Jerome Lane in-game interview

[Ski11585]

idk man.. "send it in" and "send it in Jerome" is the most iconic catchphrase in basketball... we hear announcers everywhere using it. The Pippen dunk was certainly memorable, but I bet if you made a poll, more people would recognize the Lane dunk + moment. I'd bet any amount of money on it.. only fans of the sport would recognize Pippen.. casuals know about the Lane moment/dunk.

I find this opinion baffling. Casual, non-Pitt basketball fans are definitely not more likely to have heard of the Lane dunk.

Hell, I grew up in Pittsburgh, graduated Pitt in ‘08, and have been following hoops since watching the Jordan Bulls with my pops and I didn’t hear about the Lane dunk til I started posting here.

 

[LeftCoastPanther]

Evans was such an A-hole he drove Chris Gatling out to Old Dominion. He could've been another piece to that 1987-88 team.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

I was there , it was a great , but it did delay the game for quite some time .

Paul Evans was the hot coach at the time and it was the last time Pitt went out a got the guy everyone else wanted . Didn’t really work out so well . Everyone knew the players absolutely hated him . He had the most talented teams Pitt has ever had , too bad Pitt didn’t have a coach like JD back then !

 

[CaptainMurphy]

Evans was such an A-hole he drove Chris Gatling out to Old Dominion. He could've been another piece to that 1987-88 team.

I always forget about that. Gatling was a really good pro in the 90s and doesn’t get enough credit as his best years were on some really bad teams.

 

[PittPharm2002]

it was an impressive moment but I’m tired of hearing about it when the program has had many better moments. It isn’t even that high on the list of backboard breaking dunks (I think Shaq holds most of those).

And I find Raftery’s call to be annoying.

Super unpopular opinion, yes.

This is what I’m saying
It’s a celebration of a catch phrase
I mean why isn’t there an annual “Onions, double order !”
For levance’s clutch 3 to beat Xavier in the NCAAT?
Or his 3 to beat Duke in MSG?
Or Page’s dunk over Boumje-Boumje?
Or Bilas declaring “Pitt’s not a team it’s a program “
Or gibb’s half court shot to beat providence ?
Or being ranked #1 for the first time ever ?

Or…

 

[Pitt79]

I rank Evans with Stallings, Foge & Hackett as the all time worse (that I've seen, can't comment but was it Michaeloson immediately before Majors? He was pretty bad). The loss to Vanderbilt was inexcusable. Plus Evans wasn't a likeable person

But the difference is he had some good seasons. I remember once it was really quiet in the field house though, he was yelling at Darren Morningstar, calling him BABY HUEY, so yeah, he was an A-hole

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

Yes
Because it’s not really a great moment .
Sam young had a dozen better dunks

Nobody else knows or cares about the dunk .
It’s more about Rafferty’s call than the dunk - let’s be real.

If you took a poll of Non-Pitt fans as to which dunk was more recognizable and provided a better moment in basketball, then at least 9 out of 10 people would say the Jerome Lane Dunk. It is rated #1 in college basketball by some people.

 

[pittguy81]

Unpopular opinion - I hate this is an annual thing
We have so many better moments

I was at the game in my boss's season ticket seats close to the baseline...about 8 rows up. It was surreal....the coolest thing I've ever witnessed in person at a sporting event. IMHO that was the best team that Pitt ever put on the floor. The only thing that held them back was Paul Evans

 

[Pitt79]

I find this opinion baffling. Casual, non-Pitt basketball fans are definitely not more likely to have heard of the Lane dunk.

Hell, I grew up in Pittsburgh, graduated Pitt in ‘08, and have been following hoops since watching the Jordan Bulls with my pops and I didn’t hear about the Lane dunk til I started posting here.

I was a Bulls fan from the 70s to the 2000s when I got bored with the NBA. I don't remember this Pippen dunk, maybe I even saw it live, back then I'd watch Bulls games. I guess it depends, maybe NBA centric basketball fans? IMO the Lane dunk is going to be remembered more than the Pippen dunk. Go do a poll somewhere.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

 

[PittPharm2002]

Not as "memorable" never hear anyone talking about it? "Send it in Jerome" is mentioned over and over, year after year.

On pitt broadcast
Not other games

 

[pittguy81]

As far as Pitt dunks go, my favorite was Julius Page posterizing Ruben Boumtje Boumtje in 2001....just watched Special Sauces top 50 dunks...it was #6 on their list.

 

[Pitt79]

On pitt broadcast
Not other games

I don't hear anyone talking about Shaq's or Pippens dunks at all, anywhere and not on a regular basis.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

But the difference is he had some good seasons. I remember once it was really quiet in the field house though, he was yelling at Darren Morningstar, calling him BABY HUEY, so yeah, he was an A-hole

Good point, as I mentioned, he brought much needed discipline to the team after the Chipman years. But he needed to dial it back especially with the Miller, Martin, Porter teams. They didn't need the exact same b.s.

But he did have some better seasons than the Hall of Losers like Stallings, Hackett & Foge had.

