19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

As I sit indoors and watch the fire for a few months, it will be good to know that Schaadt is out there, following the runs every day of the winter. I'll think of him often and of all the fun he's having.
ROBERT SCHUERHOFF
Glenwood Springs, Colo.

NO PUSHOVER
Sir:
Tennessee Tech may have been a pushover for mighty Indiana (Mashed in a Mismatch. Dec. 9), but that little school's basketball team showed me the greatest single defensive play I have ever seen. It was in 1958 during the first round of the NCAA tournament. Tennessee Tech had had a fine season, but just before the playoffs the Golden Eagles' star 6'9" center and their playmaking guard had been declared ineligible. Thus crippled, they came to Evanston, Ill. to face a strong Notre Dame team led by 6'5" standout Tom Hawkins.

As might be expected, the game was pretty much of a rout. Toward the end it broke into a series of full-court passes and turnovers. Notre Dame kept most of its starters in, despite nearly a 30-point lead, but Tech sent in its subs to gain tournament experience. Notre Dame stole a pass under the Tech basket and threw the ball downcourt to Hawkins, who had lagged in back. Hawkins turned at the top of the key and headed unopposed toward the basket. Everyone in the gym was certain a crashing dunk shot was coming. Everyone except a spindly, redheaded, 5'9" Tech scrub named Allen (Road Runner) Hereon, who came down the floor at full speed. Hawkins, unsuspecting, started up majestically for a stuff. Herron threw himself horizontally toward Hawkins, got one hand in front of the ball just as Hawkins brought it past his waist and slapped it out of bounds. Then he landed on his face and slid through the first three rows of folding chairs, scattering fans in all directions.

As he came down without the ball, a look of disbelief passed over Hawkins' face. But when he realized what had happened, he waded in through the tumbled chairs, found little Herron, dazed and bleeding, pulled him to his feet, towed him back to the court and shook his hand.
JOHN MCCLAUGHRY
Lyndonville, Vt.