1971-72 Photo Archives

1969-72 Starting Five

This is classic photo from the 1970 Holiday Classic championship game in which Kentucky State beat Eau Claire, 71-67. The Thorobreds’ All-American Travis Grant shoots over the outstretched hand of Tom Jackson. The other four Blugold starters are all visible with Steve Johnson to the left of Grant, guards Frank Schade (14) and James Lindsey (10) looking on while Mike Ratliff (44) and Kentucky State’s Elmore Smith get ready to rebound under the bucket. Two other Thorobreds are also visible beyond Grant. Also visible in the background, far left, is K-State coach Lucius Mitchell while between Lindsey and Smith can be seen Blugold coaches Steve Kurth and Ken Anderson. Four of these players would go on to play in the NBA – Kentucky State’s Smith and Grant and Eau Claire’s Ratliff and Schade.

UW-Eau Claire featured one of the first co-ed cheerleading squads in the NAIA. There were seven cheerleaders and seven stuntmen, prompting Curry Kirkpatrick’s comment in his Sports Illustrated story “The cheerleaders practically outnumber the players.”