W I L D C A T V I L L E: Concerning Linfield men's basketball 1966-1967 season...

Concerning Linfield men's basketball 1966-1967 season

Linfield men's basketball 1966-1967 season included two games in Fairbanks, Alaska, versus the University of Alaska:

=Fri., Dec 9, 1966: Linfield won, 83-70 (according to Linfield men's basketball record book)

Scores of Linfield winning 83-70 and 65-64 over U of Alaska included in U of Alaska Fairbanks ‘Men’s Basketball Results’ record book.

Oregonian Dec 11, 1966 (Special): Linfield had four starters in double figures Friday night and the combination was enough to do in the University of Alaska, 83-70, in basketball. John Lee led the way with 19 points, Bob Lamb followed with 18, and Ed Griffin had 16 and Roger Baker 10. It was the Wildcats' third win in four outings.

N-R Dec. 14, 1966: ‘Cats Ice U. of Alaska For 4-1 Season Record. Amid the Alaskan ice and snow with fifty below zero weather, Linfield ripped gracious host University of Alaska 83-70 and 65-64 in last weekend’s doubleheader.

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=Sat., Dec 10, 1966: Linfield won, 65-63 (according to Linfield men's basketball record book), but 64-65 according to U of Alaska Fairbanks men's basketball records and other sources

Scores of Linfield winning 83-70 and 65-64 over U of Alaska included in U of Alaska Fairbanks ‘Men’s Basketball Results’ record book.

Oregonian, Dec 12, 1966 (AP): Linfield edged Alaska, 65-64, in a nonconference basketball game Saturday night. Milo Griffin of Alaska was high for the game with 26 points. John Lee and Roger Baker had 16 apiece for Linfield. More than 2,000 fans turned out in 50-below weather.

McMinnville News-Register, Dec. 14, 1966: ‘Cats Ice U. of Alaska For 4-1 Season Record. Amid the Alaskan ice and snow with fifty below zero weather, Linfield ripped gracious host University of Alaska 83-70 and 65-64 in last weekend’s doubleheader.

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Oregonian, Wed., Dec 21, 1966:

7 Players Suspended At Linfield

Exact Charges Not Revealed In Statement

By Dick Fishback, Sports Writer, The Oregonian

Linfield College suffered a severe athletic setback Tuesday afternoon with the announcement that seven members of its basketball team have been suspended for disciplinary reasons.

The seven, one of them an All-Northwest Conference selection last season, were dropped after Coach Ted Wilson discovered conduct violations during a basketball trip to Alaska Dec. 9-10.

The players dropped were Roger Baker, Hood River; Bob Daggett, Portland; Jack Forde, Medford; Tom Leatherwood, Coquille; Larry Sapp, Tigard, and Ed Griffin and John Lee, Hartford, Conn.

Griffin was a 1965-66 all-conference pick while Lee gained second team honors.

Reading from the school’s statement: “The college did not reveal the nature of the infractions, stating that this was a private matter between the students and the college.”

Title Hopes Slowed

The suspensions will cut a wide gash in Linfield’s Northwest Conference title ambitions. The Wildcats had been favored to capture their third straight loop title.

Six of the seven had started at one position or another this season. Baker, Lee and Griffin filling first unit roles from the start.

For Daggett and Lee, both seniors, the blow is especially tough. Forde, Baker, Griffin and Leatherwood are all juniors, while Sapp is a sophomore.

The club had a 4-2 record for games through this past weekend.

Members of the Board of Trustees, the faculty council, the administrative council and the student body executive cabinet were convened to study the problem, leading to the suspension decision.

“We’ve been working on it for about five days, talking to the boys individually,” Linfield President Dr. Harry Dillin reported.

Asked if their suspension for the basketball season went further than that, say suspension from school, for example, Dillin said:

“They may continue their academic program, I hope that they do.”

It was the most severe dose of athletic punishment dished out in Linfield athletic history. Three of the 10 players making the trip to Alaska were not involved.

“It was a new experience for me,” Athletic Director Paul Durham vented. “And in my opinion it was basically a minor offense.”

