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Terence Moore

Bobby Cremins: “We could have won the national chamionship”

1:04 pm March 18, 2009, by Terence Moore

   So you think you’re into March Madness, especially with the dribbling starting Thursday from Portland to Kansas City to Philadelphia? Well, you should move to the back of a growing line that is headed by the famous owner of floppy white hair in Charleston, S.C.

  There, you’ll find Bobby Cremins, the basketball coach at the College of Charleston via Georgia Tech. He prefers four play-in games to the NCAA tournament instead of the current one. He also would like to have the winner of the National Invitation Tournament receive an automatic bid to the Big Dance the following season.

  “I’ve thrown that around, and people laugh at it,” said Cremins, who nevertheless shrugs and says of this time of year, “I love everything about it. I love to watch, and I really love going to the games.”

  All you need to know is that Cremins has missed just one Final Four in person during the past 34 years. “And that was when I was going through my mid-life crisis with South Carolina,” he said, sighing over the phone, recalling 1993. That’s when he agreed to coach his alma mater by bolting a Tech program that he built into a consistent ACC force.

  Then, as Cremins likes to say, he “embarrassed” himself by returning to the Yellow Jackets three days later. He eventually resigned at Tech after his 19th season in 2000. There were 10 trips to the NCAA, including Lethal Weapon 3’s run to the Final Four in 1990. “My father died at Christmas of that year and that took something away from everything,” Cremins said. “But, you know. My only regret in coaching is that we didn’t go to the Final Four at Georgia Tech three times. If we did that, we could have won the national championship at least once.”

  Instead, Cremins was nagged by “what could have been” with the Jackets during his bored life out of coaching for six years, but then he left the beaches of Hilton Head in 2006 for the College of Charleston. His Cougars have been vibrant. They nearly waltzed into the Big Dance last week until they lost in the Southern Conference title game on the home court of Chattanooga, the eventual winner. They later accepted a bid into something called the College Basketball Invitational tournament.

  There is only one tournament that counts, though. It will culminate on April 6 with Cremins joining his coaching buddies at Detroit’s Ford Field.

  “In the old days, we could see every legendary coach at the Final Four, you know, like Al McGuire,” said Cremins, chuckling, since he has the plain-speaking, off-beat feel of the late Marquette icon who also was a New York native. “The only problem of the tournament is it’s gotten big. Those legendary coaches used to get great seats, but corporate America has taken some of their seats away. It’s important that those legendary coaches are visible and get good seats.”

  Cremins will be visible regardless. Just look for the hair. That, along with a smile as bright as one shining moment.

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38 comments Add your comment

Atlanta Native

March 18th, 2009
1:47 pm

The same old Tech cheer: “We could’ve, should’ve, would’ve, if only…”

jw

March 18th, 2009
2:06 pm

Bet you would trade any of the junk called basketball at GT for one of those woulda, coulda years that Bobby had. There was EXCITEMENT at the North Avenue Trade School during that time – about the only excitement now is when you see one of those woulda, coulda’s walk through the aisles trying to buy some peanuts and coca cola!

lakerat

March 18th, 2009
2:12 pm

Great to hear from BC even though his team did eliminate my alma mater from the ‘dance’ this year – if only Paul Hewitt would follow Bobby’s lead and do the honorable thing for the good of the school as Bobby did 9 years ago…..

Dr. Warren

March 18th, 2009
2:14 pm

Didn’t Tech share the national football championship in ‘90? What a great year. And I’m a University of Chicago fan…

Dr. Warren

March 18th, 2009
2:16 pm

I think we won the Enrico Fermi Bowl in ‘48, and that was it.

Buzz the Gay Bee

March 18th, 2009
2:41 pm

If it wasn’t for Colorado and UNC, we could’ve won the 1990 football NC.

just thinkin

March 18th, 2009
2:45 pm

What about this:
What if we agree up front to pay an extra bonus to CPH if he makes the final four next year (since it is all but certain he will be here so let’s extra incentivize him), but in exchange he has to reduce a couple years off the crazy buyout, or turn it into a more normal buyout, not the crazy permanent rollover extensions?

