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Show wenty-two n , " Alts wv, V73 t.7"& L-J : : : V I f ? I 1 f Arnie is in the middle In Utah, Arnie means basketbc By Bruce Woodbury It's not often that a freshmen basketball player at a major university gets to play on the varsity. The chances are even slimmer that the frosh player will start and the chances these days are almost non-existent that that same player would make All-American. This, however, is what happened to Arnie Ferrin four time Ute basketball All-American, and one of the greatest players ever to don a red and white redskin uniform. Ferrin played for the Utes in 1944, 45, 47, and 48 and was selected on the nations All-American team each of those seasons. Freshman starter As a freshman Ferrin was a starter on the Ute roundball team coached by Vadel Petersen. Because of the war colleges were allowed to play freshmen on their varsity squads and the Utes used this rule to their advanrage by using four frosh as starters that season The Redskins had an outstanding season that year and were invited to play in both. The Redskins had an outstanding season that year and were invited to play in both the National Invitational NIT eWHYOrk the NCM Championship, chose It Th pP,a'mrue mneV at that time the Utes ch The Redskins, however, didn't make a super showmg ,n Madison Square Garden losing their first game On theTw ,US!hni0Ved tHe CitY and Sta'ted f0' home On their way, they were notified that the Arkansas team who was scheduled to play in the NCAA, had beer, accident and would be unable to play in the The NCAA committee picked Utah to fill m the ia-because ia-because they had been an original choice W The Redskins glad of the offer, traveled to w Regionals and came home the victors. They back East and with Ferrin leading the way r Eastern half of the title. Ferrin was the NCAA tournament and because of this was vol as the outstanding collegiate basketball country that year. ft r thev r; Because of the war, Utah was asked after . the NCAA crown to play the NIT winner I Cross Benefit game. The Redskins obUge0. their eastern rivals to win what was tn National Championship. This was probably , basketball history that a team could maker. NCAA title and the NIT crown as well. Successful season The 1945 season was a very successful ason and a very successful one for Ferrin, tor Arnie at center the Redskins demolish Conference foes. Again they receive 0 w NCAA asking them to play in the ch lJ At the same time, their star player re letter, only his was from Uncle 0i "Greetings." With Ferrin in the Army tne Continued on page 24 Continued from page! well in the NCAA's. Ferrin, I because of his great season named All-American (postb course). After the war, in 1947 Arnie to the University and them former glories. With ho i eligibility remaining the Ut moved into the swing of thets season. The Utes again were a pot in '47 running rampant oa Conference foes, at least u Wyoming game. That gamewu in Laramie. On the way lot station the car carrying Fs several other players was m an accident. Several of the (including Arnie) were irijr-although irijr-although they continued Wyoming, they didn't play r Utes dropped the game, to to the Cowboys lost the lite: and left them in second pfc Kentucky tough Utah was issued an Ml however, and again traveled : York. In that tournament f: made it all the way to thefc they dumped a highly ' University of Kentucky team; home with the official NITH time. Ferrin recalls that thiswas: Kentucky team that turned p franchised and became? powerhouse. Arnie also f that when he played pro W Minneapolis Lakers they' hard time beating this'' team that the Utes ha d k college. "Every time the I Kentucky," says Ferrin,"! guys about how my aw1' beaten them." After the Utes NIT victor, was again named to American teams With I Vern Cardner and Die picture), Ferrin made U ; strongest Redskin W assembled at Uteville. 1948 best year "1948 was my best V Ferrin, "but because our aM it's speed we didntj ofarecordandfrmshe ; conference." No p forth-coming so " basketball after tte , Ferrin, however, made as he was again narnw f Although his tea J J, their shoes Ferrin kept l Continued on P' m awards, Arnie is also a membei Helms Basketball Hall of Fan; Utah Hall of Fame. He is one players in basketball historv tt played on teams that have woo NIT, and NBA titles (Tom Col: otherl. U. remembers Ferrin fame old Minneapolis Lakers for three years. Besides Ferrin the Lakers boasted such starters as George Miken, Jim Pollard, Vern Micholsen and Slater Martin, who combined together to bring the NBA Championship to Minnesota two out of the three years that Arnie played for them. Ferrin remembers that his one award in the pro's (besides the NBA crown) was being voted most popular Laker in Minneapolis one year. Ferrin has probably received more awards for athletic excellence than any other athlete ever to display his talents at Utah. Besides his Ail-American Ail-American honors and various MVP Continued from page 24 practiced to play in the 1948 College All-Star Came. Arnie was up to his usual high standards in the game as he was named the most valuable player. After his college days were over and old number 22 had been retired, by the university Ferrin tried his hand at pro ball. He was a starting guard with the In his present position as Director for the University, Fer-lot Fer-lot of opportunity to compare college basketball with ; basketball 25 years ago. 'W. shoot it up back then," sas "today you have to be able to-down." to-down." He stated that beci-didn't beci-didn't use the jump shot (t invented yet), and they didn't shoot, that scores were mod "Today's game is better Spectators though," says Far; As fans watch the Runnirij!-these Runnirij!-these days, they marvel at tlx today's basketball players. Sir-older Sir-older ones that can remerrfe the days of Ferrin and his f." must wonder wometimes t: bunch of Redskins would (c. today's stars of the hardcourt Ute alumnis would probab!. Ferrin and his bunch could : hold their own, after all Air: four timer. |