DETROIT (2/13/2017) -- It was a time to honor and remember one of the all-time great teams in school history as the 1976-77 University of Detroit basketball team celebrated its 40-year reunion by being named the recipient of this year's John Conti Letterman of Distinction Award.
"It was a great way to end a wonderful reunion," said Director of Athletics Robert C. Vowels Jr. "The team featured not only a number of great basketball players who made an impact on the court, but when you take a look at what these individuals did after basketball, it was an easy decision to honor them with this prestigious accolade."
The 2016-17 season marked the 40th year of the Titans run to the Sweet Sixteen.
Dick Vitale was in his fourth and final year as the head coach as the Titans posted a 25-4 campaign, the most wins in school history at that time and still tied for first today. The squad was nationally ranked for nearly the entire season and ended the year with its highest ranking of No. 12.
The Titans set a school record with 21 straight victories, including a legendary triumph on the road at Marquette, the eventual national champions that season winning on Dennis Boyd's jumper from the top of the key just before time expired.
In the NCAA Tournament, the Titans downed Middle Tennessee State, 93-76, in the first round to set up a meeting with Michigan and despite a great battle, U-D fell, 86-81 win.
The 1976-77 team featured some of the best players in school history in future NBA players and draft selections John Long, Terry Tyler, Terry Duerod, Ron Bostick and Dennis Boyd.
The John Conti Letterman of Distinction Award was established by Anheuser-Busch to honor its long-time employee upon his induction into the Titan Sports Hall of Fame in 1984. Conti was the captain of the 1949 Detroit football team that won the Missouri Valley Conference Championship. At 6-1 and 300 pounds, he was an Honorable Mention All-American and the biggest man in college football. His spirit and charitable enthusiasm have always seemed to be even larger. In tribute to that spirit, the John Conti Letterman of Distinction Award is presented to former Titan varsity athletes who go above and beyond at work and in the community.
