ADVERTISEMENT

Connie Hawkins

Had the pleasure of watching Connie play during his short time at Iowa. Students would go early to see the game he played in. May he RIP in peace and may his time a Iowa while way to short never be forgotten. I know that I have never forgotten you and thank you for the memories.
 
  • Like
Reactions: amahawk, kcgolfer, Vbeachawk and 1 other person
CJBauer said:
Iowa needs to right a karma wrong and do something to acknowlege Hawkins...I always wanted them to give him an honorary degree before he passed...too late for that now...
Click to expand...

no way. his even being associated with iowa basketball is an embarrassment.
 
kcgolfer said:
Do some research and you won't be so ignorant. The Hawk was treated shabbily by Iowa.
Click to expand...

shabbily by iowa? they brought him to iowa city even though he couldnt meet the entrance requirements. they set him up with a no show job for his first year. and another booster gave him money every month as well on top of what he got from his "job". the odds of him ever being eligible at iowa were slim, even before he left for the interviews in nyc. he wasnt going to make the grades needed to be able to play.
 
Coach Dick Schultz told me in 1974 that Don Nelson was the best big man and Sam Williams was the best guard he had ever coached. He also said that Connie was far and away the greatest talent he had ever been associated with..
 
  • Like
Reactions: skydog0784 and Bravehawk56
Tylerl_28 said:
kcgolfer said:
Do some research and you won't be so ignorant. The Hawk was treated shabbily by Iowa.
Click to expand...

shabbily by iowa? they brought him to iowa city even though he couldnt meet the entrance requirements. they set him up with a no show job for his first year. and another booster gave him money every month as well on top of what he got from his "job". the odds of him ever being eligible at iowa were slim, even before he left for the interviews in nyc. he wasnt going to make the grades needed to be able to play.
Click to expand...

Sounds like he"s the Alex Karras of the basketball team...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mohawkeye and Tunadog
His book "Foul" is still an educational read. I especially enjoyed his story about his encounter with Wilt "The Dipper" Chamberlain and how quickly he learned that "you don't piss off The Dipper".
 
Greatest player by far that Iowa ever had-- and who never played. Rest in peace, Mr. Hawkins. Happy to have seen you play (practice) in the Old Fieldhouse. I don't think his two-ball dunk has ever been repeated. Sorry Cook, Pemsl, Garza-- but this guy would have eaten you guys for lunch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RogerKint and DanL53
Seriously doubt the freshman team could have beaten the varsity in '60-'61. That was the year Iowa was ranked in the national top ten, the year four starters were declared ineligible at the semester break and they still finished second in the Big Ten.
 
Lone Clone said:
Seriously doubt the freshman team could have beaten the varsity in '60-'61. That was the year Iowa was ranked in the national top ten, the year four starters were declared ineligible at the semester break and they still finished second in the Big Ten.
Click to expand...


I was in high school then and that certainly was the story. Freshmen routinely beat the varsity squad and had large numbers of people in attendance.
 
51mdhoVnEjL._SX373_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


Very interesting book, biggest takeaway clearly that Connie Hawkins was treated unfairly.

Iowa doesn't come off great in the book, but not horrible either iirc. Was clearly a joke to admit him academically, and school was too quick to abandon him without investigation when the scandal broke. Having said that, and still iirc, there were good people in good faith trying to help him in Iowa City. Mr. Hawkins and his attorney (author Wolf) were much kinder to U of I than many other entities (especially the NBA).

Finally, look at the size of those hands! Most of us couldn't envelop a volleyball like he does that bball.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VicHawkeye
LifelongHawk said:
51mdhoVnEjL._SX373_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


Very interesting book, biggest takeaway clearly that Connie Hawkins was treated unfairly.

Iowa doesn't come off great in the book, but not horrible either iirc. Was clearly a joke to admit him academically, and school was too quick to abandon him without investigation when the scandal broke. Having said that, and still iirc, there were good people in good faith trying to help him in Iowa City. Mr. Hawkins and his attorney (author Wolf) were much kinder to U of I than many other entities (especially the NBA).
The story I heard was that his hands were so large that he could hold a basketball with one hand, point the ball at you and you could see the tips of all of those fingers.
Finally, look at the size of those hands! Most of us couldn't envelop a volleyball like he does that bball.
Click to expand...
 
JBJRFL said:
I was in high school then and that certainly was the story. Freshmen routinely beat the varsity squad and had large numbers of people in attendance.
Click to expand...
Very good friend of mine was the sports editor of the DI at the time. Says those stories are exaggerated, especially the claim by Hawkins in his autobiography that people would come to see the freshmen play and then leave before the varsity game. Since my friend was the one who broke the story of 4 starters being ineligible, I gotta go with his memory.
 
Lone Clone said:
Seriously doubt the freshman team could have beaten the varsity in '60-'61. That was the year Iowa was ranked in the national top ten, the year four starters were declared ineligible at the semester break and they still finished second in the Big Ten.
Click to expand...

Thanx for depressing me . . . reminding me Iowa had an illustrious basketball resume before Alford arrived.
 
I did hear from a very good source that Iowa did pay for a $24 bus ticket for Connie to get back home to the east coast one time. I can handle that. I have heard he was a great kid. He used to babysit for a friend of mine here in Iowa City. She said he was wonderful.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

BonzoFury

Bill Walton passes away

Replies
54
Views
4K
Iowa Men's Basketball
hawkirugged17
hawkirugged17
Eliot Clough

Payton Sandfort on Lute Olson NPOY Watch List

Replies
2
Views
373
The Press Box
PubliusNo10
P
cigaretteman

Trump names his own pick for IRS commissioner, breaking from tradition

Replies
9
Views
522
Off Topic
mnole03
mnole03
cigaretteman

Opinion A dangerous and unqualified choice for the FBI

Replies
22
Views
680
Off Topic
MichaelKeller99
MichaelKeller99
cigaretteman

Biden to Award Presidential Medal to Liz Cheney

Replies
90
Views
2K
Off Topic
Scruddy
Scruddy
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest posts

ADVERTISEMENT
Top Bottom
Back