jimsumner
06-13-2007, 12:06 PM
Former Tennessee coach Ray Mears died the other day at thje age of 80. Mears was best known for his Bernard King-Ernie Grunfeld-"Bernie and Ernie teams."
Relevance to Duke? In December 1976 Tate Armstrong, Jim Spanarkel and freshman Mike Gminski traveled to Knoxville and knocked off the 15th-ranked Vols and Bernie and Ernie 81-78. First big, non-conference win in Foster's Duke tenure.
In a fair and just universe, this win would have presaged Duke's return to the postseason and would have helped propel Armstrong to All-America status. In the universe in which we live, Armstrong broke his wrist a few weeks later and Duke finished 14-13.
Relevance to Duke? In December 1976 Tate Armstrong, Jim Spanarkel and freshman Mike Gminski traveled to Knoxville and knocked off the 15th-ranked Vols and Bernie and Ernie 81-78. First big, non-conference win in Foster's Duke tenure.
In a fair and just universe, this win would have presaged Duke's return to the postseason and would have helped propel Armstrong to All-America status. In the universe in which we live, Armstrong broke his wrist a few weeks later and Duke finished 14-13.