1975-76 Railsplitters Help LMU Fans Relive Many Fond Memories

HARROGATE, TN – On Saturday evening Lincoln Memorial University fans enjoyed the reunion of the 1975-76 Railsplitter men’s basketball team that finished fourth nationally and earned a trip to the NAIA final four.

Several months ago, former 75-76 team member Kenny Woods and LMU sports information director Rusty Peace began kicking around ideas for a reunion of the group.  “Many of the team members hadn’t seen each other or even been back to campus in 31 years, so the difficult part was locating the guys,” said Peace.  “Kenny took care of the ground work of contacting his teammates and getting them all to come, that was the hard part.”

Present for Saturday night’s reunion were former coach L.J. Kilby, Calvin Cockrell, Dave Colbert, Kenny Jones, Mike Beck, Mark Cartwright, Kenny Woods, Fred Lee and Doug Potter.    Also present was team manager and former Railsplitter basketball player Mike Jones.  “It was a great opportunity for the guys to get back together,” said Woods.  “It was wonderful to feel the appreciation of the Railsplitter community again after all these years.”

The 75-76 Railsplitters along with alumni, family and old friends enjoyed an informal reception that was sponsored by Wally Jones of Oasis Pizza & Substation, and then a University reception in the Turner Room of the Tex Turner Arena prior to tip-off of the LMU women’s game against Carson-Newman College.

At halftime of the men’s game, Lincoln Memorial University basketball fans were reacquainted with the team which achieved a 28-9 record during the 1975-76 season and earned the University’s only trip in men’s basketball to a national post season final four. 

“There was something special about these guys, in addition to the fact they went to the final four,” said Peace.  “They had style and a charisma about them that has been unequaled in LMU men’s basketball to this day.  As a nine year old boy that year, these guys were my heroes, my idols.  As long as I am the sports information director at LMU, the memories this team left with LMU basketball fans will be passed on to decades of Railsplitters to come.  Thanks for the memories guys!”