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I have been once a Brave always a Brave since 1974 .....

A

asurfaceofone

New member
I was only 10 years old and my father took me to the home games at the Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse. 33 years of following this team and I, myself, have never been so taken as I am now with the quality we have in coaching, talent and spirit. Every Jim Les show teaches me something new about the team in some way or another. Last year I made it to the Bradley - SIU game and watched them mature to the next level taking them to the Sweet 16. This year, outside of all the other games I have witnessed, this win against the same team took them to yet another next level. I believe in Les. I believe in this team. The recruits we have coming for next year - - - - - who will there be who can stop us? Thank you so much, Jim, for coming back. What a blessing it is to have you here!
 
Re: I have been once a Brave always a Brave since 1974 .....

asurfaceofone said:
I was only 10 years old and my father took me to the home games at the Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse. 33 years of following this team and I, myself, have never been so taken as I am now with the quality we have in coaching, talent and spirit. Every Jim Les show teaches me something new about the team in some way or another. Last year I made it to the Bradley - SIU game and watched them mature to the next level taking them to the Sweet 16. This year, outside of all the other games I have witnessed, this win against the same team took them to yet another next level. I believe in Les. I believe in this team. The recruits we have coming for next year - - - - - who will there be who can stop us? Thank you so much, Jim, for coming back. What a blessing it is to have you here!
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I have had the same kind of memories of following Bradley for many years, and I can't recall there was ever a time the community spirit, support for the team, and team excellence have been as high as they are now. I also am thankful we have a great coach like Jim, and the best part is his loyalty to Bradley. He will be around for a long time.
 
Re: I have been once a Brave always a Brave since 1974 .....

BU Bill said:
asurfaceofone said:
I was only 10 years old and my father took me to the home games at the Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse. 33 years of following this team and I, myself, have never been so taken as I am now with the quality we have in coaching, talent and spirit. Every Jim Les show teaches me something new about the team in some way or another. Last year I made it to the Bradley - SIU game and watched them mature to the next level taking them to the Sweet 16. This year, outside of all the other games I have witnessed, this win against the same team took them to yet another next level. I believe in Les. I believe in this team. The recruits we have coming for next year - - - - - who will there be who can stop us? Thank you so much, Jim, for coming back. What a blessing it is to have you here!
Click to expand...

I have had the same kind of memories of following Bradley for many years, and I can't recall there was ever a time the community spirit, support for the team, and team excellence have been as high as they are now. I also am thankful we have a great coach like Jim, and the best part is his loyalty to Bradley. He will be around for a long time.
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My first game was in 76 and to an extent I agree that the support/interest in BU is at an all time high, but there have been times throughout my time following BU where it was extremely high. Versace's years, Hawk/Les in 86 The NCAA runs in 96 and 88 were very strong times at BU. The biggest difference I think is we have a coach and within his staff a staff that is deeply entrenched in BU both history and commitment. BU has done a good job of recruiting and playing local players along with molding a team that is just that a team who plays hard and wins... maybe the winning is the biggest part but the playing hard with local talent is not hurting.

It has been a difficult process with JL but the benefits have been great as he has progressed as a coach at the D1 level.
 
I am a season ticket holder since 1969 and it is great to watch Bradley basketball these last 2 seasons; the recruiting for next season is outstanding and should give B.U. a chance to win some championships for several seasons; not only has this coaching staff brought in good basketball players but they are good young men that Peoria can be very proud of.
 
Wow, real fan, since 1969? That probably would make you one of the "grayhairs" like me! I have seen nearly every home game since 1967, but did not become a season ticket holder until 1978 (Dick Versace's first season).

I have a ton of great memories from the 1982 NIT run and title in Madison Square Garden, and the 1986, 1988, and 1996 NCAA teams. There were a lot of other great teams, too.

Do we have anyone here who goes back farther than real fan?
 
When I was a young tyke, I saw 3 Bradley games and remember when Tom Les was on the team. The games I saw were in 1967-68-69 against Cincinnati, Tulsa, and Wichita State. I think the Braves won 2 of the games, but the one that sticks out is the loss to Tulsa. Trailing by 10 points with just over a minute to go, we decided to leave since we had a two hour drive ahead of us and I had to go to school the next day. As soon as we got out of Robertson and hit Main Street, we heard a roar go up from the crowd--we knew we missed something big! As soon as we got to the car, we learned that Cal Criddle made a turnaround jumper at the buzzer, but it was ruled too late, and TU escaped with a 2 point win! At least, I think it was Tulsa. I know it was Criddle's shot that was disallowed. All through the years, Bradley played to packed houses at Robertson. It's too bad they didn't increase its capacity rather than move off-campus. When I attended BU, opposing Valley players and coaches consistently rated Robertson as their favorite or least-favorite venues to play in, depending on their perspective. Many cited liking the raised floor like they were actors on a stage. plus the proximity of the fans. Others hated the floor because they were afraid of taking a possible header if they dove for loose balls.
 
