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Gene Littles
Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 9:59 pm
by Cro-Magnon App
Gene Littles passed this week. In every bio I have read, nothing is mentioned about the year he spent in Boone. Was it 1975-76? He was a fun player to watch.
Re: Gene Littles
Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 11:56 pm
by asu66
You're spot-on about '75-'76 at App. He was Bobby Cremins' first choice to join his staff at App. Littles stayed just one season and was replaced by Kevin Cantwell.
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sport ... 38973.html
" Littles was drafted by the Dallas Chaparrals of the ABA and the New York Knicks of the NBA. His ABA rights were acquired by the Carolina Cougars, with whom he earned a spot on the league's all-rookie team as a starting point guard. He finished his career with the Kentucky Colonels, who beat the Indiana Pacers to win the 1975 ABA title.
Littles then joined the coaching staff at Appalachian State before moving to the head coaching job at North Carolina A&T, where he led the Aggies to two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles. He was the MEAC coach of the year in 1979."
Re: Gene Littles
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 2:52 pm
by Cro-Magnon App
Thank you. Used to watch the Cougars practice in Broome-Kirk Gym. Gene, Chones, Wuycik, the Kangeroo Kid and Jumping Joe. Billy C would sit over there on the stage and talk to you while he laced his shoes. Always brought the shoes in with the laces out and in his hand, then sit down and lace them up. Took him 10 minutes. Go figure. Maybe superstitious.
Re: Gene Littles
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 3:55 pm
by scatman77
Cro-Magnon App wrote: ↑Fri Sep 17, 2021 2:52 pm
Thank you. Used to watch the Cougars practice in Broome-Kirk Gym. Gene, Chones, Wuycik, the Kangeroo Kid and Jumping Joe. Billy C would sit over there on the stage and talk to you while he laced his shoes. Always brought the shoes in with the laces out and in his hand, then sit down and lace them up. Took him 10 minutes. Go figure. Maybe superstitious.
Oh yeah....I cut a few classes that fall quarter watching the Cougars practice. The ones you mentioned plus Mike Lewis, Bob Verga, Ted "Hound Dog" McClain, Ed Manning (Danny's daddy), Doug Moe, Larry Brown, Mack Calvin.
Re: Gene Littles
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 4:12 pm
by asu66
Cro-Magnon App wrote: ↑Fri Sep 17, 2021 2:52 pm
Thank you. Used to watch the Cougars practice in Broome-Kirk Gym. Gene, Chones, Wuycik, the Kangeroo Kid and Jumping Joe. Billy C would sit over there on the stage and talk to you while he laced his shoes. Always brought the shoes in with the laces out and in his hand, then sit down and lace them up. Took him 10 minutes. Go figure. Maybe superstitious.
If you remember those Cougar camps and Billy C's laces, then you certainly remember his
'71 Citroën SM with a V6 Maserati engine and that famous "French Magic Carpet" ride parked across from the entrance to Broome-Kirk. Billy and his posse were always amused while wading through the big circle of students ogling his ride as he was leaving practice.
Re: Gene Littles
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 4:38 pm
by asu66
Re: Gene Littles
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 5:01 pm
by scatman77
asu66 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 17, 2021 4:12 pm
Cro-Magnon App wrote: ↑Fri Sep 17, 2021 2:52 pm
Thank you. Used to watch the Cougars practice in Broome-Kirk Gym. Gene, Chones, Wuycik, the Kangeroo Kid and Jumping Joe. Billy C would sit over there on the stage and talk to you while he laced his shoes. Always brought the shoes in with the laces out and in his hand, then sit down and lace them up. Took him 10 minutes. Go figure. Maybe superstitious.
If you remember those Cougar camps and Billy C's laces, then you certainly remember his
'71 Citroën SM with a V6 Maserati engine and that famous "French Magic Carpet" ride parked across from the entrance to Broome-Kirk. Billy and his posse were always amused while wading through the big circle of students ogling his ride as he was leaving practice.
I remember it, and even though it was supposedly a nice car I still think it’s ugly as a mud fence.
Re: Gene Littles
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 5:57 pm
by NewApp
asu66 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 16, 2021 11:56 pm
You're spot-on about '75-'76 at App. He was Bobby Cremins' first choice to join his staff at App. Littles stayed just one season and was replaced by Kevin Cantwell.
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sport ... 38973.html
" Littles was drafted by the Dallas Chaparrals of the ABA and the New York Knicks of the NBA. His ABA rights were acquired by the Carolina Cougars, with whom he earned a spot on the league's all-rookie team as a starting point guard. He finished his career with the Kentucky Colonels, who beat the Indiana Pacers to win the 1975 ABA title.
Littles then joined the coaching staff at Appalachian State before moving to the head coaching job at North Carolina A&T, where he led the Aggies to two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles. He was the MEAC coach of the year in 1979."
And he was a true gentleman if there ever was one, right 66?
Re: Gene Littles
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 6:09 pm
by asu66
He was in all my experiences with him.
Re: Gene Littles
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 6:20 pm
by asu66
If you remember those Cougar camps and Billy C's laces, then you certainly remember his
'71 Citroën SM with a V6 Maserati engine and that famous "French Magic Carpet" ride parked across from the entrance to Broome-Kirk. Billy and his posse were always amused while wading through the big circle of students ogling his ride as he was leaving practice.
[/quote]
I remember it, and even though it was supposedly a nice car I still think it’s ugly as a mud fence.
[/quote]
Yer killin' me cat! Pretty ugly, indeed! T
Re: Gene Littles
Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 6:20 pm
by asu66
If you remember those Cougar camps and Billy C's laces, then you certainly remember his
'71 Citroën SM with a V6 Maserati engine and that famous "French Magic Carpet" ride parked across from the entrance to Broome-Kirk. Billy and his posse were always amused while wading through the big circle of students ogling his ride as he was leaving practice.
[/quote]
I remember it, and even though it was supposedly a nice car I still think it’s ugly as a mud fence.
[/quote]
Yer killin' me Scat! Pretty ugly, indeed! T
Re: Gene Littles
Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 4:08 pm
by Cro-Magnon App
I like it. Looks better than a Vega.
Had to explain to Dr. Melton why I cut her English class for two weeks. She didn’t take it too well.
Re: Gene Littles
Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 4:11 pm
by Cro-Magnon App
Billy Cunningham was a great gentleman, a great coach, a great player and a helluva guy. Who was the real tall skinny black player for the Cougars at the time? My mind is slipping - getting old, memory fading. Was it Jim McDaniel or Caldwell Jones or somebody else?
Re: Gene Littles
Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 6:23 pm
by asu66
Methinks you're remembering jersey #1, 6-11 Jim McDaniels from Western Kentucky.
Re: Gene Littles
Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 6:43 pm
by Cro-Magnon App
Re: Gene Littles
Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 9:53 pm
by scatman77
Cro-Magnon App wrote: ↑Sat Sep 18, 2021 4:08 pm
I like it. Looks better than a Vega.
Had to explain to Dr. Melton why I cut her English class for two weeks. She didn’t take it too well.
Wait....I had a Vega!
Re: Gene Littles
Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2021 8:53 pm
by Cro-Magnon App
Noted
Re: Gene Littles
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2021 7:37 am
by appfanz
Ran into a few of the Cougars drinking at Antler’s one night.
