Quite a character. He loved Pitt. To fully understand Tiger, I think that you have to understand the state of Pittsburgh basketball in the 1950s and 1960s.
Duquesne was certainly a force in college basketball during this era. And I am talking on a national level. In the early 1950s, they won the NIT with a team coached by Dudey Moore and was lead on the court by Sihugo Green. At this time, I am told that most people considered the NIT a much more difficult tournament than the NCAA’s. The later 1950s featured a new coach by the name of Red Manning who was very successful. And all American by the name of Willie Somerset led the Dukes to several more NIT performances. I believe it this time Duquesne add a male cheerleader named Mossie Murphy who would in a small away, lead to the career of Tiger Paul.
We now enter the 1960s and the Civic Arena is built. State of the art. Big news. And Duquesne does not have a homecourt. Until now. Outside of the 1960 Pirates, Duquesne is big news in this town. Manning recruits the Nelson twins, Durham, Zopf, Mike and Moe Barr, Mickey Davis - it went on and on.
The Arena is packed. Enter the old cheerleader, Mossie Murphy. He would sit across from the student section at mid court. During timeouts, he would stand up, and with hand signals lead a very organized cheer I remember hearing the chorus which was “shoo shoo ra ra, shoo shoo ra ra!” I guarantee you that any Duquesne graduate of that era will recited to you upon demand. Lol. It was a lot of fun. Duquesne played their big games on Sunday afternoons at the Arena. Villanova with Howard Porter. The Bonnies with Bob Lanier. Detroit with Spencer Haywood. It went on and on, and the Dukes beat them all.
In the 1960’s, Bob Timmons with Brian Generalovich led the Panthers to an NCAA tournament berth but that success was short-lived. Buzz Ridl was hired in the late 1960’s that led to the Billy Knight era and the emergence of Tiger Paul.
I only know a few things about Tiger. First of all, he loved Pitt. He loved Pitt. He loved Pitt. He had a slight disability. I do not know the details. He always looked disheveled. There was a runway in front of the student section. Example: tight game in the second half, we are behind in making a run, the opposing coach calls a time out. Tiger starts running the length of the runway, arms flailing, jumping at the end. Then he would run down the other end doing the same thing, and he stopped. Arms pumping, he demanded LETS GO PITT from the students. He could blow the roof off the place.
Then Billy Knight was invented. Fun times at the Fieldhouse. Our brethren down fifth Avenue didn’t like us. They hated Tiger. Tiger was Pittsburgh.
I cannot remember how long Tiger was at the Fieldhouse. The Fan’s loved him. But as is the case, at the University of Pittsburgh, the administration often ruins a good thing. The cheerleaders complained that he was interfering with their performances. Other alumni had bitches and Tiger went the way of Sutherland, Majors, Sherill and Dixon.
Tiger eventually matriculated to Las Vegas with Tim Grgerich (sp??). He eventually passed in Las Vegas. God rest his soul.
All of the above was taken from my memory. I may have made a few minor mistakes, but the gist of the story that Tiger loved Pitt. LET’s GO PITT!!
Duquesne was certainly a force in college basketball during this era. And I am talking on a national level. In the early 1950s, they won the NIT with a team coached by Dudey Moore and was lead on the court by Sihugo Green. At this time, I am told that most people considered the NIT a much more difficult tournament than the NCAA’s. The later 1950s featured a new coach by the name of Red Manning who was very successful. And all American by the name of Willie Somerset led the Dukes to several more NIT performances. I believe it this time Duquesne add a male cheerleader named Mossie Murphy who would in a small away, lead to the career of Tiger Paul.
We now enter the 1960s and the Civic Arena is built. State of the art. Big news. And Duquesne does not have a homecourt. Until now. Outside of the 1960 Pirates, Duquesne is big news in this town. Manning recruits the Nelson twins, Durham, Zopf, Mike and Moe Barr, Mickey Davis - it went on and on.
The Arena is packed. Enter the old cheerleader, Mossie Murphy. He would sit across from the student section at mid court. During timeouts, he would stand up, and with hand signals lead a very organized cheer I remember hearing the chorus which was “shoo shoo ra ra, shoo shoo ra ra!” I guarantee you that any Duquesne graduate of that era will recited to you upon demand. Lol. It was a lot of fun. Duquesne played their big games on Sunday afternoons at the Arena. Villanova with Howard Porter. The Bonnies with Bob Lanier. Detroit with Spencer Haywood. It went on and on, and the Dukes beat them all.
In the 1960’s, Bob Timmons with Brian Generalovich led the Panthers to an NCAA tournament berth but that success was short-lived. Buzz Ridl was hired in the late 1960’s that led to the Billy Knight era and the emergence of Tiger Paul.
I only know a few things about Tiger. First of all, he loved Pitt. He loved Pitt. He loved Pitt. He had a slight disability. I do not know the details. He always looked disheveled. There was a runway in front of the student section. Example: tight game in the second half, we are behind in making a run, the opposing coach calls a time out. Tiger starts running the length of the runway, arms flailing, jumping at the end. Then he would run down the other end doing the same thing, and he stopped. Arms pumping, he demanded LETS GO PITT from the students. He could blow the roof off the place.
Then Billy Knight was invented. Fun times at the Fieldhouse. Our brethren down fifth Avenue didn’t like us. They hated Tiger. Tiger was Pittsburgh.
I cannot remember how long Tiger was at the Fieldhouse. The Fan’s loved him. But as is the case, at the University of Pittsburgh, the administration often ruins a good thing. The cheerleaders complained that he was interfering with their performances. Other alumni had bitches and Tiger went the way of Sutherland, Majors, Sherill and Dixon.
Tiger eventually matriculated to Las Vegas with Tim Grgerich (sp??). He eventually passed in Las Vegas. God rest his soul.
All of the above was taken from my memory. I may have made a few minor mistakes, but the gist of the story that Tiger loved Pitt. LET’s GO PITT!!
