yes, Mikan wore glasses-and wanted to go to Notre Dame

yes, Mikan wore glasses-and wanted to go to Notre Dame
by olson (2020-05-28 11:45:33)
Edited on 2020-05-28 12:23:24

In reply to: On the Guy's Side, Didn't George Mikan Wear Specs? posted by dillon77

linked below is a bio of George Mikan -with a picture of him wearing glasses

Per the bio -already 6'8 Mikan tried out as a HS Frosh for the Joliet Catholic team but was told 'people with glasses could not play hoops'

Mikan transferred as a soph to Archbishop Quigley Prep Seminary school in Chicago...deciding that he wanted to be a Catholic priest

By his senior yr. Mikan had changed his mind &

"really wanted to attend Notre Dame & worked out for (ND) coach George Keogan. Keogan felt the youngster was too raw for the Fighting Irish, and advised him to enroll at a smaller school where his deficiencies would be less likely to be exposed."

Mikan went to DePaul. Mikan, now 6'10 played on the Frosh team.

The next year as a soph. DePaul got a new coach -former ND BB captain & then ND assistant BB coach Ray Meyer.

Meyer sometimes gets credit for recruiting Mikan to DePaul...but Meyer inherited Mikan..who was already there & a soph when Meyers left ND to become HC at DePaul

DePaul made the Final 4 in Mikan's 1st varsity season

Finished runner up in the NIT the next season(NIT was as big as the NCAA tourney at the time)

Then won the NIT in Mikan's senior yr

then was off to the Lakers

Yep, WAY MORE info than anyone really wanted to know. :)

Click here for link at https://www.jockbio.com/Classic/Mikan/Mikan_bio.html

Great Stuff...Thanks.

I had no idea about the Mikan-ND connection and thanks for reminding us how much of an ND guy Ray Meyer was.

When I was at ND in the mid-70's, the connections between ND, DePaul and Marquette were numerous, right and tight and the b-ball coaches all showed it. You would always see Digger, Ray and Al McGuire out after a game, whether it was in the Morris Inn or even Senior Bar (particularly Al and Digger in the latter).

At that time

I would say the NIT was a better tournament than the NCAA.

My Father Used To Say That All the Time... *

Thank you for this and all your other fascinating ND tales! *