By Tim Schmitt
LEWISTON — Silver might have been the color most prevalent Tuesday at Niagara University — from the Purple Eagles’ new uniforms, Frank Layden’s all-salt-and-no-pepper mane, to the pinstripes in Calvin Murphy’s black suit.
But while silver shaped the mood, the morning was simply golden.
It had been four decades since Layden and Murphy spent quality time at the Gallagher Center, something they did soon after breakfast as the Purple Eagles hosted Drexel as part of ESPN’s 24 Hours of Basketball.
It might have been years past due, but watching the two interact on Tuesday — and watching the Purple Eagles toy with the visiting Dragons without Tyrone Lewis in the lineup — was a perfect snapshot of a program celebrating its rich history with what should be another dynamic and high-flying team.
Murphy, who sat at Layden’s right, was as animated as ever, banging on a table and jumping about the gym like he was loosening up for the second half of a Little Three doubleheader. Murphy hasn’t lost a lick of the energy that made him the program’s most dynamic player. He’s aged, but only slightly. And while Layden looked happy enough to simply sit courtside and enjoy his alma mater, Murphy looked ready to join Rob Garrison and Bilal Benn on the break.
Chances are he’d still put up big numbers, too.
Murphy spoke to the team on Monday, commanding the respect an NBA Hall of Famer should. When Benn and Garrison spoke of his impact, you could sense the sincerity and admiration.
“He told us that the tougher team’s going to win and we have to jump on them from the start,” Benn said of the meeting with Murphy. “He told us he doesn’t like when he doesn’t see a good game. He gets real mad.
“When we pack the house and he takes that flight from Houston, he wants to see us win.”
Murphy got his wish on Tuesday. Although they had trouble finding the alarm early, once Drexel commanded the Purple Eagles’ attention, Joe Mihalich’s team looked like the kind of club that could give Siena a run come March.
Garrison proved once again that he adds a different look when Nelson has to take a seat. Austin Cooley played well in limited minutes, hitting a pair of big threes. And Kashief Edwards proved worthy of the starting five spot, offering a favorable early answer to the off-season’s biggest question.
Early on, Garrison pickpocketed Drexel’s Chris Fouch, who was heading in alone for a layup. The Niagara Falls product quickly counterattacked, hitting Demetrius Williamson with a cross-court pass that the sharpshooter drilled for a three.
Murphy rose to his feet and cheered.
Layden simply nodded and smiled.
The two Niagara legends are as diametrically opposed as could possibly be. Aside from their quick tongues, Murphy and Layden came from different backgrounds, and followed different career paths.
Still, the pair stood at center court as part of a halftime ceremony and shared a warm embrace. Both are synonymous with Niagara basketball.
And you get the feeling both respect the other’s accomplishments more in the rear-view mirror.
As for coaching, Murphy couldn’t do it.
“I tried it,” he said. “I took a biddy league team to Puerto Rico. Got so mad, I started jumping on the scorer’s table. They told me I wasn’t ever invited back.”
But he has been invited back to the Gallagher, and hopefully, another moment like Tuesday’s won’t take another 40 years.
The legacy these two passed down is too great to occasionally honor.
“(Murphy) pointed to the rafters. Our banners are dominated by the NIT,” Garrison said. “He explained to us that when (he) played, that was actually better. That just showed the tradition and the history that we have in our school. He went on to say that we are his legacy. That kind of put pressure on us we are the people that carry on his name and now the torch is in our hands.
“As far as I know, we’re going to run as fast as we can with that torch.”
Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.
