Carolina Cougars

[UNCMSinLS]

Lamey went on to the Colts where he made some sort of comment that landed him in hot water. He’s the voice I most associate with the Cougars.

Bones was all over the place in those days, even coaching the Cougars for a couple of years. Despite his entanglements with pro sports he really represented the ACC to me — played for both state and Carolina and coached Wake - glad he stayed away from dook. I went to the Cougars basketball camp at Guilford College in 1970 and Bones was running the show with a great deal of personality. For an ordained Southern Baptist minister he could cuss. Blue Streak and didn’t mind doing it.

Great stuff.

 

[donbosco]

Good story and images at this link...

Cougar Madness | O.Henry Magazine

The near-miss glory of the nation’s first regional sports franchise By Bill Case Unbeknownst to all but the closest insiders, professional basketball’s 2-ye ...

ohenrymag.com

 

[05C40]

As an avid Boy Scout, I attended a couple of Scouting events where Bones McKinney spoke. One of his tales I liked a lot involved a game played at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh. Bones claimed that during a game where Lou Bello was reffing, as Lou ran past the Wake Forest bench, Bones yelled, "What's the score?" And Bones claimed that Lou yelled back, "We got you by three, Bones."

Years later, I heard Jim Valvano tell a good Lou Bello story. As they were both Italian and this was before Valano had purchased a home or moved his family, Lou had told Jim that if he ever needed a place to stray, he could spend the night his spare bedroom. Well, not long after this, Jim returned to Raleigh after a recruiting trip late one night and couldn't find a hotel room anywhere. Remembering Lou's offer, Jim drove around North Raleigh for a while and finally arrived at what he thought was at Lou's house. Jim pulled into the driveway and as he was getting out of his car, the front porch light came on and a woman walked out. Jim said he yelled up to the woman, "Is this where Lou Bello lives?" The woman replied, "Yeah, yeah, just roll him out of the car and he can crawl up from there."

 

[Zoo_View]

As an avid Boy Scout, I attended a couple of Scouting events where Bones McKinney spoke. One of his tales I liked a lot involved a game played at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh. Bones claimed that during a game where Lou Bello was reffing, as Lou ran past the Wake Forest bench, Bones yelled, "What's the score?" And Bones claimed that Lou yelled back, "We got you by three, Bones."

Years later, I heard Jim Valvano tell a good Lou Bello story. As they were both Italian and this was before Valano had purchased a home or moved his family, Lou had told Jim that if he ever needed a place to stray, he could spend the night his spare bedroom. Well, not long after this, Jim returned to Raleigh after a recruiting trip late one night and couldn't find a hotel room anywhere. Remembering Lou's offer, Jim drove around North Raleigh for a while and finally arrived at what he thought was at Lou's house. Jim pulled into the driveway and as he was getting out of his car, the front porch light came on and a woman walked out. Jim said he yelled up to the woman, "Is this where Lou Bello lives?" The woman replied, "Yeah, yeah, just roll him out of the car and he can crawl up from there."

I remember those Blue-White games in the late ‘60’s and/or early ‘70’s when Lou Bello was the “featured” referee.

 

[Kingpin]

Growing up in Greensboro, I went to many CCougar games. Jumpin Joe Caldwell was the man!! Loved the red-white-blue striped balls

 

[uncsig]

I just finished watching a couple of ABA team documentaries: The Virginia Squires and the Carolina Cougars. I remember living in Virginia during the last couple of years of the Squires. I never saw a game live but wish now that I had.

Before moving to Virginia, my family lived in Bowling Green, Kentucky. We were season ticket holders to Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball (and football) games. I remember following WKU's trip to the final four in 1971. Jim McDaniels was an all-American center and the star of the team. He was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics but ended up playing for the Carolina Cougars for his rookie season. In the 1971-72 season, McDaniels averaged 26.8 points and 14 rebounds for the Cougars over 58 games. He had 24 points and 11 boards in the 1972 ABA All-Star Game.

Does anyone on the board remember McDaniels' time with the Cougars? More generally, did anyone ever attend any Cougars' games? Is there any collected memorabilia out there? It sounds like a fascinating story - a regional team that played in Charlotte, Greensboro, and Raleigh.

I'm anxious to hear any firsthand memories from anyone who might have "been there, done that."

Didn't see this thread when originally posted months ago @UNCMSinLS , but since it was recently resurrected, can you point to a link for where you found these ABA documentaries? Thanks.

 

[CeruleanBlueHeel]

Echo similar memories having attended a couple games in Gboro and a couple in Dorton Arena. I think Bones and Brown were coaching then. One player no one else has mentioned former dookie, Bob Verga. He showed up at the Durham Y one morning and put on a little shooting clinic.