Fouled Out: Freshman, Sophomore Year

My classmates David Long, Harry Speicher, and Scott St. Clair were football players that brought the game to the basketball court. They called them the “Hatchet Squad.” They played a high impact and contact game of basketball. They were physical. Now Coach Ewart reminded us that even dancing was a contact sport, so we should expect a little contact in basketball. That’s why they were the second string and when they checked in to play, the tempo and wildness went up three notches. We had a lot of fun even when we lost a game at that stage in life.

Ninth grade was tough. My lower back hurt and l...