Jan. 23, 2011

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford athletics department will honor all basketball alumni, with a special recognition of the 1960-61 team that posted a record of 23-1, at halftime of the Bulldogs' home game against UNC Greensboro on Jan. 29.

After the game a reception for the players and their families will be held in the hospitality room of the Pete Hanna Center.

Walt Barnes, who served as the team's head coach during that period, and Garrett Rice, the director of the Bulldog Club and the "S" Club, have been in charge of putting the reunion together.

"I had several of the boys call me and say that, with this being the 50th year, they would like to see us get together," Barnes said. "I talked to the S Club and we decided it would be a good idea, so we all started working on it."

The 1960-61 team posted the highest winning percentage in school history and the third most wins of any Samford team. The Bulldogs accomplished all of that with no seniors on the roster. Barnes said, however, he did have some leaders on the squad.

"We had some mature individuals," Barnes said. "Mike Moebes, who was the team captain, was my disciplinarian, you might say. He didn't put up with any shenanigans and I didn't have to push his buttons. If one of the guys got out of line a little, he'd either kick their butt or threaten to kick it, so they'd stay in line."

Samford (then Howard College), competing in the NAIA at that time, ranked eighth in the nation among small colleges, averaging 91.4 points per game, while giving up just 67.3 points per game. The team scored a then-school record 122 points in a 122-65 win over Millsaps.

"We played a very up-tempo type of game," Barnes said. "Our margins of victory were quite large. We didn't play any of the major colleges, like Auburn or Alabama, but we did play some good teams and had a really good run."

Barnes said the thing that sticks out in his mind about that team is the teamwork and unselfishness they displayed throughout the season.

"The guys worked together as a team," Barnes said. "They all bought in to what we were doing, both offensively and defensively. They just worked together well as a team."

The 1960-61 team was led in scoring and rebounding by Clyde Frederick, averaging 22.6 points and 16.2 rebounds per game. Jim Sullivan and Jim Moebes each averaged 15.8 points per game. Alan Hosier scored 11.4 points per game, while captain Mike Moebes added 8.8 points per contest.

If you are a basketball alumnus and would like to be a part of the festivities, please contact Garrett Rice at 205-726-4217, or by e-mail at gjrice@samford.edu.