Never heard Jay Shidler referred to as white lightning? Blonde Bomber yes. You sure you are not thinking about Dwight Anderson he was referred to as white lightning because he was so fast.
Jay Shidler
- Thread starter Uncle Adolph_rivals58629
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Jay was having a very good start to his freshman year. He and two other players got suspended for the UKIT and we lost in the second game. He stayed in Hall’s dog house pretty much the rest of the year.
He may not have been a starter, but in the championship game in 78 Hall pulled the starters a little early and Duke started to make it interesting. So Hall inserts his best back into the game to seal the win, and Shidler was one of them to come back in. He was a very important part of the team. Don’t know how I remember that, can’t remember what happened yesterday.
Definitely Blonde Bomber.
But "White Lightning" was, too. (Maybe it was a Fan thing?)
Dwight Anderson earned his "Lightning" handle the old fashioned way.
Would be fun to line him up with John Wall for a 60 yard sprint.
Nope. Not even close. Dwight was “The Blur”
Jay Shidler was a high school legend here in southern Illinois. two time state champion. He will always be remembered for his long range bombs. There is no telling how many points he would have scored if he would have a 3 point line..Jay Shidler brings back old memories. His brother Dennis was not a bad player at Southern Illinois University either. Jay's high school coach is the IndianaAssistant coach that bobby knight slapped, and he sued knight and supposedly turned in the tape of knight chocking Neil Reid. Felling won the law suit and retired to Arkansas. This was the end of bobby-whose your daddy-knight, and I loved it. Yes old memories indeed.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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Dexter, did he ever mention why he and Mike Phillips were suspended during the UKIT his freshman season? I heard everything from smoking pot to curfew violations.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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Actually, he was called both but "Blonde Bomber" was the one that stuck. Russell Rice (if anyone remembers him) told Cawood that "White Lightning" sounded too much like a moonshiner, lol.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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And he also hit a huge shot against Arkansas in the last few minutes of the 64-59 win in the FF that year.
Yes, he Phillips and, I believe, dale Barnstable (Barney who was a walk on) were all 3 suspended for curfew violations. I was actually home for Christmas break when it happened but finding out when I came back up for the game. I was very fortunate to be able to use Jays and Tim’s seats a lot which were located in the end zone right next to our bench. I remember watching Jay during the first game sit on the bench looking dejected. Ohhh the stories I could tell you that took place that year. It truly was a great year setting up for the next 2 years with an NIT & NCAA Championship.
I knew nothing
about ANY illegal activities that may have taken place.Jay scored something like a total of 90 plus point in the last two games of the Illinois State Tournament his Senior year. He was awesome. He didn't like Bobby Knight's attitude and came to UK instead! That is the way I remember it!
You and I lived there the same year then....my room was above givens and macy...talked with both several times and played 2 games of ping pong with the Goose...7-0 him, then 7-0 me..lol.
Got to know Gettlefinger better than any other player. Would talk to him in the TV room from time to time...really nice guy
Also, you are correct about him being a party animal. I remember him and Mike Phillips coming back inside Holmes Hall at quite the late hour from time to time...
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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Always wondered what had happened. We lost to UTAH in the UKIT that year when both were suspended. I'm thinking that the loss to UNC in the regional finals had to really hurt as the 1977 team could have won the title that year as well.Yes, he Phillips and, I believe, dale Barnstable (Barney who was a walk on) were all 3 suspended for curfew violations. I was actually home for Christmas break when it happened but finding out when I came back up for the game. I was very fortunate to be able to use Jays and Tim’s seats a lot which were located in the end zone right next to our bench. I remember watching Jay during the first game sit on the bench looking dejected. Ohhh the stories I could tell you that took place that year. It truly was a great year setting up for the next 2 years with an NIT & NCAA Championship.
I knew nothing
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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I remember reading an article in SI years ago about Bobby Knight and his recruitment of Damon Bailey. Apparently, the IU staff was headed to watch Bailey play and one of his assistants made a remark that "he thought Jay Shidler was better at that stage than Bailey" and Knight flew into a rage. Guess Jay got under his skin without trying, lol.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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I never heard that while in school but would not be surprised. The big rumor was that he and Phillips were caught smoking pot.
Dammit, what happened yesterday?!
I thought LaVon was the 3rd player that was suspended for the UKIT? Utah has paid the price ever since hitting that buzzer beater in that UKIT.
I’ve heard of fast paste but not this new fangled “face” paced! I bet that’s a legit system lol.
I recall Jay being called White Lightning early and seems like Cawood even made reference to his peroxide treatments but Blond Bomber was the keeper name. I also recall Dwight Anderson being called early Dwight Lightning and associate that reference to the Kansas game, but the Blur being the name that stuck.
Yeah - this is what I was thinking. I'm surprised no one has mentioned being injured sooner. Wasn't it something pretty serious like a broken leg and he missed pretty close to an entire season. I have vague memories of television commentators wondering if he get get a redshirt for that season.
He did come back and his outside shot was incredible....... but it seemed like he wasn't quite as fast or quite as fearless after the injury.
Or am I confusing him with someone else.
A quick review of his stats shows that he played at least 28 games in four consecutive seasons. However the link below references coming back from a broken foot in 1978 (it also notes the Blond Bomber nick name)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-01-19-9701190084-story.html
As you can see by the link the article is from 1997.
This link shows he started no games in his first season (76-77), started twice in the championship year of 77-78 and then none in 78-79 and 8 times in 79-80.
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/jay-shidler-1.html
It was actually his foot, he broke the small metatarsal on his left foot I believe.
Google "Jay Shidler White Lightning". Apparently that was his nickname in High School.
https://books.google.com/books?id=tC2tOKqd3bQC&pg=PA124&lpg=PA124&dq=jay+shidler+white+lightning&source=bl&ots=KfdcO57b4x&sig=ACfU3U02jB6SO34i4q9cfSJqzhr5RsXm7g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjtsNqr--zkAhVyRN8KHVlRDzEQ6AEwDXoECAgQAQ#v=onepage&q=jay shidler white lightning&f=false
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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I'll be sure to let you spell check my posts from now on. Glad to see that you're policing the board.
There wasn’t then, and I’m sure now no shortage of very pretty girls in Kentucky. Boulder is renowned for the natural beauty of the area, and I consider the college girls a big part of that. What I see daily on the bike, pedestrian paths, well it just makes me wish I were 40 years younger.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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With a huge wad of cash, lol. When I moved to Texas one of my friends told me that he always enjoyed watching the UK Basketball games because of our cheerleaders.
I can think of one fairly good reason why Dwight Anderson wouldn’t be known as White Lightning.
Maybe it was because of the puff of white smoke in Anderson's room which is why he was sent packing. By the way cawood called jay shidler whit e lightning especially early in his career.