Lauren Ruderman
Brandeis students may be better known for their brains than their athletic abilities,
but among its many scholar athletes and coaches, there have been a handful that have
brought recognition to the growing sports program. Even though athletes do not come to
Brandeis to pursue professional careers in sports, our athletes do maintain a high level of
play. While we have had a few alumni and coaches who participated in professional
sports let’s just say that none have ever attained the fame like that of Patrick Ewing.
This past summer in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, Tim Morehouse ’00
proudly marched in the parade of nations representing the USA with his saber in hand.
While Morehouse made the US fencing team as first alternate, the team barely missed a
medal, returning home with a fourth place finish. Morehouse was lightly recruited out of
high school, but Brandeis Fencing Coach Bill Shipman saw his potential. Shipman’s
acumen in evaluating talent certainly paid off. During a four year career at Brandeis,
Morehouse was a three time United Athletic Association champion and a three time AllAmerican. Currently, he is ranked fourth in the nation as a saberist and 57th in the world
in the same category.
Another Brandeis alumnus in the news today is major league pitcher Nelson
Figueroa. An American Studies major graduating in the class of 1998, Figueroa has since
played for nine different major league teams. He has appeared as both a starter and
reliever. His major league stat line reads 7-17 with a 4.65 ERA in 74 appearances, 33 of
which were starts. While he has only started once on a forty man roster with the
Milwaukee Brewers in 2002, Figueroa is currently in spring training with the Pittsburgh
Pirates. In addition to Figueroa, Brandeis has produced fourteen career minor leaguer
baseball players.
Former professional players have coached Brandeis athletes throughout its
history. These include Bob Brannum, Chris Ford, Bud Collins, K.C. Jones, and perhaps
the most famous, Benny Friedman. Brannum was a journeyman most well known for
playing with the Celtics in the 1950s. After his retirement, he coached the Brandeis
Men’s Basketball Team to 204 wins, the most in Brandeis history. Bud Collins, a
member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, coached the Brandeis tennis team,
while K.C. Jones, another ex-Celtic, and member of the NBA Hall-of-Fame, coached the
basketball team.
Chris Ford played for the Pistons and Celtics, winning the NBA championship
with the latter in 1981. He coached the Celtics, Bucks and Clippers before taking over at
Brandeis and leading the men’s basketball team for two years. He returned to the NBA as
an assistant coach and eventually coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. Under his guidance,
the Judges had a 12-18 record.
Perhaps the most famous athlete associated with Brandeis is Benny Friedman.
Before serving as the first and only football coach in Brandeis history, he played in the
NFL on four different teams. He was so popular that the New York Giants bought out
the Detroit Wolverines just to acquire Friedman and his league high $10,000 contract.
He was a triple threat of offense, passing, and rushing as a quarterback. Friedman twice
passed for 1500 yards, which was unheard of in the 1920s. In Michael Vick fashion,
Friedman led the league in passing and rushing touchdowns in 1928. Benny Friedman
was recently elected as part of the class of 2005 to the hallowed halls of the Football Hall
of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
In addition to the players and coaches, one fact that every Brandeis student knows
well is that Gosman served as the preseason home and practice facility of the Celtics
from its opening in 1991 until 1999. Another, more morbid claim to fame, involves
Celtic Reggie Lewis. Lewis was the Celts captain at age 27, but in 1993, after collapsing
during a game, he was diagnosed with a heart condition. In July of 1993, he was
shooting hoops at Brandeis and collapsed again. Tragically Lewis died on the floor of
our gym before the paramedics could arrive. It has taken the Celtics franchise many
years to recover from his death.
In a world mostly known for academic excellence, Brandeis athletics is starting to
steal some of the headlines. Who will be next?