Tulsa World: Friendship sets tone for Ford

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Friendship sets tone for Ford
Exhibition game with Dillard a favor for an old friend.

Ford

By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Published: 11/10/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 11/10/2009 7:22 AM

STILLWATER — Why is an NAIA school from New Orleans on Oklahoma State's basketball schedule? Because OSU coach Travis Ford is helping a friend.

OSU will play an exhibition game Tuesday night against Dillard University. Ford and Dillard's head coach, Dale Brown, were teammates and roommates at Kentucky.

"We were literally like brothers," Ford said.

"He's somebody I would do anything in the world for. He's just a great, great guy."

Dillard will get a much-needed big payday (specifics about the financial guarantee were not immediately available) because Ford agreed to schedule the game.

Athletic departments all across the country are battling budget crunches, but Dillard was dealt a double whammy because the university was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Brown, named Dillard's coach in 2008, should know a thing or two about teaching young men to cope with adversity. He used to dream about reaching the big time so he could take care of his mother.

Immediately after signing a contract with the Sacramento Kings in 1993, his mom died in a car accident.

The story gets sadder. Brown has said in multiple interviews that he asked permission to leave training camp to attend the funeral and the Kings balked. He went to the funeral and was waived, but the Kings fulfilled contract obligations.

At the urging of ex-Kentucky coaches Rick Pitino and Tubby Smith, Brown returned to school when he was in his mid-30s to earn a degree. Now he's

in the same profession as former teammates like Ford and Arkansas coach John Pelphrey. Pelphrey's team played an exhibition game last week against Brown's team. Now it's Ford's turn.

"He better not come in here and beat me now. He probably will at this point," Ford said, citing injuries to multiple OSU players.

Teeng Akol and Nick Sidorakis were hurt prior to an exhibition opener. Keiton Page suffered an injury in the exhibition opener and will not play Tuesday, according to Ford. Obi Muonelo has an ankle injury and his availability is in doubt.

Up next: OSU basketball

Vs. Dillard (La.)

8:15 p.m. Tuesday

TV: None

Radio: TBA

Jimmie Tramel 581-8389
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer

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