real fan said:
I am a season ticket holder since 1969 ....
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allhail.gif
 
real fan said:
I am a season ticket holder since 1969 and it is great to watch Bradley basketball these last 2 seasons; the recruiting for next season is outstanding and should give B.U. a chance to win some championships for several seasons; not only has this coaching staff brought in good basketball players but they are good young men that Peoria can be very proud of.
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Who could have a better perpective than you? I agree it is good to be a Brave (or a Brave fan) right now. I am just in my 4th year of season tiks. I guess that "new guy" (that I just randomly picked to put up my first post) was the correct name after all, seeing the many loooooong time fans here and at the areana. I will say this about JL. The faster style of play brought me to the areana and to eventualy buy season tiks. Not to say anything bad about the previos staff but style of play means alot to me. Now that faster style and a winning attitude have won me over.
 
My ONE regret when it comes to BU (actually I have another but refuse to divulge at this time) is never seeing a TRUE BU game at the fieldhouse.

I came to Peoria in 85 as a huge Illini fan but BU slowly stole my allegiance. By then BU was at Carver.....

Lets see...at 4.50 a beer x 4 beers x 16 home games x 22 years....... :-o :-o :-o :-o

:lol:
 
I've been going to Bradley games since 1974. Originally with my dad at the fieldhouse. When I was young (Up until 1982 or so) it was by far the most important thing in the world to me. I lived for it. I remember the awe of going to a basketball camp and playing on the fieldhouse floor. I have lived out of state for the previous 8 years until two years ago November (The sweet 16 year). When I first moved back I had lost a lot of my interest in Bradley. I had trouble getting back into the games. But the second half of last year and this year have been a blast. I think we have had this big of following before. I don't remember as good of a performance from both players and coaches compared to what I expected though. I really thought we would have a losing season this year. I
enjoy the style of play now more than I can say. I am not sure if it was Chuck B or the players or Les himself, but I wasn't sure about his coaching at first. Now I give it a A+ (MVC coach of the year).
 
I'm dating myself, but I remember seeing a game at the Armory. When I got out of the service in the 60's, I spotted for the guy that ran the big scoreboard on the student side. I remember the last game the board was in use was the Louisville game in 1974 we lost in overtime. The board kept breaking down. The numbers would keep moving so it wasn't accurate. The Versace years were my favorite.
 
dogsrus said:
My ONE regret when it comes to BU (actually I have another but refuse to divulge at this time) is never seeing a TRUE BU game at the fieldhouse.

I came to Peoria in 85 as a huge Illini fan but BU slowly stole my allegiance. By then BU was at Carver.....

Lets see...at 4.50 a beer x 4 beers x 16 home games x 22 years....... :-o :-o :-o :-o

:lol:
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$6336.00....but worth every penny :lol:
 
Chico...I think that '74 game against L'ville was my very first BU game. A friend's dad took a few guys from my 6th grade team to the game. I didn't know a thing about Bradley or the Braves. I remember that Junior Bridgeman played for L'ville and he was my favorite player after that game. I also remember Jimmy Carruthers hit a couple shots from the deep corner and "wrapped the net" around the rim. I thought that was so cool that I spent hours in my driveway shooting from the side to see if I could wrap the net like Jimmy.

Needless to say that game made a big impression on me and I have been and will be a BRAVES fan for life.
 
Chucky T's said:
Chico...I think that '74 game against L'ville was my very first BU game. A friend's dad took a few guys from my 6th grade team to the game. I didn't know a thing about Bradley or the Braves. I remember that Junior Bridgeman played for L'ville and he was my favorite player after that game. I also remember Jimmy Carruthers hit a couple shots from the deep corner and "wrapped the net" around the rim. I thought that was so cool that I spent hours in my driveway shooting from the side to see if I could wrap the net like Jimmy.

Needless to say that game made a big impression on me and I have been and will be a BRAVES fan for life.
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And its why I love letting the kids line the court....while it may not seem like much of a thrill to US those kids will be BU fans forever and won't forget lining the court.

20 years from now they will be saying...."yeah Braves2027 I recall lining the court at that old place they called the Civic Center and high fiving former NBA superstar POB".
 
Does anyone remember Cal Criddle and L.C. Bowen ; best B.U. story I have is gettin into a car accident on main st. 45 min. before B.U. -Minnesota game and the police dropped me and a friend off at the fieldhouse as the car was towed away; Dave Winfield played on that team and Bradley won in overtime; had to bum a ride back to Pekin with some people I knew after the game.
 
Of course I recall Cal Criddle and LC BOwen, I was a Bradley student in that era.
If only I had known you, real fan, at that time I lived with a bunch of other guys in the house directly across the street from the Fieldhouse. we used to make a killing parking cars behind our house every game, and you could have come over for a cold one after the game instead of bumming a ride home.
 
If I had come over for a cold one after the game you may have been stuck with us for several days as we would have celebrated B.U."s win and back then I really knew how to celebrate.
 
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