Purdue's first "Big Dog"

[77 grad]

Just read where Biggie's 20 rebounds vs. McNeese State was the first time a Purdue player reached that plateau since William Franklin in 1972.

It got me thinking of the 1970 Holiday Tourney in Madison Square Garden, where Purdue faced St. Bonaventure and its size-22-shoe All American Bob "The Big Cat" Lanier. Franklin, then Purdue's undersized young center, was asked about that matchup and blurted something like, "The Big Dog (himself) will eat up The Big Cat." Lanier went off for 51 points that night.

Franklin went on to be pretty good, as witness his 20-rebound game two years later and three-year career in the ABA. As for his "Big Dog" nickname? Someone else did a lot better job with it 20+ years later.

 

[punaj]

 

[charlespig]

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Hmmmm, those two guys are both #1 draft picks

 

[SIBoiler2]

Just read where Biggie's 20 rebounds vs. McNeese State was the first time a Purdue player reached that plateau since William Franklin in 1972.

It got me thinking of the 1970 Holiday Tourney in Madison Square Garden, where Purdue faced St. Bonaventure and its size-22-shoe All American Bob "The Big Cat" Lanier. Franklin, then Purdue's undersized young center, was asked about that matchup and blurted something like, "The Big Dog (himself) will eat up The Big Cat." Lanier went off for 51 points that night.

Franklin went on to be pretty good, as witness his 20-rebound game two years later and three-year career in the ABA. As for his "Big Dog" nickname? Someone else did a lot better job with it 20+ years later.

Yeah but GRob wouldn't have ever matched Franklin's fro.

 

[hoosierdog1]

Just read where Biggie's 20 rebounds vs. McNeese State was the first time a Purdue player reached that plateau since William Franklin in 1972.

It got me thinking of the 1970 Holiday Tourney in Madison Square Garden, where Purdue faced St. Bonaventure and its size-22-shoe All American Bob "The Big Cat" Lanier. Franklin, then Purdue's undersized young center, was asked about that matchup and blurted something like, "The Big Dog (himself) will eat up The Big Cat." Lanier went off for 51 points that night.

Franklin went on to be pretty good, as witness his 20-rebound game two years later and three-year career in the ABA. As for his "Big Dog" nickname? Someone else did a lot better job with it 20+ years later.

I thought it was 55 and 18 rebounds

 

[77 grad]

Franklin had a great fro. Darnell Hillman, who played for the Pacers during that era, had a better one. 7'2" Artis Gilmore's was pretty good too; he could stand still and his hair touched the net.

 

[SIBoiler2]

Franklin had a great fro. Darnell Hillman, who played for the Pacers during that era, had a better one. 7'2" Artis Gilmore's was pretty good too; he could stand still and his hair touched the net.

My roommate as a freshman in '70 was about 5'11" but we t about 6'5" with his 'fro.

 

[Schnelk]

William Franklin: he was 1/3 of the the famous F-Troop front line of Ford, Faeber and Franklin.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

Franklin had a great fro. Darnell Hillman, who played for the Pacers during that era, had a better one. 7'2" Artis Gilmore's was pretty good too; he could stand still and his hair touched the net.

Different sport I realize, but it's hard to be Oscar Gamble of the Indians.

 

[Dryfly88]

Franklin had a great fro. Darnell Hillman, who played for the Pacers during that era, had a better one. 7'2" Artis Gilmore's was pretty good too; he could stand still and his hair touched the net.

Hillman was my favorite player on the Pacers when I was a kid. Got to meet him once and that hair was awesome!!

 

[tjreese]

Franklin had a great fro. Darnell Hillman, who played for the Pacers during that era, had a better one. 7'2" Artis Gilmore's was pretty good too; he could stand still and his hair touched the net.

my neighbor played for Jacksonville...sparingly with Gilmore and the bunch. I think Artis was around 7'8" with his fro...and there was money floating around for them...

 

[BoilerGal74]

William Franklin: he was 1/3 of the the famous F-Troop front line of Ford, Faeber and Franklin.

My freshman year.....remember them well. Franklin came flying around a corner after an English class that year and knocked me flat. Thought I had died and gone to heaven when he picked me up...lol!

 

[BoilerBulldog]

Was Glenn known as the Big Dog in HS or did he get that moniker at Purdue?

 

[boilerzz]

Was Glenn known as the Big Dog in HS or did he get that moniker at Purdue?

Not until he got to Purdue. A custodian saw him working out and said "Let the big dog eat!".