The cry "We're Going to Kansas City!" did not enjoy the longevity of the descriptor "March Madness," popularized by sportscaster Brent Musburger in the early 1980s. However, if you were in the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania and especially if you were in Mansfield during the period 1964-1966, you probably felt the impact of Kansas City fever.
Since 55 basketball seasons have passed, perhaps memories have faded, or maybe some readers are not aware of the remarkable achievements of Mansfield State College men's basketball teams of 1963-64 and 1964-65. Let’s reminisce.
In the 1960s, many colleges with small enrollments and limited athletics resources held membership in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
.
Mansfield was a member, and each year the NAIA selected 32 men's basketball teams from around the nation to participate in a season-ending tournament played at Memorial Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. To be eligible, a team needed to win a series of "playoff games," such as conference championships and district semi-final and final contests. For two consecutive seasons, our Mounties won the right to "Go to Kansas City."
If you follow Mountie Men's basketball, you know the reasons Coach Bill Clark's teams were invited to the National Tournament. Each team had some high powered offensive players who provided a balanced attack.
The athletes’ names (to see the full rosters visit the
Go Mounties website and click Archives
) are ingrained in our basketball history, and their victories over Edinboro, Gannon, Westminster, Miles (AL), Georgetown (KY), Eastern Baptist, and Kutztown are noted in the record book.
Coach Clark's comments about the first trip to KC in March 1964, however, are not in the record book, but they are worthy of mention: "The team departed from Corning by rail. We attempted to ease the overnight ride in our upright chairs by renting pillows. The fast vanishing emphasis on passenger travel was highlighted by two occurrences: (1) the smile of satisfaction on the conductor’s face as he RIPPED the pillows from under sleeping Mounties’ heads at daybreak, and (2) The continual battle between the conductor who turned down the car heater and Coach Clark who turned it back up as soon the railroad man left the car.”
The team members got better treatment once they pulled into KC. Hallmark Cards hosted our athletes and they did a great job arranging a tour of President Truman’s Library and treating the team to dinner in one of Kansas City’s best steak houses. Even the Tip-Off Banquet was memorable. The speaker was none other than Richard M. Nixon.
Now let's remember some other aspects of the "We're Going to Kansas City" epic. There were many achievements, efforts, and contributions perhaps forgotten or just overlooked. For example, the 18-foot telegram signed by 334 students received by the team in KC. The "Good Luck" telephone call from Gov. Scranton. The three busloads of students who made the trip to Erie for the League Championship game. The radio broadcasts of Mountie games listened to by hundreds of students in the Hut. The Pep Band that traveled 1200 miles to support the team in KC. The flowers sent by the residents of North Hall. The cheerleaders who made it to Beaver Falls. The hundreds, perhaps thousands, of students and townsfolk who cheered as the team departed from Corning and upon their return from KC. President Bryan cancelled classes.
Our Mounties eventually fell to defending national champion Pan American (TX), 82-69. Pan-Am’s team featured a guy named Lucious Jackson, who eventually played on the U.S. Olympic team and the 76ers.
The next year MSC played three postseason games and lost in Kansas City to Lewis (IL), 90-74. Coach Clark and I agree our Mounties had an off-night.
For me, though, the scores matter less than the intangibles that characterized those back-to-back "We're Going to Kansas City" stories
.
The team’s success created an atmosphere of teamwork, cooperation, energy, and love of Alma Mater. It reflected a sense of pride that exemplified Mansfield State and a force that drove all Mounties to Kansas City.
Perhaps Coach Clark said it best: "The memories treasured are highlighted by a sense of gratitude for the loyalty and enthusiasm of the blend of college and community which terms itself Mansfield.”
Bill Clark was the MSC basketball coach in the mid-1960s. Now retired, he lives in the Cleveland, Ohio area.
Rod Kelchner served Mansfield for 34 years, the last 14 years of which he was our university’s president.
