Rebels reunion makes for a special time

By Staff
March 4, 2003
I've never been much for reunions but the one I attended last week was an exception. Rod Barnes, the Ole Miss basketball coach is constantly seeking to increase support for his team. One of his methods is to get and keep former players involved with the program. Too many times a youngster finishes his career, leaves school and is never heard from again. Barnes thinks that's a bad thing and he's right.
Last year the reunion honored the 1981 Rebel team that won the conference tournament. This year the scope was broader and older. The athletic department sent out invitations to former athletes who had represented the university in basketball 20, 30, even 40 years ago. As the former broadcaster they were kind enough to send me an invitation as well.
The names out of the past was like a who's who. The list of those present included stars as well as others who had been reserves at best.
My former broadcast partner, Don Kessinger, was there. He was one of the greatest athletes ever to play at Ole Miss, All-SEC in 1962, 63 and 64. After college he became a baseball player, starred for the Chicago Cubs 12 years and was selected for the Major League All Star game six times.
Denver Brackeen, a familiar name in our part of the state was on hand. He too was an All Conference player, starring in 1954 and 1955.
Jerry Brawner attended. Brawner played center the first year I was with the team in 1967. He was 6-foot-8 and was considered a big man in his day, although truthfully he was built more like a tight end than a basketball player. He looked almost the same as he did 36 years ago. The years have been kind.
Those of you who are familiar with Ole Miss will remember the Old Gym where the team played before Tad Smith Coliseum was built. It has been gutted, completely refurbished and is now used as the headquarters for the admissions offices. Instead of the Old Gym it is now named the Martindale Building.
Larry Martindale was a basketball player in 1966. 67 and 68 and became very. very rich after college. He donated the money for the refurbishing and the building was named after him. He came, along with one of the more attractive young blond ladies I have seen in some time.
Chancellor Robert Khayat was on hand. So was Ray Poole who played basketball and football for the Rebels back in the 1940s and later coached football during the Johnny Vaught years.
Among the undistinguished players who are now distinguished successes in life, was Steve Farese, a member of a Mississippi family law firm specializing in criminal law. He played little, and didn't try to pretend it was any more than that, but made me feel good by saying the highlight of his career was his first college basket.
It was made in a game at LSU and, as he told it, he was under the basket and threw the ball up into a forest of arms and hands and it went in. Clearly and distinctly, he said, he heard my call, "He scores" and that, he said, was the most memorable moment of the two years he played for the Rebels. I was touched.
Rodney Chamblee came from Jackson. He was not a great player but today he is a great businessman, one of that city's most successful in the world of real estate and devlopment. He brought his charming wife along as well.
Friday night we had a party at the former Holiday Inn downtown hosted by the University. It was in the old bar known far and wide for the many years of service by Clyde the bartender. Anyone who ever attended Ole Miss knows where that is. Today the motel has renamed that area Clyde's in his honor.
Saturday afternoon was the game and the more recent generation was there. Rahim Lockhart from the 1998-2000 era was present as was the sparkplug of last year's team, Jason Harrison.
Derek Horne, a four year letterman (1983-1986) who now works for the athletic department put the package together and was properly credited.
Every school has, or can have, its own version of memory lane. Former players from Mississippi State, Southern Miss and smaller schools throughout the state feel about their alma mater as past Rebel athletes feel about theirs.
The pity is you have to get older to appreciate being younger. Rod Barnes has many good ideas. This was one of his best.