University of Gay Athletes

March 18th, 2009
2:54 pm

45-42
1990 more recent than 1980

UGA the b*tt fckn DAWG from JAWJA

March 18th, 2009
2:55 pm

BUZZ THE GAY BEE WROTE: “If it wasnt for Colorado and UNC we would have won the National Championship in 1990.”—-Yes…and thats why the NC trophy sits on Tech’s campus…..How many does JAWJA have and when was it won?? One word for you—- FOUR

StingerSplash

March 18th, 2009
3:04 pm

If it hadn’t been a crap clipping call on Rocket Ismail’s punt return against Colorado (who had won a game by scoring on FIFTH down) …
But Moore’s column shows what a true class guy Cremins is. He owns up to his mistakes and regrets them. Maybe he’s no Xs and Os genius. But if read John Feinstein’s book on the ACC and all the Cremins vignettes, you see that he is no phony. What you see is what you get with Cremins – loyal and funny and honest to a fault. I wish him success at CofC (where John Kresse was a cheater of great proportions, but that’s another story for another time)

George P Burdell

March 18th, 2009
3:22 pm

I miss the SHW. He was, is, and always will be near and dear to the hearts of Tech fans!

Endymion

March 18th, 2009
3:26 pm

You Tech fans do realize Bobby Cremins coached basketball, not football….right?

Tom

March 18th, 2009
4:11 pm

Bobby is one-of-a-kind….and an even better PERSON than a coach. College basketball is better with him back in it!

Robards

March 18th, 2009
4:30 pm

Never heard anyone call Kresse a cheater. One example please?

oldskooljacket

March 18th, 2009
5:11 pm

I still miss Bobby Cremins! After he’s done at CofC he should come back to the Flats in some capacity. Such an awesome guy, it would be nice to have that guy around.

Terence Moore

March 18th, 2009
5:11 pm

Tom,

You’re correct about Bobby Cremins as a person. He is in the Top 10 most honest coaches/managers I’ve ever covered in any sport. I don’t think he has the capacity to be devious, which probably is why he always has been a great recruiter.

the real OLD GOLD

March 18th, 2009
5:34 pm

The best part is that Tech hasn’t been in the SEC since the 60’s and UGA is just now catching up with conference titles. They still have a ways to go on the National Titles however. 1980 was before I was born! Bahahahha.

P.S. and before you trailer park scholars get your mullets in a wad.. I, just like everyone (including UGA) is counting SIAA and SoCon titles.

wiley

March 18th, 2009
5:38 pm

come back bobby!

Mike

March 18th, 2009
6:16 pm

Cremins ought to be at the front of the line at any number of schools looking for a head coach…and thie Bulldog wouold love to see Cremins leading the Red & Black!

UGAissolastyear

March 18th, 2009
7:51 pm

Love you Bobby!! Please come back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GT76

March 18th, 2009
8:38 pm

Bobby,
In case you read this please know most of us don’t think you should regret anything. Those of us that really know you realize you gave it 100% all the time. It was a blessing to have you as our coach and you left the place better than you found it. You are a true gentleman.

RK22

March 18th, 2009
9:03 pm

I took my small college team to a Tech practice. Bobby Cremins comes bounding up the steps toward us. I thought he was going to tell us to leave. Instead, he introduced himself, asked where we were from, and gave the team a tour of the Tech player’s lounge and locker room. What a class act!

Rabun Dawg

March 18th, 2009
9:21 pm

Mr. Cremins truly a class act! When he left GT.,I wrote him a personal note that all of the basketball world would miss him,and that if he ever got back in coaching that I would love to see him in Athens. He sent me a personal note thanking me for my comments. How many of his peers would have done that? I say not many, if any. Truly a fine person, and I wish him much success at The College of Charleston!

