THIS IS MY FIRST EFFORT ON OUR NEW PAGE: Is this a blog? We will see how it goes. Thanks for reading and visiting The Game Remembered. The article is after my commentary, just scroll on down.
The other night at the IU-Milwaukee game unbeknownst to me, I sat next to Bryant Akerman. His five year old son was with him and he was sporting an IU jersery with AKERMAN on the back. I asked Bryant if he knew Dirk Akerman from Loogootee. He told me Dirk was his uncle and his Dad was Eric. I told him I was from Odon and went to North Daviess. I also shared my youngest daughter graduated from Edgewood and of course Dirk was her principal. From there, we did the do you know so and so dance, and if your ears were burning Tuesday night–your name might of been mentioned.
I asked him if he played for Loogootee and he told me he played on the 2012 team that won the State Championship. I congratulated him on that and said I played a lot of baseball and basketball against his coach, Mike Wagoner. We had fun discussing basketball and he gladly gave me a quick projection on Loogootee, Barr-Reeve, and North Daviess for the upcoming season.
It was his son’s first IU game and I was impressed by how much he was really into it. Of course the game was a blow out and they decided to leave early. As we said our good – byes I was already thinking I wanted to contact Mike and ask him about his former player.
I am almost embarrased to write the next part. I knew Loogootee won the state, and I remember being happy for Mike, but I guess I had forgot about Bryant Akerman! Coach Mike Wagoner shared with me that Akerman led Loogootee in scoring, rebounding and assists that championship season. Wagoner went on to say Bryant had a nice career at a Division III school in Illinois. I asked Wagoner if he had a game he remembered most about Bryant Akerman. The game against Evansville Day in the first round of the regional was Wagoner’s choice. Akerman had 32 points and Wagoner pointed out he scored last second shots at the end of the first, second, and third quarters. Wagoner said that was the only time he had ever seen three end of quarter shots made by the same player. The article below is about the Evansville Day win and his three end of quarter shots are mentioned.
Bryant Akerman told me none of his heroics. I left the game not knowing if he was a starter or the twelfth man. Bryant, it was good to meet you and your son and I wish you both all the best.