 

[CaptainMurphy]

As far as Pitt dunks go, my favorite was Julius Page posterizing Ruben Boumtje Boumtje in 2001

That’s a good one. I think my favorite was the Page windmill dunk from the 2001 Big East tournament run. Then again I was sitting right behind the hoop so perhaps I’m biased.

 

[Pitt79]

Good point, as I mentioned, he brought much needed discipline to the team after the Chipman years. But he needed to dial it back especially with the Miller, Martin, Porter teams. They didn't need the exact same b.s.

But he did have some better seasons than the Hall of Losers like Stallings, Hackett & Foge had.

I have great memories of that time period, I was living in Shadyside from 87-92 and at that time, in fact I lived on Centre Ave, in an apartment building and Gilbert Johnson lived a couple floors above me, I didn't know him, but recognized him, in the mornings Demetrious Gore would come by and pick him up in a white Dodge Daytona with "GORE33" plates, pre NIL payday I suppose I went to 90% of the football and basketball games in person, there was no girls soccer to distract me

 

[Ski11585]

I don't hear anyone talking about Shaq's or Pippens dunks at all, anywhere and not on a regular basis.

I mean, you also just said you got bored with the NBA in the 2000s, so probably safe to assume you aren't watching NBA broadcasts where it might be discussed, right?

Anyway, I've said my piece. No sense running in circles.

 

[snaphook297]

What people forget is back in the late 80s the local papers had investigative reporters . Skip bayless made his rep during the smu scandal. Bruce keidan and his minions were determined to take down pitt before the pgh press could do it . The press had steve halvonik. Dr roy wa convinced pitt would be involved in a smu type scandal

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

What people forget is back in the late 80s the local papers had investigative reporters . Skip bayless made his rep during the smu scandal. Bruce keidan and his minions were determined to take down pitt before the pgh press could do it . The press had steve halvonik. Dr roy wa convinced pitt would be involved in a smu type scandal

some things never change. More of a Pittsburgh thing to try and tear down something that is successful. Not just the media but also the locals. Still happens now with the PG and the City Government vendetta against UPMC.

 

[snaphook297]

some things never change. More of a Pittsburgh thing to try and tear down something that is successful. Not just the media but also the locals. Still happens now with the PG and the City Government vendetta against UPMC.

My memory is not good but i think the press made a huge stink because evams recruited a whole freshman class of prop48 guys . Of course psu and nd both had prop 48 stars but the press had a hissy fit amd the pitt administration wimped out

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

My memory is not good but i think the press made a huge stink because evams recruited a whole freshman class of prop48 guys . Of course psu and nd both had prop 48 stars but the press had a hissy fit amd the pitt administration wimped out

very much on brand for the press

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

The Evans quote just further tells us what the problem was, despite all the talent than Chipman, Cal, and Evans brought in from 84-88 or so.

Evans had no relationship with his players here. There is an NY Times quote circa 1990 I can find I posted before where he basically said he didn't understand "inner city, Black athletes", which was surprisingly honest if sort of disturbing to hear from an active coach. And of course in that era, there were a lot of players from rough neighborhoods, I think much more so than now where you get a lot of middle class AAU kids (yes including the Black players) who have been floating around private schools/basketball academies for years.

Moments after the infamous Vanderbilt game ended, there was a dispute if Evans or the players were to blame for not fouling. Charles Smith, generally a soft spoken guy, said something like "that was the moment I realized we never had a coach".

 

[Pitt79]

I mean, you also just said you got bored with the NBA in the 2000s, so probably safe to assume you aren't watching NBA broadcasts where it might be discussed, right?

Anyway, I've said my piece. No sense running in circles.

I probably watch parts of NBA games here and there, usually if it's Chicago or Milwaukee lately, never heard it mentioned. That particular dunk with Pippen, I'm sure I had to have seen it live, back then I was watching every Bulls game I could.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

I’m not sure of the timetable , but the prop 48 class and the dissolution of the Golden Panthers was the downfall of the bb program . Evans was the icing on the cake .

Willard wasn’t a bad hire , but just couldn’t do it at Pitt .

I could’ve coached a team with the Admiral or Charles Smith , Jerome Lane , Gore and company…. just roll the ball out there and say go get ‘em guys !

 

[Seneca_Valley]

Yes
Because it’s not really a great moment .
Sam young had a dozen better dunks

Nobody else knows or cares about the dunk .
It’s more about Rafferty’s call than the dunk - let’s be real.

Wrong again. BOTH the dunk and call defined the moment. Without the dunk there is no call.

 

[Seneca_Valley]

Evans was an improvement over Chipman, but to a degree like Majors 2 was an improvement over Hackett. Evans wasn't a whole lot better. The team was undisciplined and he brought that (i.e. he brought discipline). Didn't even make the tourney I believe in Chipmans last year and lost to some directional school in the NIT. But his act quickly wore thin. He didn't need to use the same a-hole style with Martin, Miller & Porter that he did with Lane, Gore & Smith. The loss to Vanderbilt is one of the all time worse defeats in Pitt sports history, second only to 48-14.

