First, this is not an April Fool’s joke … it happened yesterday and I think Bill Stewart was entirely unaware of the significance contained in today’s date and that people would think he was fooling around. Rather, I think he was looking for a way to add a good player to his roster.
Coach Bill Stewart said he’d like to talk with Bob Huggins about having his point guard, Joe Mazzulla, join the football team.
“Put this in the paper,” he said following the first post-spring break practice. “I’m going to call Bobby when he gets back in town. He’s out of town now, but when he gets back, I’m going to see if it’s OK. I’d love to have him out here.”
Stewart was asked where the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Mazzulla would play.
“Wherever he wants,” said Stewart, who was won over by Mazzulla’s hustle and determination, which included his collision with a courtside table in the Sweet 16 game against Xavier.
Stewart watched the NCAA Tournament games and was sick to his stomach when the season ended the way it did in the Sweet 16. He surely made note of Mazzulla’s hands and footwork, to say nothing of his to-hell-with-the-other-guy mentality.
I don’t think Mazzulla ever played organized football and if he did, it was limited and it was in Rhode Island, so he’s not long on experience.
Let’s be honest, too. The way the seasons overlap, it’s probably not happening. There’s no way Mazzulla plays football and rejoins the basketball team in January. If he did give football an abbreviated shot, he’s obviously not starting and probably not playing a key role. If he does, the football team is in trouble … or Mazzulla is, in fact, Superman.
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