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30 yrs ago this week, Auburn's Sonny Smith retired
Posted on 2/17/15 at 9:32 am
Posted on 2/17/15 at 9:32 am
and then three weeks later proceeded to become the first SEC team to win 4 SEC Tournament games to win the 1985 SEC Tournament and bid to the NCAA's.
Auburn then won their first two games, including a win over Larry Brown and Kansas with freshman Danny Manning and returned to Birmingham, the site of the SEC Tournament.
In the nightcap after Villanova held off Len Bias and Maryland, 46-43, Auburn played North Carolina. The game came down to the final :20 with NC making some late free throws to win 62-56.
About two weeks later, Smith "unretired" and coached Auburn through the 1988-1989 season.
Auburn then won their first two games, including a win over Larry Brown and Kansas with freshman Danny Manning and returned to Birmingham, the site of the SEC Tournament.
In the nightcap after Villanova held off Len Bias and Maryland, 46-43, Auburn played North Carolina. The game came down to the final :20 with NC making some late free throws to win 62-56.
About two weeks later, Smith "unretired" and coached Auburn through the 1988-1989 season.
Posted on 2/17/15 at 9:37 am to I-59 Tiger
Didn't he also coach at VCU after leaving Auburn?
Posted on 2/17/15 at 9:39 am to I-59 Tiger
Sonny's a good picker and singer.
Posted on 2/17/15 at 9:42 am to JuiceTerry
What did he do after retiring? Is he still in coaching or an AD or something? I always liked Sonny
Posted on 2/17/15 at 9:49 am to BigBlue8Titles
Yes, he went to VCU where he coached through 1996. He's been doing Auburn games on radio as color analyst.
How he got to Auburn in the first place is a rather bizarre,tragic story in and of itself.Auburn fired Bob Davis after the 1977-1978 season and hired Paul Lambert, from Southern Illinois. In June of 1978 while in Columbus,GA at a two day camp for HS and JR high boys, he died in a fire in his motel room. Auburn then hired Smith from East Tenn St.
How he got to Auburn in the first place is a rather bizarre,tragic story in and of itself.Auburn fired Bob Davis after the 1977-1978 season and hired Paul Lambert, from Southern Illinois. In June of 1978 while in Columbus,GA at a two day camp for HS and JR high boys, he died in a fire in his motel room. Auburn then hired Smith from East Tenn St.
Posted on 2/17/15 at 10:50 am to I-59 Tiger
That's terrible. What an awful way to die.
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