morgan n' 7™
02-17-2008, 02:25 AM
USC gives Roche a hero's welcome
The long-awaited return of former USC star was a taste of long-desired success for Gamecocks nation
JOHN ROCHE HAD not heard that kind of ovation from South Carolina fans in 37 years, the last time thanking him for his All-American career and this time for coming back after being away for far too long.
Not a fan was seated among the announced crowd of 13,336 Saturday at the Colonial Center when Roche was introduced at halftime of USC’s game against Alabama. The rousing cheer was reminiscent of Roche’s final home game at the Carolina Coliseum in February of 1971. That’s when coach Frank McGuire removed his seniors from the floor with 46 seconds remaining in USC’s victory against Wake Forest.
It was “thundering, tearful, chilling applause” again Saturday for Roche, just as one account had it nearly four decades ago. After halftime, Roche retreated to the arena’s concourse where he signed autographs until USC officials turned away fans with five minutes remaining in the game.
That’s the kind of day it was for Roche, arguably the most revered athlete in USC history.
Hundreds of adoring fans wound their way through and around Safran’s Antiques on Whaley Street early Saturday for a chance to shake hands with Roche. The occasion was a March of Dimes fundraiser that garnered approximately $7,500 in 90 minutes of autograph signing and quenched the thirst of Roche fans who have longed for his return to Columbia.
First in line two hours before Roche’s arrival was Terry Williams, who left his home in Greenville at 7:30 a.m., carrying with him a poster of Roche and a copy of the 1971 Sports Illustrated magazine featuring Roche on the cover.
“I was a little kid when he played,” the 48-year-old Williams said. “John was my idol.”
Also at the front of the line was Ken Allen, a 55-year-old economic developer and USC graduate who skipped a day of work in Raleigh to meet Roche. Sam Watts, 53, was there as well. He had a 1970-71 USC schedule card that featured Roche on the front shooting a layup over North Carolina’s Eddie Fogler. Watts sought Roche’s signature next to that of Fogler.
Skip Valois, 55, a professor in the USC school of public health, proudly carried Roche’s signature on a photograph of the 1970 Gamecocks during a team huddle. Valois said he would chase the autographs of the four other pictured USC players “until the day I die.”
For those fans who sought autographs, and even those who attended Saturday’s game with the sole purpose of getting a glance at their hero from yesteryear, Roche’s return gave them a hint of what they long for.
The Roche era remains the most glorious in USC annals. Those Gamecocks, with Roche as its leader, obtained sustained success like no other of the major programs before or since. Never before, or since, was there such euphoria throughout the state of South Carolina over a single team’s accomplishments.
Every game was played to a sellout crowd at the Carolina Coliseum. Because of the demand for tickets, every home game was regionally televised long before the over-saturation of college basketball on TV.
Thousands of fans greeted the team at the airport upon their return from successful road victories. Roche, along with teammates Tom Owens, John Ribock and Tom Riker, was treated like a rock star around Columbia.
At the urging of Dave Odom, Roche agreed to help kick off the 100th anniversary celebration of USC basketball. He returned last summer to announce the event, but was not made available to the public.
His return Saturday was USC’s first effort to recognize him publicly since the “Game of Games” event in 1980 when former players returned to salute outgoing coach McGuire.
This much-celebrated return even took Roche by surprise.
“It does amaze me, the effect our teams had on people,” Roche said. “At the time we were playing, that effect is not something that ever crossed my mind.”
For Roche, Saturday also represented a return to his youth. He brought along his daughter, Jen, a 27-year-old senior account executive for Alison Brod Public Relations in New York City.
Over lunch in Five Points with his daughter and former USC teammate Dennis Powell of Columbia, and later on a brief tour of campus, Roche reminisced. He laughed about the nights he spent at Don’s Lounge in Five Points or playing billiards at Al’s on Devine Street near the Coliseum.
At one point, Roche told his daughter of the times he and his teammates hitchhiked from their dormitory rooms at The Roost to campus. Once, he said, a football player named Warren Muir picked him up in his car and had him making his trademark sign of the cross when Muir’s pet boa constrictor appeared from the back seat.
For this one day, Roche let down his graying hair. Even though he was much more interested in discussing the upcoming presidential election, Roche at least seemed willing to recognize that his USC days meant something special to him ... and to others.
To his daughter, it was an awakening because Roche never has been one to relive his playing days, even to his family. Only one photo from his USC career is on display at the Roches’ home in Denver.
For the first time on Saturday, Jen Roche watched footage of her father as a USC player. She saw, for the first time, a picture of her father cutting down the nets following USC’s 1971 ACC championship game victory against North Carolina. More than that, she witnessed first-hand hero worship for her father like none she had ever known.
