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dynastydefender
02-11-2008, 02:09 PM
It may surprise younger Duke fans to learn that Adolph Rupp almost coached at Duke after he was forced to retire from UK in the early 1970's. Although elderly and with severe health problems dating back to the early 1940's, Rupp never willingly quit coaching and would have died on the bench if someone would have let him. From a passage in Russell Rice's book (Kentucky's Basketball Baron)...

Just before the 1972-73 season started, Bucky Waters resigned as Duke coach with one year remaining on a five-year contract. Duke's president was Terry Sanford, a former North Carolina governor who later became a U.S. Senator. Herky Rupp said Sanford and other school officials asked Rupp if he would like to coach the Blue Devils. Adolph said that would be fine. He planned to take Herky along as his chief assistant.

Two days before the start of basketball practice, Rupp's farm manager died. The farm was a substantial investment, and there was no one to run it. Duke gave Rupp one week to straighten out his business affairs. Unable to find anyone that quickly to tend to the farm, he told them to go ahead and hire someone else.

Devil in the Blue Dress
02-11-2008, 03:20 PM
It may surprise younger Duke fans to learn that Adolph Rupp almost coached at Duke after he was forced to retire from UK in the early 1970's. Although elderly and with severe health problems dating back to the early 1940's, Rupp never willingly quit coaching and would have died on the bench if someone would have let him. From a passage in Russell Rice's book (Kentucky's Basketball Baron)...

Just before the 1972-73 season started, Bucky Waters resigned as Duke coach with one year remaining on a five-year contract. Duke's president was Terry Sanford, a former North Carolina governor who later became a U.S. Senator. Herky Rupp said Sanford and other school officials asked Rupp if he would like to coach the Blue Devils. Adolph said that would be fine. He planned to take Herky along as his chief assistant.

Two days before the start of basketball practice, Rupp's farm manager died. The farm was a substantial investment, and there was no one to run it. Duke gave Rupp one week to straighten out his business affairs. Unable to find anyone that quickly to tend to the farm, he told them to go ahead and hire someone else.

This post reminds me of Red Auerbach who became famous as the coach of the Celtics. Red was hired over a summer to coach at Duke while Duke's basketball coach Gerry Gerard battled cancer. He didn't hang around until the new season but before leaving he did spend some time working out one-on-one with Dick Groat.

It's fascinating to learn about the turns of fate which have made various people part of Duke "hoops history."