'Celebration' will make for memorable weekend
Off the Foul Pohl
Bart Pohlman
Issue date: 2/27/09 Section: Sports
It has been said that time heals all wounds.
When the Razorbacks host Georgia on Sunday at Bud Walton Arena, Arkansas will provide living proof that this old adage is indeed correct.
At halftime, the UA will honor the 1994 National Championship Razorback basketball team - a long overdue celebration for a team that will not soon be forgotten.
But this reunion of sorts wasn't always set in stone.
Count former player Scotty Thurman among those who wasn't sure if this day would ever come.
"I'd like to say I knew [that it was going to happen], but I think I'd be a fool to say that," Thurman said. "I was always hopeful that it'd happen. Time can heal a lot of things, and it's just great that it's finally happening now. Better now than never."
• • •
Never might have been the better bet seven years ago.
When former head coach Nolan Richardson was unceremoniously fired in 2002 by then-athletic director Frank Broyles, an undeniable rift engulfed the Arkansas basketball program.
Then it got ugly.
Richardson sued the university for discrimination, a lawsuit that was eventually dismissed.
But the damage was done. The rift had grown, pushing Richardson and the university further apart.
After the lawsuit, Richardson stayed out of the public eye, spending time on his ranch in Fayetteville and even taking advantage of opportunities to coach the Panamanian and Mexican national basketball teams.
That changed last year, when Richardson spoke at the Northwest Arkansas Tip-Off Club in January.
He reminisced of his time at Arkansas, but expressed no ill will toward the university, its fans or its administration.
A few weeks later - and with new athletic director Jeff Long in attendance - the players and coaches from the '94 National Championship team reunited to celebrate their championship.
The stage was set for a Bud Walton reunion - a new administration, a new mindset and most importantly, time.
• • •
After seven years, the burned bridges have mostly been rebuilt.
On Sunday, the final steps in the reconstruction of the UA's relationship with Richardson will be taken.
When Richardson steps on the arena floor during halftime, it will be for the first time since he led the Razorbacks to a 67-59 win over Alabama on Feb. 20, 2002.
And Richardson couldn't be happier.
"I'm very pleased and very happy that my young men can come back to the university and be honored for winning the national championship," Richardson said. "I'm certainly excited about that."
Former Arkansas standout Corliss Williamson said he's happy Richardson will finally be welcomed back to the arena he helped build.
"I'm just happy that it's finally happening - not just that our team is being recognized but that coach Richardson is getting an opportunity to be recognized for what he's brought to this university over the years," Williamson said.
Although he wasn't sure a reunion was ever going to happen, Williamson said he had hope that time would heal old wounds.
"I was very optimistic that, at some point in time, we were going to be able to put things behind us and have an opportunity to come back and celebrate the championship," Williamson said. "The school deserves it, our team deserves it, Coach deserves it and I think our fans deserve it.
"It was just a matter of time."
That time has come.
Bart Pohlman is the sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Friday.
When the Razorbacks host Georgia on Sunday at Bud Walton Arena, Arkansas will provide living proof that this old adage is indeed correct.
At halftime, the UA will honor the 1994 National Championship Razorback basketball team - a long overdue celebration for a team that will not soon be forgotten.
But this reunion of sorts wasn't always set in stone.
Count former player Scotty Thurman among those who wasn't sure if this day would ever come.
"I'd like to say I knew [that it was going to happen], but I think I'd be a fool to say that," Thurman said. "I was always hopeful that it'd happen. Time can heal a lot of things, and it's just great that it's finally happening now. Better now than never."
• • •
Never might have been the better bet seven years ago.
When former head coach Nolan Richardson was unceremoniously fired in 2002 by then-athletic director Frank Broyles, an undeniable rift engulfed the Arkansas basketball program.
Then it got ugly.
Richardson sued the university for discrimination, a lawsuit that was eventually dismissed.
But the damage was done. The rift had grown, pushing Richardson and the university further apart.
After the lawsuit, Richardson stayed out of the public eye, spending time on his ranch in Fayetteville and even taking advantage of opportunities to coach the Panamanian and Mexican national basketball teams.
That changed last year, when Richardson spoke at the Northwest Arkansas Tip-Off Club in January.
He reminisced of his time at Arkansas, but expressed no ill will toward the university, its fans or its administration.
A few weeks later - and with new athletic director Jeff Long in attendance - the players and coaches from the '94 National Championship team reunited to celebrate their championship.
The stage was set for a Bud Walton reunion - a new administration, a new mindset and most importantly, time.
• • •
After seven years, the burned bridges have mostly been rebuilt.
On Sunday, the final steps in the reconstruction of the UA's relationship with Richardson will be taken.
When Richardson steps on the arena floor during halftime, it will be for the first time since he led the Razorbacks to a 67-59 win over Alabama on Feb. 20, 2002.
And Richardson couldn't be happier.
"I'm very pleased and very happy that my young men can come back to the university and be honored for winning the national championship," Richardson said. "I'm certainly excited about that."
Former Arkansas standout Corliss Williamson said he's happy Richardson will finally be welcomed back to the arena he helped build.
"I'm just happy that it's finally happening - not just that our team is being recognized but that coach Richardson is getting an opportunity to be recognized for what he's brought to this university over the years," Williamson said.
Although he wasn't sure a reunion was ever going to happen, Williamson said he had hope that time would heal old wounds.
"I was very optimistic that, at some point in time, we were going to be able to put things behind us and have an opportunity to come back and celebrate the championship," Williamson said. "The school deserves it, our team deserves it, Coach deserves it and I think our fans deserve it.
"It was just a matter of time."
That time has come.
Bart Pohlman is the sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Friday.
Be the first to comment on this story