Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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October 21, 2009

Ramblin’ Rams host preseason treat and local fans get to see legendary team

By LARRY HYPES

Area sports fan got quite a treat Thursday past when the Bluefield College Ramblin’ Rams hosted Oak Hill Academy’s Gold Team in a preseason match game.

Players didn’t foul out, but most other rules seemed to apply and the fans certainly got their money’s worth as the visiting Warriors won 114-92.

Before the game, I told Bluefield (junior varsity) coach Keith “Mister” Jennings I wish he were still eligible. Jennings was a legendary performer at East Tennessee State in the early 1990s, a true star who led the Buccaneers to some tremendous victories.

Just having him there reminded me of a story about Willie Mays. In the 1954 World Series, Mays made the great catch off Cleveland’s Vic Wertz that is replayed countless times each year. What is sometimes forgotten is that Mays hit a ball in the next inning in almost the same place, and he got a triple for his efforts.

When Mays slid into third base, an observer said that only man who could have caught it, hit it. I felt that way about Jennings. The only player who could have given the Warriors a real run for their money was not in the game. Seriously, the Rams did a pretty good job and it was great to see former Pocahontas Indian-Tazewell Bulldog star Brandon Pauley come in and get a basket.

Unfortunately, long-time Tazewell standout and all-everything at Bluefield, Omar “Juice” Reed, is still recovering from a leg injury and will not be able to play again for a few weeks.

Local music store owner Randy Conn sponsored the event on behalf of SATIRA (Substance Abuse Task Force in Rural Appalachia). Taylor Conn, Randy’s son, and a former sharpshooter for the Richlands Blue Tornado, is an assistant for Steve Smith over at OHA, and loves the experience.

Those guys go all over the country and play in the premier tournaments from coast to coast. Coach Smith, a very personable fellow, told me that Oak Hill has won seven national high school championships during his 25-year tenure at the Grayson County academy.

Oak Hill’s starters were from Laurelton, NY, Dayton, OH, St. Louis, Senegal, Los Angeles, and Baltimore. It must have been like playing the United Nations touring team for the Rams, but Bluefield played hard all the way and kept the issue relatively close throughout.

I spoke with Randy after the game and he says he would like to make the Conncert Classic an annual event. Surely local fans would love that and it would interesting to see if the location would be set at a central site each year, or perhaps moved around the area. There were people there from all over this area.

Former Tazewell and Rocky Gap coach Charlie Puckett was in the stands, just a few seats across from Graham High coach Glynn Carlock. Ex-Bluefield State and Bluefield Beavers’ standout Todd Baker had his family there, as well.

I remember a faculty game a few years back at Graham when Todd was an assistant principal. Once that game started and he got in, it was like a shooting exhibition. Mr. Baker can still light it up and like his dad, Paul, he just has to win whatever the contest is. Off the court he is mild mannered but don’t get him in a game unless you are ready for a battle.

Sports editor Brian Woodson and I each had a seat at the scorer’s table and Brian agreed it is always a treat to see Oak Hill play and we both want Bluefield College to do well.

I actually attended Bluefield when it was still a junior college and have been proud ever since that the school did not have to shut down because of my presence on campus. Those were the days when Pete Harman was the coach at Bluefield and the dome (then called the Golden Dome) was practically new.

It had not been long since the old gym right across the road had been closed. That facility is now torn down and there is little evidence it ever existed. It seems like Bill Judy may have been the last Ram coach to work in the little red building and I think the late Leon Yost was on one of the last BC squads to play there.

Rumor has it that soon the present dome will also be removed and a more modern gym with larger accommodations befitting the increasing success of the Bluefield College teams will replace it.

The crowd the other night was at near capacity and it would be a great thing if BC could update the basketball building.

Four Seasons Country fans love their games, no matter what time of the year it happens to be.

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