Don't know if there's ever been a bigger weekend in Charlotte 49ers sports history. Charlotte faces Creighton in the men's soccer College Cup tonight at 6, with a berth in Sunday's championship game -- potentially against North Carolina -- on the line. Then there is the not-so-small matter of the 49ers' men's basketball team going against Mecklenburg County rival Davidson at Halton Arena on Saturday.
There's always the 1977 men's basketball Final Four. And there also was something pretty similar 15 years ago, the last time the 49ers advanced to the College Cup.
In 1996, Charlotte played (and lost to) Florida International in the College Cup semis on Friday, Dec. 13. The next night, the 49ers also played Davidson in basketball, beating the Wildcats 70-68 in Belk Arena. That was the year Halton Arena opened.
If you remember the '77 and '96 weekends, post it in the comments section here and remind us how it was and how it might be different from today. Or if there's another moment that was as eagerly anticipated, let us know about that, too.
Of course, everything goes off the charts if there is a 49ers-Tar Heels soccer final.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Biggest weekend in 49ers history?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
14 comments:
Barbara Walters did a special on the ABC nightly news about the Niners in 1977. I don't see that kind of attn today.
in 96 the mens team was in a big time conference CUSA so the spotlight was much brighter
How/why would the spotlight be larger if you are in a bigger conference? With the regular season, that makes sense, but this is the Final Four, nobody cares which conference you came from at this point, you are one of four teams left.
Mr. Scott is giving a lot of credit to Davidson here. Most students don't remember this being a rivalry because they weren't around the last time we played them in Halton.
It is certainly one of the biggest weekends in the school's sporting history, but that is solely due to the College Cup. Davidson is just another game against that team that had Stephen Curry to most of the students and probably all of the players.
I was there in 1977 at the Omni in Atlanta where UNCC were a true Cinderella story, a school just 11 years old up against the likes of Marquette, UNLV, and Carolina. Should have been a C-CH final except for an offensive goaltending that wasn't called.
Uhh anything before 2001 when Rose changed the name using the bogus confusion excuse nobody bought was UNCC. Is it not about time for the old gal to retire? How old is she now? 75? 80?
Sorry, this w/e isn't even close to 1977. The run to the Final Four was simply magic. Beat two good teams out of Michigan including a #1 seed. McGuire made my "list" after that game and would've loved a finals against UNC, would have easily whipped the Tar Heels if given the chance. Upon further review of final play, it really wasn't offensive goaltending, close but no cigar.
anon 2:02, take your stupid troll self elsewhere. we get it, you always post the same thing "it's not Charlotte, it's UNCC..." blah blah blah.
No you moron, it is CHARLOTTE 49ers for all athletics because of branding, it is hard to stand out when people see UNCC and think you are the tarheels. If you had a brain, you would understand that.
I was on the 96 team and will never forget it. Hope this years result is different though. Go Niners!
Ummm... The 49ers soccer team is playing for a spot in the national championship and the best you can do is a few lines before you retreat to baskeball??
football... basketball... Nascar... repeat.
How typically yeterday's Charlotte. There are plenty of soccer fans in Charlotte that may want to read a soccer article about something other than basketball. This is a big game and it's sad that your coverage to this point has been scant and seems so forced. Nothing against basketball but I doubt basketball fans would want to read a 49er's basketball article about soccer. When your local college soccer team busts their hump and makes it to the national finals, maybe you should find someone who's capable of writing about that sport.
Calm down Anon 2:53. There are multiple real articles about this game, this is a blog, meant for leftovers and random musings, stuff that doesn't fit into a newspaper.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/12/08/2837371/49ers-prep-for-creighton-defense.html
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/12/08/2837316/getting-to-know-the-contenders.html
GOOOOOO NINERS!!
Proud Alumni 1985
Thanks for the comment above but I beg to differ...
This is the home page (front page) article covering this topic and it appears under the heading "NCAA Soccer". I get the random musing part but my point would be that maybe your front page should lead with a more substantive article that actually covers the topic, this being the day of the big game.
If your soccer coverage was stronger, maybe soccer fans like me could be a little more forgiving but you really do need a soccer writer for this and all the other stuff that seems fumbled to fans like me, regardless of how many phoned-in shorts have appeared. Water polo gets better coverage. Maybe that was justified 20 years ago but one would think that there are too many soccer fans in Charlotte in this day and age not to have that front page article look like a bit more of a tailgate party. I'm headed out tonight to a soccer bar to watch this game with a bunch of friends who are all pretty excited about this game. Just think you're missing an opportunity here.
I was on the '96 team too, and I am so proud of this year's team. The way we went out ended up as a bit of an embarrasment, so I will be delighted if this years Niners make it two steps further than we did, win tonight then win on sunday.
I guess a humiliating loss at halton against our "lower-the-bar rival" is pretty big.
But, personally, my proudest moment as a fan in recent history will be the day Judy Rose is gone for good.
Good luck to the soccer team - sorry you had to be lumped in together with the sad state of basketball. You deserve much better. Beat Creighton!
Post a Comment