The Daily Journal from Franklin, Indiana • Page 26

Wooden Hinkle Wells Schwomeyer They've said it all could dribble, pass and shoot. For three straight years, he led his high school team to the Indiana state championship. And that was no mean, feat since Indiana is a breeding ground for great basketball players. John Wooden, basketball coach, UCLA(from quotes made in April 1970 issue of Sport magazine). Backbone Vandivier was the backbone of Franklin's fabulous Wonder Five, only team to sweep three straight high school championships (1920-1922).

Bob Williams, sportswriter, Indianapolis Star. Spotlight There probably were good basketball players before, but the spotlight really turned to Johnson county and Franklin, Indiana, when Griz Wagner and his Franklin Wonder Five started their race across the hardwoods of southern Indiana. For five years through the early "twenties," Robert "Fuzzy" Vandivier and his mates dominated the high school and college basketball scene. The oldtimers say there never was another team like it, but through the years, the county has seen some mighty fine individual players come and go. Rex Redifer, former Daily Journal news editor (from an article which appeared in the Daily Journal on Feb.

20, 1968). jr. By AL STILLEY i Journal News Editor Down through the years, a number i of individuals have praised the 11 Wonder Five and Robert P. "Fuzzy" I 'Vandivier. However, the plaudits bestowed upon "Fuzzy" this year have taken on a new meaning.

With Fuzzy's enshrinement into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the accolades are now of a nationally-renowned nature. One of the most treasured mementoes in Fuzzy's scrapbook is a note a written from UCLA basketball coach John Wooden in late January 1971 in i reply to a letter from Vandivier following UCLA's loss to Notre Dame. Wooden began his letter by thanking Fuzzy for his "kind words." Later in the letter, Wooden explained one of his fundamental beliefs about coaching. r-' The additional text of Wooden's note read: "Notre Dame gave us an exceptionally warm welcome last Saturday afternoon and richly deserved their victory. I only hope that it does us good.

Since I firmly believe that it takes adversity for growth, it should make us stronger for our An old newspaper article written after the 1921 state championship basketball game analyzes Vandivier's playing style. The article which appeared in an Indianapolis newspaper reads as follows: "Vandivier, Franklin center, was easily the class of the tourney. In all the games before the final when his forwards were not going so good he carried the load of the team despite the fact that he was a marked man. Because of this fact he was such an awful threat shooting from around the foul circle region that the Anderson defense was drawn away from the basket in the deciding game and Frid- die and Gant, his forwards, bored through for sucker shots, beneath the basket, unmolested. His work in following shots was almost uncanny at times and bis dribbling, turning and passing made possible shots for the whole team.

Vandivier was the only member of last year's champ team that Coach Wagner bad at the start of this season. He shows just as much class at forward and provides an opening for one other outstanding center on a team of 'The words of praise have come from friends, sportswriters, former Pagt DAILY JOURNAL'- Frwtklln-Critnwood, players and fellow coaches. The following quotations are merely a sample of how the basketball fraternity feels about Fuzzy. All-time top I have talked with a number of people who either played against Mr. Vandivier, or were coaching at the time, and without exception Mr.

Vandivier is considered one of the top basketball players of all time in the state of Indiana on both high school and college level. Herbert F. Schwomeyer, Hoosier Hysteria Historian and Dean of Men, Butler University, Indianapolis. Deserving I do not hesitate in recommending the nomination of Robert P. "Fuzzy" Vandivier to the Naismith Hall of Fame.

He was the leader of the famed "Franklin Wonder Five," which won three straight Indiana High School championships and then moving on to make Franklin College one of the best collegiate basketball teams in the midwest. He is deserving of nomination and selection to the Hall of Fame. -Paul D. Hinkle, former athletic Butler University, Indianapolis. A fine citizen was an outstanding high school and college player in Indiana in the early 1920's.

He played and was captain of three state high school championship teams at Franklin, Indiana. He attended Franklin College and for four years his play was so outstanding that his team was called the Franklin Wonder Five. He was -a great offensive player, as he was a fine shot and a great is one of the all-time greats of early Indiana basketbalL.He was a great in- -fluence on Indiana basketball for a period of eight or 10 years in" the 1920's. A fine citizen, character above reproach and a legend in Indiana basketball. -Cliff Wells, executive secretary, National.

Association of Basketba'l Coaches. None better I've never seen a better player than Franklin's Vandivier. Vandivier, was TT my idol. He was six feet or so and he Indiana, Thursday, April 'W Blaze of glory Fuzzy Vandivier, playing one of the greatest games of his career, closed the 1921 basketball season in a blaze of glory last Saturday night in the state tournament in Indianapolis. Every Indianapolis newspaper and in fact every paper in the state; gave Vandivier an all-state position.

Ross Smith, veteran referee said of Vandivier, "He is the best high school basketball player in the state." Heze of-the Indiana Daily Times made the statement that Vandivier "is without question the best high school player developed in the last few years." "Fuzzy" lines up at center, but plays the entire floor as well as watching his man. He is the very heart of the Franklin team. Blue and White Sports, March 25; 19Z1..