LETTERS: DRAKE ALUM RECALLS GARNER'S FOUCUS

To the editor:

Congratulations to Southeast Missouri State University basketball players and fans on their first-ever NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament appearance. I'm sure last year's heartbreak makes Sunday's victory even sweeter.

I played (mostly sat) for Coach Gary Garner at Drake in the mid-1980s. Without dominant offensive players, Garner knew the only way we could win was by playing defense. I remember one day in practice Garner announced that as soon as someone made a defensive mistake, the practice would stop and the running would start. Somehow, I got matched up with the fastest guard on the team and promptly gave up a baseline drive like I was standing still. To make matters worse, weak side help never came and the play ended with a rousing dunk. Coach exploded into rage and slammed his clipboard onto the court (the clipboard also exploded). I think we ran sprints for the rest of practice. To this day, when I see my old teammates, they joke: "Please don't give up the baseline."

As usual, though, Garner knew what he was doing. We not only played good defense, we learned to love playing good defense. He led us, sometimes kicking and screaming, to a 19-11 record and a trip to the National Invitational Tournament. We were the best defensive team in the Missouri Valley Conference and one of the best in the country. The next season, Drake posted a winning record but failed to return to post-season play. Then, even with a strong recruiting class coming to Des Moines, Gary Garner was fired. The Bulldogs haven't had a winning season since.

Coach Garner stayed in Des Moines and became an insurance salesman. He, of course, was a very good insurance salesman, but in his heart he knew was an even better basketball coach. So he followed his heart back into coaching and found himself in Hays, Kan. A couple of years later he led Fort Hays State College to an undefeated season and won the Division II championship. You know the story from there.

Coach Garner has told me how much he loves Cape Girardeau and SEMO. Watching Indians fans on ESPN Sunday, I could tell the feeling is mutual.

This post-season, players who have been fortunate enough to be coached by Gary Garner will be living vicariously through the SEMO team. So enjoy this week. Bask in it. So many players, coaches and fans never get a chance to experience a trip to the big dance. Treasure every minute. And while you're at it, treasure coach Gary Garner. He's a winner on and off the court.

And one more thing: For God's sake, don't give up the baseline.

DAVID LUBBERS

Chicago