Paul is a loser

March 18th, 2009
9:28 pm

Terrance, Terrance, Terrance. My daughter is a senior in high school, and she can write better than you. When I came out of high school 20 something years ago, I didn’t know how to write either. Heck, I made a C in english 101. But dude, you write like I did then. I still can’t write, but man, you can’t either. You need to take some classes bro. We all know why you are still around. Wanna challenge me on that?

GT Fan

March 18th, 2009
10:54 pm

Still love Bobby….But Paul needs to go. Rads get off your a@@ and make a move.

elmo lewis

March 19th, 2009
9:15 am

Cremins to UGA?

ga_tech_92

March 19th, 2009
10:35 am

Bobby is and was a great guy and respected GT enough to step down when he saw things declining. Hewitt cannot hold Bobby’s jock in the honor department, or in recruiting ACC quality guards.

Neil Patrick Harris

March 19th, 2009
10:58 am

where is my love buddy slim g at?

richbrave

March 19th, 2009
11:18 am

TMo:

ASK BC if he remembers FREDERICK MILITARY ACADEMY in PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, and tell him he is still fondly remembered there.

richbrave

March 19th, 2009
11:21 am

Better yet, I’ll ask him myself. C of C will be at the ROBINS center Monday night in the CBI second round.

Golly

March 19th, 2009
5:41 pm

Boy Georgia State should have grabbed him, instead of Barnes. This was to have been the year at GA State, What a disappointment, no wonder there are no fans at the games…

Robards

March 20th, 2009
2:38 am

Didn’t think Stinger had any info on Kresse but wanted to give him a chance anyway. Stinger, make up something that will make Kelvin Sampson blush. LOL!

squattingdawgsoaringbumble

March 20th, 2009
9:43 am

Cremins is the greatest. I wonder where old “Poodle Head” assistant coach, Jimmy Hebron, is now. He is a good guy too.
Big Z, the former door to door dumbell salesman, tells me that Bobby Cremins was wearing a polo shirt and shorts to Mass in Charleston on Sundays when neighbor Rita “advised” him, “Bobby, this is not Hilton Head: you’re in Charleston now. You don’t wear shorts to Mass in Charleston.”
DRad, Tech needs Bobby Cremins back to coach the bees, but if Cremins loves Charleston as much as Charleston loves Cremins, there’s no chance.

Richard Fields

March 20th, 2009
9:54 am

I might be a loyal DAWG but I miss Bobby C! He was an awesome coach at Tech and one of the “Good Guys.” Tech always had good teams! Maybe the dawgs can get him!

GT Fan

March 20th, 2009
11:28 am

Rads his name is Coach Grant….put Hewitts A@@ on the road.

Wilbo

March 27th, 2009
2:10 pm

How could Cremins have won an NCAA basketball championship at Tech? Other coaches not showing up? That’s about what it would have taken. The floppy haired fruit could recruit but he was terribly out of his league and outcoached in every important match-up. The SC incident showed what a complete frazzled nincompoop the guy is in any pressure situation. Good riddance. Leave him alone to slip into well deserved obscurity, Mr. Moore, his 15 minutes is long done.

davejaxgator

April 3rd, 2009
7:48 pm

Nothing to do with Gt and Mr. BC – great guy, and a great coach – but re Dr Warren , University of Chicago fan, and the Fermi Bowl: The first Heisman trophy winner was Jay Berwanger from, yes, the University of Chicago. So stuff your comment about the Fermi Bowl, you are not a knowledgeable fan. By the way, the first functioning atomic pile was built underneath the old U. of Chicago football field by The Manhattan Project, one of whose key contributors was Enrico Fermi. Maybe if you had referred to the Fermi Pile instead of the Bowl…

Glenn

April 5th, 2009
9:26 am

I am a UGA fan but I enjoyed watching Cremins’ teams back then. I think he’s a class act coach. Too bad he’s not at a bigger name school now.

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