Overall, he ranks with Stallings, Foge & Hackett as one of the worse to ever roam the Pitt sidelines.

Evans was NOT an improvement over Chipman. Chipman did more with less; Evan did less with more.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

Evans was NOT an improvement over Chipman. Chipman did more with less; Evan did less with more.

the 85-86 team (Chipman's last) featured Smith, Gore, Aiken & Lane. The 86-87 team (Evans first) had the same core (ok, no Matt Miklasevich). Chipman didn't make the NCAA and lost to a directional school in the first round of the NIT. Evans improved on that his first season by making the tourney and posting a better record.

I hate Evans with a passion but he was an improvement over Chipman for that core of players. The numbers speak for themselves. Who had a better career, you are correct that Chipman did more with less. But Evans did improve that team.

 

[LeftCoastPanther]

Evans was a terrible second-half coach. Better coaches made the adjustments as the game wore on and Paul and his staff were way below the line in that regard. The best proof was versus Ball State in the 1989 tourney. Pitt was down early then was in control in the second half until it fell apart and Evans had no answers versus Majerus.

 

[JS School]

I've seen several glass breaking dunks. I've also seen monster dunks by people like Shaq and Darryl Dawkins that didn't break the glass, and 250 lb guys hanging on the rim. I tend to think there is sometimes a bit of structural weakness when one is shattered.

Lane's dunk, combined with Rafftery's call, was pretty cool. But as far as significance, it's not exactly Maz's HR or the Immaculate Reception. It's fine to remember it, but the way it's celebrated sometimes seems silly.

I don't have much room in my kitchen cabinets, so I didn't wait in line after the game for a commemorative glass.

 

[pittguy81]

The best thing that ever happened to Paul Evans is having David Robinson grow from 6'7" to 7'1" and lead Navy into the NCAA Tourney Elite 8 game.

 

[LeftCoastPanther]

I thought the 1985-86 team only fell apart because Chipman announced in January I believe that he was resigning at the end of the year. Only Pitt would hire a dummy who wouldn't just wait until the end of the season to make such an announcement.

 

[DruidTM]

What nobody mentions is that actual game, I was there, it was vs. Providence and it was a bad game, not memorable at all, Pitt won, like 88-50.

How long did it take to replace the glass?

I was at a Pens game at the Igloo and a panel shattered… it took a long time 30-40 minutes to resume play

 

[pittguy81]

How long did it take to replace the glass?

I was at a Pens game at the Igloo and a panel shattered… it took a long time 30-40 minutes to resume play

It took about 1/2 hour and it was at the start of the game.... the score was something like 8-5.

 

[Fredact]

I gave you one. Pippen’s dunk over Ewing is way more memorable. It’s nationally known, not just known among Pitt fans.

I can honestly say I’ve never heard of it. It might be something, but it’s certainly not known by general sports fans.

 

[PollCat99]

It took about 1/2 hour and it was at the start of the game.... the score was something like 8-5.

For some old timers at that game: Boston Celtics great, Don Nelson was in attendance as a scout. Guy was huge. Came down out of the stands to look at the glass. Big smile on his face.

 

[Seneca_Valley]

I find this opinion baffling. Casual, non-Pitt basketball fans are definitely not more likely to have heard of the Lane dunk.

Hell, I grew up in Pittsburgh, graduated Pitt in ‘08, and have been following hoops since watching the Jordan Bulls with my pops and I didn’t hear about the Lane dunk til I started posting here.

Wow. What I find baffling is that you grew up here, went to school here, and didn't hear about it until a few decades later. Must have lived under a rock.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

I thought the 1985-86 team only fell apart because Chipman announced in January I believe that he was resigning at the end of the year. Only Pitt would hire a dummy who wouldn't just wait until the end of the season to make such an announcement.

Chipman was good for the Eastern 8. Not ready for primetime in the Big East

 

[Seneca_Valley]

The best thing that ever happened to Paul Evans is having David Robinson grow from 6'7" to 7'1" and lead Navy into the NCAA Tourney Elite 8 game.

Oh so correct. David Robinson was Evans's meal ticket and used him to land a better gig. Sadly, the rest is history.

 

[Ski11585]

Wow. What I find baffling is that you grew up here, went to school here, and didn't hear about it until a few decades later. Must have lived under a rock.

Or it’s just a bigger deal for folks who lived through it and remember it.

 

[FrogmoreZeke]

I rank Evans with Stallings, Foge & Hackett as the all time worse (that I've seen, can't comment but was it Michaeloson immediately before Majors? He was pretty bad). The loss to Vanderbilt was inexcusable. Plus Evans wasn't a likeable person

So you rank Evans who won 2 BE regular season ships, went to the tourney 6 times in 8 years and developed bigs: Smith, Lane, Shorter, Martin, Morningstar, Mobley and had a .600 career record here as bad as Stallings, Foge, Hackett! Got It! I get it that he lost your set of steak knives but ranking him with those guys is a bit vindictive, don't you think!