By Scott Miles '08
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Capital University's men's basketball team has a rich tradition, having qualified for NCAA Tournament play 10 times and poised to make another run to the tournament this year, as the Crusaders are 16-1 and ranked No. 8 in the nation.
The foundation for the team's current success was laid in part by arguably the most successful era of Capital men's basketball in the 1982, '83 and '84 seasons - the only time in school history the team made it three consecutive seasons to NCAA postseason play, as well as the last time the program recorded three straight 20-win seasons.
A key component of those teams was forward Eric Morrison, who returned to campus this weekend with members of the 1983 team to honor their accomplishments. During his career, Morrison was a regular starter for all but the first half of his freshman season in 1981 - a season in which he hit the game-winning basket in an 81-79 win against Ohio Northern University.
Morrison finished his playing career with 1,126 points, which ranks 22nd on the school's all-time scoring list - one spot behind teammate and 2008 Hall of Fame inductee Joe Glassco - and cherishes the memories of those playing days, even 25 years later.
"It was a lot of hard work," Morrison said. "But we played together as a team, played really intense defense and stuck together. We had a goal and knew what it took to get there."
The Crusaders finished 20-9 his sophomore season in 1982, making it to the national quarterfinals before losing 61-60 at Stanislaus State (Calif.), a school just transitioning from Division I.
Morrison scored 25 points in Capital's 103-93 overtime win in the first round over Virginia Wesleyan and averaged 12. 6 points (third on the team), 5.3 rebounds (second), and shot 55.4 percent from the field (third). That year, he led the team in scoring and rebounding in five different games.
As a junior, his productivity increased, as he averaged 13.1 points and 5.2 boards, both second-best on the squad. He again shot over 50 percent from the floor and nearly 79 percent from the free throw line. The team finished the season with a 22-7 mark, an OAC championship and a No. 11 national ranking.
Morrison would lead the team in scoring 10 times and rebounding on eight occasions that season, and he was recognized for his efforts by earning Second Team All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors. He also picked up All-Great Lakes distinctions.
During his senior season, the team set a then-school record with 23 wins, earned a No. 9 national ranking and captured another OAC title. He scored 12.3 points per game and grabbed 5.8 rebounds per contest, both of which were second on the team, and was recognized as not only being a good scorer but also one of the top defenders in the OAC.
With so many big games and big wins during his career, Morrison didn't have a specific memory that stuck out in his mind, but remembered the rivalries that Capital built up over the years.
"One year, we played Heidelberg and Wittenberg in the same week and it was just so intense, we had to calm ourselves down," Morrison recalled. "And playing Otterbein was obviously big because of the rivalry.
"Wittenberg was always a challenge for us. Being recruited by Coach Dave Grube, his big thing was, ‘You have to beat Wittenberg and you have to beat Otterbein.' They were always bigger teams than us, so we knew we had to outthink them and out-quick them, and we did. It was always fun playing [Wittenberg] because their fans hated us. My junior year they had just opened their new gym and we went in and beat them."
These days, Morrison lives in Los Angeles and works both for Fox Sports and the Big Screen Network, which is responsible for the Jumbotrons found in collegiate and professional stadiums across the country. He is a full-time employee of the Los Angeles Dodgers and also does work for the NBA Lakers, both the Ducks and Kings in the NHL as well as UCLA basketball.
Despite living and working on the West Coast, Morrison still carries the memories and lessons of his days as a student-athlete at Capital. He majored in Communications and valued his college education, coming from a family of auto workers, "which was something I didn't really want to do," he said.
"I take Capital with me everywhere I go," Morrison said. "It taught me to respect everybody - that was really instilled in me. That's very important, because being in Los Angeles, with all the media and everything going on there, people get lost in themselves.
He's also been able to stay in contact with many of his former teammates, having developed bonds that have lasted over the past 25 years.
"Being in college, the friends you meet here, especially the teammates - those relationships last for life. I live in California, I got in town and I had four phone calls - ‘Do you need a place to stay? Do you need a ride to the airport?' - and they take me in like I'm a family member. We all keep in touch with one another."
"Joe Glascco was inducted in the Hall of Fame in October, and that was my first time being back. I was very impressed seeing the facility. They're taking good care of it and the team is winning. I plan on coming back more to Capital - probably in the summer when its not as cold - but it's good to be back and seeing all the familiar faces."