YouTube and the Illini

Illini basketball Gene Keady technical 1990

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVC9vtqgmXc

It doesn't compare to Bob Knight's infamous chair-throwing tantrum, but this video clip of Gene Keady reminds us the former Purdue coach could get fearsomely riled up, too. A far more jovial Keady was at the Beef House in Covington, Ind., on Wednesday night for an American Cancer Society benefit. The annual Illini/Boilermakers get-together for a good cause always shows Keady at his story-telling best and a guy UI fans can't help but like, at least away from the basketball court. But they sure got on his case on Feb., 21, 1990, at the Assembly Hall as a scowling Keady protested a call with some choice words and a twirling toss of his sport jacket. "He is smokin' over there," the TV analyst says at one point. And play-by-player announcer Dick Martin comments he's glad to be wearing headphones or he might not be able to hear a thing over the din created by 16,000-plus fans. There's further drama. After the Illini sink four free throws for the original foul (a forearm-wielding Steve Scheffler was the culprit) and ensuing technical, there's confusion over whether Keady actually was called for two Ts. Turns out, two officials called a T for the same reason, so only one is assessed. But the Illini keep possession and score, upping their lead to 30-16 and upping Keady's blood pressure en route to a 90-78 loss to Illinois. If you look closely, you can spot current Illini coach Bruce Weber, then a Boilers' assistant, on the Purdue bench. He seems to be pretty calm.

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