He allowed that, “Generally, people are being understanding and forgiving; I certainly am in this situation.”

Scoring-wise, the Wildcats will be losing their second, third, fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth players. Lee had been averaging 14.8 a game, Baker 12.6 and Griffin 11.2.

McMinnville News-Register, Dec 21, 1966: 7 Linfield Basketball Players Out

McMinnville News-Register, Dec 25, 1966: Paul Durham’s “Dodging with Durham” sports column: “There’s a good chance that all of the men who were dropped from the squad will stay in college. We certainly hope they do. They’re fine people. They got carried away in what started out as prank and thus made a mistake. We’re for them 100 percent and we’re sure the faculty and students of Linfield feel the same way.”

Oregonian, Dec 31, 1966: "For Linfield, playing for the first time since seven players were dropped for their conduct violations ..."

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McMinnville News-Register, Jan. 8, 1967: ‘Rebuilding Work Takes Long Hard Practices’

By Rick Pullen, N-R Sports Editor

“These kids are determined and are working hard. Everybody is dedicated, and whether we win one or ten, we want to enjoy the season,” stated Linfield Coach Ted Wilson.

Wilson is in the wake of rebuilding the 1966-67 basketball forces after a loss of seven seasoned veterans for conduct violations. “We doing a lot o[f work and holding some lengthy practices. We have to pile a lot info a short time and have a lot to work on,” continued the Linfield mentor.

The Wildcat new machine had a trial run last week against Portland State and found [itself on the short end pf a 102-79 score. “We had far too many turnovers in that game, although the Portland experience caused our inexperience to make mistakes,” explained Wilson. And turnovers did prove to be costly, in fact there was a total of 32 with 18 in the second half.

Official reports indicate that Wilson isn’t the only coach in the conference with player problems. Linfield’s first conference foe, College of Idaho, recently lost 6-6 sophomore center John Woodbury for “personal reasons.” The big center was an outstanding offensive threat as well as an aggressive defender.

Coach Dean Sempert of Lewis and Clark also has replaced his smile with a scowl for good reasons. Sempert has been forc3ed to find a replacement for 6-3 forward Jim Pippin who is ineligible for scholastic reasons.

Pippin is his fourth year as a starter and co-captain. He garnered such laurels as first team All-Conference and honorable mention Little All-American last season.

“Pippin’s loss will give a serious blow to Lewis and Clark. He is a tremendous ball player as is Woodbury. Their losses will definitely affect the conference race somewhat,” surmised Wilson.

When asked about his opinion on the outcome of the NWC title (race), Wilson stated, “Pacific Lutheran and Willamette now have the edge. I figure that Lewis and Clark will end up in third spot.”

Wilson also said that Pacific Lutheran is expecting a new man who is expected to be a valuable asset. He is supposedly a second semester eligible case.

In regards to Linfield’s chances in the rough conference Wilson explained, “I’d like to be optimistic but I also have to be realistic. We hope we can give someone a little competition, but it is tough to take a new squad and start working with them this late in the year.”

A new squad is exactly what Wilson has, too. Only one man on the Linfield roster can be considered seasoned material. Guard Bob
Lamb currently boasts of three letters while 6-7 sophomore center Dan Beeson claims one. The rest of the squad has been moved up from the junior varsity ranks.

Despite the odds the handicap of the revamped Wildcats, Wilson expects a rewarding season.

“I know the kids are working hard and are doing their best. As long as we do our best we don’t have to apologize to anyone. All I want to know that the men are enjoying themselves.”

With this strong desire and determination displayed by the Wildcats perhaps a majority of opponents might receive more than a scare from the hustling ‘Cat crew; they might just end up on the bleak side of the scoreboard.

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Oregonian, Jan 29, 1967: "...the Wildcats had been racked by the suspension of seven of their top 10 scorers. Since that time, Coach Ted Wilson has regrouped his team and the 'Cats are once again figured as challengers..."

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Wed., Oregonian, Dec 21, 1966: 7 Players Suspended At Linfield