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Coaches' Corner
College Insider
Barbecue for President Bush
By Angela Lento - CollegeInsider.com
· Like Father, Like Son
It's common for the top culinary chefs to prepare meals for ambassadors, dignitaries and world leaders. But it's not everyday that a college basketball coach has the opportunity to serve something up for the President of the United States.
But October 18, Southwest Missouri State's Barry Hinson was given the opportunity of a lifetime. Hinson would cook up a good old fashion Texas barbecue for George W. Bush.
"We got word that the President wanted to use our locker room to get ready for a campaign speech, for the senate race," says Hinson. "The University asked me if it would be okay and I said yes if they could have President Bush take a photo with me."
The Secret Service response to Hinson's request was 'that would be difficult to guarantee.' So Hinson figured he had nothing to lose when he submitted another request, to prepare a barbecue.
"I hadn't heard anything from the Secret Service," says Hinson. "It was Tuesday morning and the President was scheduled to arrive on Thursday. I was sitting in my office when in came the Secret Service. They wanted to discuss the details of the barbecue. I was all fired up."
Two days later, Hinson and his wife, Angie had to bring eight containers of food, which included Hinson's famous baked beans, through the tight security checkpoints.
"It was quite an adventure," says Hinson. "They had a dog sniffing for contraband and I was a little nervous that he would attack the food. It smelled awful good and the Secret Service actually had to hold back the dog."
Once inside, Hinson and his wife prepared the spread of food in the SWMS locker room, with a separate serving of all the eats set aside for transport back to Air Force One. President Bush would get to enjoy Hinson's barbecue in route to his next destination.
While Hinson never received any word as to whether or not the President was impressed, he got rave reviews from others.
"The Secret Service said it was the best barbecue they ever had," says Hinson. "Missouri's senior U.S. Senator, Kit Bond was actually the first person to taste it and he loved it."
Hinson and his wife briefly had the opportunity to shake hands with President Bush and were also presented with an autographed photo, but all that paled in comparison to preparing the meal.
"I am still getting a lot of heat for the whole thing," says Hinson. "[Bill] Self (Illinois head coach) is still giving me grief. He says I am the only guy who could take road kill and make it tastes like chicken. Of course I told him that he's just jealous. It's quite an honor to cook for the President of the United States."
THE NATURAL
With names like Calipari, Greenberg, Huggins and Pitino, Conference USA may have the most talented crop of coaches in America. The debate over who is the best basketball coach in C-USA is one for the experts, but there should be no argument as to who is the best on the baseball diamond.
Charlotte coach Bobby Lutz is widely regarded as one of the more unheralded basketball coaches in America. He has already enjoyed quite a successful career, but he also enjoyed much success on the diamond.
In fact, at one time, Lutz was regarded as on of the top slow-pitch softball players in the state of North Carolina.
In 1973, at age 15, Lutz played on the junior team (13-15 year old), which won the National championship. A year later, playing with the big boys, his team won another National title. They added four more championships in the coming years (1978, 81, 83 and 84).
"The 1981 team was the best softball team I'd ever seen," says Lutz. "It was not just a traditional bunch of slow-pitch softball players. That team had a lot of great athletes."
According to Lutz that 1981 team was the best team he has ever been a part of in any sport. They captured softball's triple-crown by winning the National championship in each of softball's three main divisions. "Howard's Furniture" is among the legendary teams in North Carolina softball history.
As for Lutz, he played second base and did some pitching. He was not a home run hitter, but hit about .650 and had an excellent fielding pct. He retired from the game in 1984, when he started coaching basketball as an assistant at Clemson.
RACQUETBALL
One of the more popular recreational sports among college coaches is racquetball. Jacksonville coach Hugh Durham pointed out that the sport is a favorite among the younger coaches, but Durham was one of the best in the nation.
"First of all, there are some people that play racquetball and then there are racquetball players," says Durham. "I would like to think of myself as the latter. I faired pretty well in my day. In 1976, I participated in eleven tournaments and reached the finals in all eleven, winning seven of them."
From 1978-1981, Durham was the Georgia Seniors Champion and he finished second in the entire nation, in 1984.
Durham continued to play competitively throughout the decade of the 1980's and among those he competed against was Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson.
"Kelvin and I had many confrontations on the court," says Durham. "I am not quite sure how many tournaments Kelvin won, but he was a terrific player so I am sure that he has some trophies somewhere in his home or office."
It's been a while since Sampson and Durham swung the rackets together, but the Oklahoma coach recalls vividly their competitive battles.
"Coach Durham and I competed numerous times," says Sampson. "But that was then and this is now. Since my back surgery, in 1996, my game has gone down hill. It has been a while since I played competitively. I am a little younger than coach Durham, but I am sure he could still give me all I can handle."
