Missouri Ties For Ford, Gulley
Ford Returns To Mizzou
By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
Travis Ford admits he wonders what kind of reception he’ll receive in Columbia today, the former-former Tiger that he is.
Ford, you see, is two times removed from Mizzou. He played there for one fantastic season in 1989-90, serving as a backup in a backcourt that featured Anthony Peeler, before transferring to Kentucky. Ford was named to the UPI Big Eight All-Freshman team with the Tigers, after averaging 6.4 points and 3.5 assists a game.
When NCAA investigators started sniffing around the program, with probation appearing likely, Ford left for Kentucky.
Saturday, Ford returns to Mizzou.
“First time back,” Ford said this week. “Eight years ago had dinner and no one knew.”
They’ll know today.
“Will they just kill me?” Ford wondered. “I’m preparing for the worst.”
His time at Mizzou, however, was grand.
The Tigers went undefeated at home that season and were ranked No. 1 for a while. They flamed out in the NCAA Tournament, as Norm Stewart’s squads were apt to do, but the experience was special for Ford.
There student paper even held a contest, seeking nicknames for Ford. Among the entries: Hot Rod , Turbo, Maverick, Scooter, Sparky, Ford Dog or Napoleon.
“We had a great year,” Ford said. “That’s the first thing. I loved it. I loved going to school there. I loved playing for Norm Stewart. I loved it.
“Great teammates, guys I still talk to today. Anthony Peeler and Doug Smith. One of the most memorable years. I loved it there. But they got into trouble and that was the main reason I left.”
Cowboys point guard Fred Gulley could have played at Mizzou.
Might have played at Mizzou, based on a strong relationship with Tigers coach Mike Anderson, forged when both were back in Fayetteville, Ark., where Anderson served as Nolan Richardson’s top assistant at the U of A.
“Every weekend, I spent at their house,” Gulley said. Me and their daughter (Yvonne) played on the same basketball team growing up. Actually, probably about third through fifth grade. She was our starting point guard and we both played point guard. She’s at Texas now playing.”
Gulley said the Andersons were almost family.
“Really close,” he said.
Not so close, however, that Anderson could persuade Gulley to Columbia, although he tried. A scholarship was there for Gulley, but the former Arkansas prep star preferred Stillwater.
“It was a real tough situation,” Gulley said. “They offered me. I went up there
for a couple of visits and stuff. Oklahoma State was just the right place for me.
“It was probably one of the toughest things I have done, but (Anderson) called and wished me good luck and congratulated me.”
Gulley expects a call or two before tip time, too.
“It’s going to be great,” Gulley said. “It’s going to be real great. It’s a good
rivalry. He will probably give me a call or I will probably talk to someone in the Anderson family before the game. It’s going to be good.
“I spent a lot of time there at recruiting time. It’s just going to be good
to go in there and try to get a win.”
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