|
Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Jan 10, 2020 8:48:05 GMT -6
What's your story? What was your experience? We look forward to celebrating the 15th anniversary of the men’s basketball run to the Sweet 16 during the game on February 15th. As part of this celebration, we want to share amazing fan stories and memories from that historic tournament run. If you would like to share your memories from that tournament run, please fill out the form before January 23. Select individuals will be contacted regarding interest in sharing their memories with our content creation team. mkepanthers.com/sb_output.aspx?form=117
|
|
|
Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Jan 10, 2020 8:57:06 GMT -6
l
|
|
|
Post by Spirit of Bruce on Jan 10, 2020 18:46:39 GMT -6
My question is this: Will anyone in the Athletic Dept. have the wherewithal to contact Coach Pearl to see if he will contribute a video clip of his memories?
My guess is this: No. It sure would be cool, though..
|
|
|
Post by nickpanther on Jan 10, 2020 19:15:02 GMT -6
i remember watching the game at t5he ESPNZone in Chicago. my family had lunch there while we watched the game. I was a junior at UWm at the time, majoring in history. we hit 3 after 3 after 3. and down the stretch clinging to a 1 point lead, that drive and layin by Tigert confirmed to me - this is going to happen. I watched the bench, with 30 seconds left, up 6, crying openly. They realized at that moment, as did all the UWM fans, including myself, that they were actually going to win and reach the Sweet 16. that year we had bounced back from losing the 2004 conference title game to UIc ( missed fts killed us) and cruised through the regular season 14-2 in conference and 26-6 overall. they got the 1 seed and a double bye, handling Loyola before BARELY squeaking by Detroit in the final. We got the same seed as we got in 2003 ( a 12) and got matched up with Alabama. my history professor ( Professor Pease) let us watch the game during class. He remarked that there was very little chance of a win. Well we proceeded to drain 3s on Alabama all day and win comfortably. We gave him grief over that in the next class and he said we had little chance against BC. Well after that second win, he said I'm not predicting any more.. he he
|
|
|
Post by FTA1982 on Jan 10, 2020 19:53:31 GMT -6
I graduated from UWM in 2005. Never thought my time there would have included 2 tournament trips and a Sweet 16. Ed McCants is my favorite Panther of all time. His run early in the 2nd half vs BC is untouchable.
My favorite memory was talking to Bruce after clinching the HL regular season title and I asked why he didn't try to get a 5th dunk for free Popeyes. His response "Championship before Chicken."
Man, the good old days.
|
|
|
Post by Duct_Tape_Pounce on Jan 10, 2020 23:49:37 GMT -6
I was a senior in high school that year. I was in school for most of the Alabama game, and after school, we went up to Madison to watch our high school basketball team (Pius XI) play at state. I remember being nervous throughout the last hour of school, and then during the bus ride up to Madison, where I was being given a play to play relay of the events from people who had a walkman. The Panthers won, then the Popes won. It was good.
I was a senior in high school that year, and I remember taking my placement tests at UWM during the week while UWM was in the Sweet 16 (i.e., between the Boston College game and the Illinois game). That was pretty cool.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2020 11:14:11 GMT -6
I was a senior at Milwaukee and watched the BC 2nd Round victory at Axel's with 2 friends from my hometown who I didn't normally hang out with (back home or at UWM). By the end of the game we were best friends (for that day at least) and I became a lifelong Panther fan.
I went to a few regular season games at the Klotsche and Cell as an undergrad, saw the all HLT Championships at the Arena (aka. Cell). Everyone could feel Bruce was changing the entire Uni's culture and attitude toward men's hoops and the importance of having a good team to represent the Uni regionally and nationally; I was happy to have been there when it was happening.
But it wasn't until the BC upset in the NCAA Big Dance (made more sweet by Jared Dudley's shots before shots were shots) when I realized that wow, "the public's perception of these gigantic educational institutions can turn on a fricking game"?
That is (kinda crazy but also) really, really cool. Who doesn't want to be a part of that?
|
|
|
Post by Cactus Panther on Jan 12, 2020 0:58:31 GMT -6
In Cleveland, we stayed at the team hotel. The bar there turned into Panther Central. Mrs CP accidentally walked into BP's private birthday party on the day between games, and no one seemed bothered by it - we were all part of one big Panther family. During the games, BP's dad couldn't sit down. He paced back and forth in the entry to the seating bowl. Panther fans came out of the woodwork for the games and were joined by the neutral fans in the arena making it sound like a home game. The drive home from Cleveland was smooth as silk. It seemed we were on Cloud 9 the entire way home.
In Rosemont, the pregame party was surreal. Notable Milwaukeans attended. I remember talking to Mayor Barrett, who was seemingly pretending to be a die-hard Panther fan all of his life. I was thinking at the time that three weeks earlier he probably couldn't have named a single Panther player. Same could be said for certain others there. The arena atmosphere in Rosemont was completely different then in Cleveland. We were drawfed by orange clad Illini fans and relagated to just one section. After the game, we sold our Elite 8 tickets to Illini fans for big bucks and made enough money to pay for most of our Cleveland trip.
It was easily the best sports-spectating time of my life.
|
|
|
Post by steveisback on Jan 13, 2020 8:44:52 GMT -6
Talk about magical!!! My wife and I drove to Cleveland for the game. When BC went on that blistering run to start the game and Bruce called the time out I looked at our bench and immediately turned to my wife and said "we are going to win this game". Look at those guys. They were loose, Bruce was almost smiling rather than stomping his feet, pouting, glaring at the ref, walking away from the team huddle and then coming back all mad....sorry, channeling Jeter again.... those guys played with a joy and reckless abandon have not seen before or since. They were diving all over the place and would have run through a brick wall for Bruce. Love that style of play, talk about a devastating full court press. Absolute magic.
|
|
|
Post by posh4 on Feb 16, 2020 13:32:10 GMT -6
Not sure where to post this reply, but has anyone tried to find a "Bruce is my Homeboy" shirt or a 2005 Milwaukee Panthers March Madness shirt?? Want one of these so bad but have had no luck!
|
|
|
Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Feb 16, 2020 13:41:30 GMT -6
Not sure where to post this reply, but has anyone tried to find a "Bruce is my Homeboy" shirt or a 2005 Milwaukee Panthers March Madness shirt?? Want one of these so bad but have had no luck! Does Ebay have anything?
|
|
|
Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Feb 16, 2020 13:42:38 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Feb 16, 2020 13:43:40 GMT -6
My question is this: Will anyone in the Athletic Dept. have the wherewithal to contact Coach Pearl to see if he will contribute a video clip of his memories? My guess is this: No. It sure would be cool, though.. Glad someone did. It was cool!
|
|
|
Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Feb 16, 2020 13:44:34 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by posh4 on Feb 16, 2020 13:45:11 GMT -6
Not sure where to post this reply, but has anyone tried to find a "Bruce is my Homeboy" shirt or a 2005 Milwaukee Panthers March Madness shirt?? Want one of these so bad but have had no luck! Does Ebay have anything? I have only found ONE item which was the Bruce shirt I mentioned... I think it's from his Tennessee days because it seems like he has the same shirt in different colors for UWM, Tenn, and Auburn. I have a feeling the Tennessee will be more orange than yellow/gold though so I don't want to pull the trigger yet.
|
|