For Sampson and many other coaches, the racquet was always packed on those perilous road trips during the summer.
"I started taking my racquet with me while I was on the road recruiting, when I was coaching in Montana and Washington," says Sampson. "It was a good way to keep in shape and a great way to unwind."
Others that you may find on a racquetball court near you include former Kansas State head coach Tom Asbury, Georgia coach Jim Harrick and Wagner's Dereck Whittenburg.
"I don't keep up with all the great players like I use to, but Dereck has to be among the best playing today," says Durham. "As for coach Harrick, he and I use to play a lot, at the Final Four. Jim was also very competitive and he probably still rips a few off the wall."
Every year at the Final Four, coaches organize their competitions, from three-on-three basketball to "best-shot" on the golf course so why not a racquetball tournament?
"That's something the NABC should give some thought to," says Durham. "There are a lot of guys that would have an interest in that."
NORMAN DALE
Everyone has looked at some stranger and thought -- Gosh he looks just like….
"I can't believe you said that," laughed Douglass. "Not long ago I was getting ready to do a postgame interview and the producer yelled down and said, 'the guy on the monitor looks just like Gene Hackman.' I got a kick out of that."
Depending on your viewpoint and perhaps the way someone's hair falls on a given day, you can find a lot of people that bare a resemblance to someone famous. But when people look for autographs it is a different story.
"We were in Idaho for a game and we were relaxing at a sports bar, just having a quiet chat," said Douglass. "One of my assistants told me that there was a group of women across the room who thought I was Gene Hackman. Now every time we get off an airplane my staff informs the stewardess that I am in fact the actor so they always say, 'have a nice day Mr. Hackman.' It is pretty amusing."
The next time the Anteaters are on television see for yourself. Maybe it is the coach from Hickory, Indiana.
In addition to Douglass, there are a handful of other coaches who have a little Hollywood in them.
Buffalo coach Reggie Witherspoon is a dead-ringer for Detective Frank Pembleton in 'Homicide: Life on the Street." Not only does Witherspoon look like actor Andre Braugher, but he also has the look of a coach who will be strutting his stuff on "The Runway to the Fashionable Four."
CHEF AND ENTERTAINER EXTRAORDINAIRE
While Barry Hinson may be the best barbecue man in the college ranks, Ellis should be considered one of the NCAAs premier chefs.
Recently Auburn kicked off the season with the second-annual 'Ladies Night Out with Cliff Ellis,' which gives women in the community a chance to bid on a night with coach Ellis.
"Men are not allowed," Ellis says. "This is strictly for the ladies."
Needless to say, coach Ellis is the envy of many coaches right about now. Well, it's a little more serious than you might think.
'Ladies Night Out with Cliff Ellis' benefits the charity 'Partnership for Children,' which is designed to assist two-parent families that are unable to afford proper day care for their children.
"Basically it's a scholarship for those families in need," Ellis says. "It's important for families to have the opportunity to get the best possible child care and we hope to help with this event."
Open to ladies of all ages, the festivities include a coaching clinic, an opportunity to meet the Tigers, a tour of the basketball facilities, a cooking clinic with the gourmet chef/head coach, a shopping spree with different Auburn-Opelika vendors, and a Q & A session with Ellis and his wife, Carolyn.
"We wanted to give the woman an idea of how we do things," says the event's top bid item. "The clinic was on the basics of basketball so they can have a better understanding of the game. It's a lot of fun and something I looked forward too."
The event highlights Ellis' cooking abilities, but has not yet extended to include his vocal talents. In addition to being an excellent chef, Ellis is also quite the entertainer.
"That's not something we have included in the event," laughs Ellis. "Perhaps it's something we can look into for the future."
His CD "People Get Ready," which is a collection of country western type material, is available for purchase at the Auburn bookstore.
While the Auburn coach hasn't written any holiday tunes, he does offer a variety of holiday recipes.
His 'Deep Fried Turkey' and 'Ten Step Gravy' have become Thanksgiving traditions in the Ellis' household.
"Seasoning is the key," says Ellis. "I recommend Lawrey's seasoning salt, Greek seasoning, onion salt, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce and Louisiana hot sauce. Apply desired amounts of each to your turkey and refrigerate for 24 hours. It's best when you apply generous amounts, as it will fry up better."
Ellis uses a fish fryer, but any deep fryer will work nicely. Completely cover the turkey in peanut oil and fry three minutes for each pound, at 350 degrees.
According to Ellis, "It's a tender and juicy turkey."
As for the gravy, well he doesn't stir it up for Thanksgiving night.
"The ten-step gravy is for leftovers," says Ellis. It'll make your Friday turkey taste a whole lot better."
Thanksgiving might have past, but there is no reason you cannot serve up these Ellis specialties for Christmas dinner.
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