Monday, July 13, 2009

Rohrssen shows his stars and stripes

We're a little past the Fourth of July, but the New York Daily News decided to continue the patriotic feel of the summer months and run a feature on Manhattan head coach Barry Rohrssen, who recently returned from a nine-day stint in Iraq and Afghanistan with other Division-I coaches. The program, "Operation Hoop Talk", is one of many United Service Operations (USO) goodwill programs.

Among the others that attend: American's (another Fairfield opponent) Jeff Jones and South Carolina's David Odom.

Rohrssen always stuck me as an aloof, ominous-looking coach that lacked the charisma of Ed Cooley or the excitement of Jimmy Patsos. Tom Cleary and I used to always kid about his bizarre three-piece suits he would wear courtside during Jaspers games. Then again, maybe that's just his personality.

After reading the article, I can honestly say my opinion's changed. Good for Barry, and great publicity for Manhattan's program.

2 comments:

Stagophile said...

Fairfield alum and former Xavier, Providence, and Virginia head coach was on the same trip.

http://www.dailyprogress.com/cdp/sports/cavalier_insider/ci_basketball/article/for_the_troops_pete_gillen_spreads_goodwill_in_afghanistan/42333/

Stagophile said...

And his name is Pete Gillen. :-)