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Friday, January 5, 2001

Faceoff in San Diego has history
Team coaches meet again after 11 years
By Mark Zuckerman
Caller-Times
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The sight of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball coach Ronnie Arrow shaking hands with San Diego State coach Steve Fisher prior to Thursday night's game rekindled some old memories from the two counterparts, who first met on the court 11 years ago in one of the biggest games of both men's careers.
   The year was 1989, and Arrow's South Alabama team was coming off an 86-84 upset of in-state rival Alabama in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Fisher, meanwhile, had only recently assumed interim head coach status at Michigan after Bill Frieder bolted for Arizona State.
   The Wolverines and Jaguars squared off in a second-round game at the Omni in Atlanta, with Arrow's bunch throwing a scare into Fisher's team before Michigan pulled away and won, 91-82. Led by Glenn Rice, Terry Mills and Loy Vaught, the Wolverines went on to capture the national championship, making Fisher an instant hit in Ann Arbor.
   Though both Arrow and Fisher were unceremoniously ushered out of their old schools, the two have remained close over the years.
   "They beat us pretty good in '89," Arrow said. "Of course, he kicked a lot people's butts that year. But actually after that, we became good friends. He's not only a good coach but a good person."
   MAKING STRIDES: In less than two years at San Diego State, Fisher has performed a relarkable turnaround. He inherited a team that won four games in 1998-99, then struggled through a 5-22 campaign last year.
   Few figured the Aztecs' fortunes would change in 2000-2001, as evidenced by their preseason Sagarin Computer Rating of 262.
   Fisher has proven the critics wrong, though. Entering Thursday's game with the Islanders, San Diego State was 8-3 and was riding a four-game winning streak that included wins over Arizona State and Oklahoma State. The Aztecs' Sagarin rating has skyrocketed all the way to No. 93, making them the fourth-most improved team since the start of the season in the nation.
   FAMILIAR FACES: There were a few splotches of blue and green clothing standing out amongst the sea of red and black at Cox Arena Thursday night. Arrow's wife Nelda, along with daughter Ailey, made the trip west, as did A&M-Corpus Christi's head of athletic development, Arthur Haas. Haas was joined by two Tarpon Foundation board members, Bill Bevill and Alan Wilson.
   Several Islander players had family and friends in the crowd as well. Lee Denmon, Shaun Hemsley, Dustin Shultz and Armond Wainright are all originally from California, and all had family members in the stands.


Staff writer Mark Zuckerman can be reached at 886-3747 or by e-mail at zuckermanm@caller.com

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