2008 Woodie Awards
Pelphrey suits up for Razorbacks
Harold McIlvain II
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: Sports
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Going into the Red-White game Friday night, first-year Arkansas basketball head coach John Pelphrey knew he would be thin on players. Three Razorbacks would be out with a one-game suspension, while another was out with an injury, resulting in a five-on-five Red-White game.
"There was a lot of discussion when we started getting short on guys," Pelphrey said. "We talked about what we would do, and I said, 'If I have to I'll go in there and play. We are going to get through this thing.' It's not like we are going to call the Red-White game off. I kept asking everyone and nobody seemed alarmed or object to it. I thought I would go out there to help these guys and get both feet in the circle myself."
When Pelphrey entered in to the game with 8:45 left in the first half, the crowd at Bud Walton erupted, but that same crowd let him know about his first shot attempt when he air balled a 3-point attempt and the crowd chanted "air ball." Pelphrey later jokingly said that it was a pass.
Pelphrey would miss again from behind the arc, but later drained a 22-foot 3-point basket that made the fans at Bud Walton stand up and cheer. Pelphrey also had some no-look passes on the night that got the crowd to cheer. He was also rejected in the paint by Charles Thomas, which would carry a consequence, Pelphrey said jokingly after the game.
"I think a couple things will happen tomorrow," Pelphrey said. "Charles Thomas will be suspended for that shot he blocked of mine. After reviewing the film, I'm sure there will be a couple more guys that will get that treatment."
Pelphrey did not look in the same form as he was in his Kentucky playing days, but he brought the team closer together with his performance, Thomas said.
"I loved [coach playing]. That is one thing that will make the team closer and it will make everyone smile," Thomas said. "When he got on the court my eyes got big because I wanted to get payback [from all the practices]. I'll never let him forget about that blocked shot, but it was about having fun and enjoy something you like doing."
"There was a lot of discussion when we started getting short on guys," Pelphrey said. "We talked about what we would do, and I said, 'If I have to I'll go in there and play. We are going to get through this thing.' It's not like we are going to call the Red-White game off. I kept asking everyone and nobody seemed alarmed or object to it. I thought I would go out there to help these guys and get both feet in the circle myself."
When Pelphrey entered in to the game with 8:45 left in the first half, the crowd at Bud Walton erupted, but that same crowd let him know about his first shot attempt when he air balled a 3-point attempt and the crowd chanted "air ball." Pelphrey later jokingly said that it was a pass.
Pelphrey would miss again from behind the arc, but later drained a 22-foot 3-point basket that made the fans at Bud Walton stand up and cheer. Pelphrey also had some no-look passes on the night that got the crowd to cheer. He was also rejected in the paint by Charles Thomas, which would carry a consequence, Pelphrey said jokingly after the game.
"I think a couple things will happen tomorrow," Pelphrey said. "Charles Thomas will be suspended for that shot he blocked of mine. After reviewing the film, I'm sure there will be a couple more guys that will get that treatment."
Pelphrey did not look in the same form as he was in his Kentucky playing days, but he brought the team closer together with his performance, Thomas said.
"I loved [coach playing]. That is one thing that will make the team closer and it will make everyone smile," Thomas said. "When he got on the court my eyes got big because I wanted to get payback [from all the practices]. I'll never let him forget about that blocked shot, but it was about having fun and enjoy something you like doing."
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Joe Miller
posted 10/30/07 @ 10:56 PM CST
A head coach playing in a red-white dame like situation! Has that happened before? I love it. I think it is great for team morale!!
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