6 straight state titles at St. Cecelia he was asked to coach the Basketball team. His preparation involved reading a book by an SMU Coach who preached the art of passing before shooting. Pretty cool. Was it Doc Hayes or probably his predecessor

[Get_Some_Ponies]

He also called Forrest the best player he ever had.

[EastStang]

He was also one of the seven blocks of granite from Fordham who got whupped by the Mustangs in 1935 and witnessed Peruna's kill shot.

[Bergermeister]

gotta love the dead ram

[bhoskinson]

Does anyone know the name of the book or who wrote it?? I am looking for the book as a gift, but I can't seem to find the name.

Thanks!

[NavyCrimson]

My guess it is Ray Morrison but don't recollect the book. SMU was dubbed the "Aerial Circus".

[Stallion]

No this was a basketball coach at SMU. Looking at Lombardi's tenure at St. Cecelia it sounds like he would have taken over as BASKETBALL coach in about 1945-47 so it would have been prior to that. I think I read Doc Hayes was hired by SMU in 1947. Who was his predecessor. I want say St. Clair but really don't know

[Sewanee Stang]

Didn't Matty Bell coach basketball during his tenure as football HC?

[Stallion]

I saw Lombardi again and found an additional hint. It was an SMU Basketball Coach who wrote a book 15 years earlier. It might have been that Coach named J. W. St. Clair