[Cracked Sidewalks] One night engagement: The LeDaryl Billingsley Festival

[CrackedSidewalksSays]

One night engagement:  The LeDaryl Billingsley Festival

Written by: noreply@blogger.com (Tim Blair)

Tonight Marquette (6-2) hosts its second buy game in as many outings when it welcomes Texas A&M Corpus Christi to the Bradley Center.

Texas A&M CC is coached by former Tulane head coach Perry Clark.  If you are looking for a reason to have a bit more interest in tonight's game, that's the hook: Perry Clark is the man who delivered what became a crucial blow to the Mike Deane era at MU.  How so, you ask?  Clark wooed Chicago's LeDaryl Billingsley to Tulane after the power forward had verbally committed to MU.  Billingsley went on to average 11 points and six rebounds per game during his career at Tulane, which spanned the 1997-98 season through the 2000-2001 campaign.  As as a senior he averaged 18 points and 9 boards per game and was a second team All-Conference USA selection.

Had Billingsley signed with MU he would have joined Brian Wardle, DeMarcus Minor, Greg Clausen and John Mueller as freshmen.  With Cordell Henry arriving on campus the following year, Mike Deane was thisclose to having what might have been one of the best young groups in Conference USA.  In the end Billingsley decided against MU, DeMarcus Minor left for a productive career at Baylor (don't forget about the loss of Alton Mason as well) and Mike Deane's fate was sealed.

Perry Clark -- Marquette hero or villain?

Enjoy the game.  Gametime is 8pm CT, broadcast on Sports32, DirecTV 639, 540 ESPN, or you can follow along with the Game Tracker.

===

Recaps and memories associated with coach Raymonds.  Enjoy

• Rosiak's story is story is PHENOMENAL.  There's a photo gallery, a letter Raymonds sent to former players, and four videos.  Frankly, the Journal-Sentinel did a great job with their coverage.
• Michael Hunt says Raymonds was a great coach and greater human being.
• The JS Editorial calls Raymonds a Marquette Legend.
• George Thompson on Raymonds
• Jim Boylan on Raymonds
• Rick Majerus on Raymonds
• Doc Rivers on Raymonds
• Other reaction to Raymonds' passing, including Cords, Wade, Crean, Buzz, Bo Ellis, and Father Wild. All those links above are from the JS.  Kudos to the Journal-Sentinel.
• The MUAD has their own coverage, including their own set of videos.  You can also submit condolences/thoughts to Raymonds' family.
  

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2010/12/one-night-engagement-ledaryl.html

[TallTitan34]

Perry Clark -- Marquette hero or villain?

Perry Clark is evil and must be destroyed.

[downtown85]

Aren't we 6-2?

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I want to echo your comments on Rosiak's coverage of the death of Coach Raymonds. Fantastic. In fact, he did more on this story than a team of reporters at the Chicago Tribune did on the death of Ron Santo. Great job, Todd!

[Henry Sugar]

Aren't we 6-2?

fixed

I want to echo your comments on Rosiak's coverage of the death of Coach Raymonds. Fantastic. In fact, he did more on this story than a team of reporters at the Chicago Tribune did on the death of Ron Santo. Great job, Todd!

Seriously, ten articles/posts, more interviews, and four videos linked on their website.

[NYWarrior]

I want to echo your comments on Rosiak's coverage of the death of Coach Raymonds. Fantastic. In fact, he did more on this story than a team of reporters at the Chicago Tribune did on the death of Ron Santo. Great job, Todd!

+1

[willie warrior]

Outstanding job by Rosiak. Keep up the great work, Todd!