“I’m shocked,” Jen Roche said. “I’m shocked.”
http://www.thestate.com/gamecocks/story/319642.html
The long-awaited return of former USC star was a taste of long-desired success for Gamecocks nation
JOHN ROCHE HAD not heard that kind of ovation from South Carolina fans in 37 years, the last time thanking him for his All-American career and this time for coming back after being away for far too long.
Not a fan was seated among the announced crowd of 13,336 Saturday at the Colonial Center when Roche was introduced at halftime of USC’s game against Alabama. The rousing cheer was reminiscent of Roche’s final home game at the Carolina Coliseum in February of 1971. That’s when coach Frank McGuire removed his seniors from the floor with 46 seconds remaining in USC’s victory against Wake Forest.
It was “thundering, tearful, chilling applause” again Saturday for Roche, just as one account had it nearly four decades ago. After halftime, Roche retreated to the arena’s concourse where he signed autographs until USC officials turned away fans with five minutes remaining in the game.
That’s the kind of day it was for Roche, arguably the most revered athlete in USC history.
Hundreds of adoring fans wound their way through and around Safran’s Antiques on Whaley Street early Saturday for a chance to shake hands with Roche. The occasion was a March of Dimes fundraiser that garnered approximately $7,500 in 90 minutes of autograph signing and quenched the thirst of Roche fans who have longed for his return to Columbia.
First in line two hours before Roche’s arrival was Terry Williams, who left his home in Greenville at 7:30 a.m., carrying with him a poster of Roche and a copy of the 1971 Sports Illustrated magazine featuring Roche on the cover.
“I was a little kid when he played,” the 48-year-old Williams said. “John was my idol.”
Also at the front of the line was Ken Allen, a 55-year-old economic developer and USC graduate who skipped a day of work in Raleigh to meet Roche. Sam Watts, 53, was there as well. He had a 1970-71 USC schedule card that featured Roche on the front shooting a layup over North Carolina’s Eddie Fogler. Watts sought Roche’s signature next to that of Fogler.
Skip Valois, 55, a professor in the USC school of public health, proudly carried Roche’s signature on a photograph of the 1970 Gamecocks during a team huddle. Valois said he would chase the autographs of the four other pictured USC players “until the day I die.”
For those fans who sought autographs, and even those who attended Saturday’s game with the sole purpose of getting a glance at their hero from yesteryear, Roche’s return gave them a hint of what they long for.
The Roche era remains the most glorious in USC annals. Those Gamecocks, with Roche as its leader, obtained sustained success like no other of the major programs before or since. Never before, or since, was there such euphoria throughout the state of South Carolina over a single team’s accomplishments.
Every game was played to a sellout crowd at the Carolina Coliseum. Because of the demand for tickets, every home game was regionally televised long before the over-saturation of college basketball on TV.
Thousands of fans greeted the team at the airport upon their return from successful road victories. Roche, along with teammates Tom Owens, John Ribock and Tom Riker, was treated like a rock star around Columbia.
At the urging of Dave Odom, Roche agreed to help kick off the 100th anniversary celebration of USC basketball. He returned last summer to announce the event, but was not made available to the public.
His return Saturday was USC’s first effort to recognize him publicly since the “Game of Games” event in 1980 when former players returned to salute outgoing coach McGuire.
This much-celebrated return even took Roche by surprise.
“It does amaze me, the effect our teams had on people,” Roche said. “At the time we were playing, that effect is not something that ever crossed my mind.”
For Roche, Saturday also represented a return to his youth. He brought along his daughter, Jen, a 27-year-old senior account executive for Alison Brod Public Relations in New York City.
Over lunch in Five Points with his daughter and former USC teammate Dennis Powell of Columbia, and later on a brief tour of campus, Roche reminisced. He laughed about the nights he spent at Don’s Lounge in Five Points or playing billiards at Al’s on Devine Street near the Coliseum.
At one point, Roche told his daughter of the times he and his teammates hitchhiked from their dormitory rooms at The Roost to campus. Once, he said, a football player named Warren Muir picked him up in his car and had him making his trademark sign of the cross when Muir’s pet boa constrictor appeared from the back seat.
For this one day, Roche let down his graying hair. Even though he was much more interested in discussing the upcoming presidential election, Roche at least seemed willing to recognize that his USC days meant something special to him ... and to others.
To his daughter, it was an awakening because Roche never has been one to relive his playing days, even to his family. Only one photo from his USC career is on display at the Roches’ home in Denver.
For the first time on Saturday, Jen Roche watched footage of her father as a USC player. She saw, for the first time, a picture of her father cutting down the nets following USC’s 1971 ACC championship game victory against North Carolina. More than that, she witnessed first-hand hero worship for her father like none she had ever known.
“I’m shocked,” Jen Roche said. “I’m shocked.”
http://www.thestate.com/gamecocks/story/319642.html