Dave Gavitt passes - somewhat important in Bradley history

[tornado]

Dave Gavitt passes away.... http://is.gd/iWhpk0


How many people recall the part Dave Gavitt had to play in Bradley basketball history?
-- He was not fondly revered by some BU fans for his part in denying Bradley the opportunity to play in the 1982 NCAA Tournament
after BU won the 81-82 MVC regular season then was relegated to the NIT -
which BU promptly swept thru.

Many .....
"believed that Commissioner Dave Gavitt of the Big East Conference had used
his position on the N.C.A.A. selection committee (he was the head of the
committee) to influence the choice of four Big East teams in the N.C.A.A.
field."

http://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/16/sports/no-headline-254841.html

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19820325&id=w0QjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fwYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4575,6006205

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2002&dat=19820310&id=LEUuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6NkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4448,2117601

[Chico]

Was anyone else at the Fieldhouse the day of the 1982 NCAA tournament selection party? What a letdown. Dick Versace sure told it like it was that day.

[tornado]

the late Dave Gavitt has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Assoc. of D-I Athletic Directors...
The Chairman of the Award Committee that selected Gavitt is a past Athletic Director from Bradley...

http://www.nacda.com/sports/div1aaaada/spec-rel/062612aaf.html

[Chico]

Lucky I didn't have a vote.

[real fan]

Was anyone else at the Fieldhouse the day of the 1982 NCAA tournament selection party? What a letdown. Dick Versace sure told it like it was that day.

Bradley got screwed over so bad that year and proved it by winning the NIT, that was one of the best Bradley teams in history and had they been given a chance to play in the big tournament more then likely would have made it to the Sweet 16 or elite 8 ,hardly any teams could have beaten Syracuse so easily on their homecourt , teams like this is why the BCS boys try to keep the smaller ones from getting into the big tournament.

[Chico]

Bradley got screwed over so bad that year and proved it by winning the NIT, that was one of the best Bradley teams in history and had they been given a chance to play in the big tournament more then likely would have made it to the Sweet 16 or elite 8 ,hardly any teams could have beaten Syracuse so easily on their homecourt , teams like this is why the BCS boys try to keep the smaller ones from getting into the big tournament.

Fewer teams in the tourney back then, so that team would be in for sure now.