MOBILE, Ala. [Photo Gallery] - The University of Mobile and President Dr. Lonnie Burnett welcomed back and honored the 2004 NAIA Final Four Men's Basketball team on Feb. 23rd and 24th, with several players and coaches returning to the university for the 20th anniversary of their historic run in the national tournament. The team, who finished the 2003-24 season with a 29-10 overall record, was honored with a dinner on Friday night before being recognized pregame on Saturday afternoon prior to the men's basketball regular season finale in H. Austill Pharr Gymnasium.
The Office of Alumni Relations co-hosted a dinner with the UM Men's Basketball Program for the 2004 NAIA Final Four squad at the Dorsett Auditorium in Weaver Hall on Friday evening, which quickly became a night filled with reminiscing and encouragement for the current men's basketball team at Mobile. Current head coach Darnell Archey, who is in his fifth season at the helm of the men's basketball program, thanked the 2004 team for the example they set for his team to strive for. "It was a privilege and honor to welcome back the 2004 Final Four team this past weekend," Archey said. "Having my guys from the current team get a chance to hear their stories about being a family and love for UM was something pretty special."
Previous longtime head coach and athletic director at the University of Mobile, Joe Niland, then addressed the room and shared what the 2004 team meant to him, while encouraging the team to continue striving for excellence. Following Niland, former Rams Chris Bolden and Gabriel Feagin shared stories about their time and how each team member played an important role that only they could play. Both Bolden and Feagin talked about teamwork and the brotherhood formed during their time at UM. "You could feel and see the passion and emotion from Gabe Feagin and Christian Bolden when they spoke," Archey stated. "My guys took a lot from those guys that night and I believe it will carry us into the final stretches of the season and hopefully the NAIA National Tournament."
Archey mentioned how impressed he was with the family atmosphere of the team. "After being around them for a few minutes, it was no surprise why they were so successful. The camaraderie and love for one another was very visible and you could tell they picked up from conversations they ended 20 years ago, just like it was yesterday," he said.
Haley Haney, Director of Alumni Relations at the University of Mobile, had a chance to get to know several players prior to Friday's dinner. "I had the privilege of giving a tour to several members of the team before the dinner, showing them the improvements made to campus," Haney said. "It was so fun to hear their stories and see them relive their time at the university with each other."
On Saturday, 10 returning players and two coaches were presented with plaques during pregame festivities. Darnell Archey was the presenter as Pharr Gymnasium saw one of the largest crowds of the season, who gave the 2004 team a warm reception. Tramaine Perry, the all-time leading scorer for the University of Mobile Men's Basketball program, joined Director of Sports Information and Media Relations David Haney on the UM Sports Network during halftime. "First of all, kudos to Coach Archey and Dr. Burnett for even allowing this to take place, man. This has been a special moment near and dear to all of our hearts to say the least," Perry stated. "To see all of the transformation on campus since we have been gone is a sight to see."
Perry leads the men's basketball program in several statistical categories during his playing career from 2000-2005, including scoring 2,144 career points in a program-high 142 games played. Perry also leads the program in rebounds (878), steals (262), and field goals (801). "Man, it has been a dream come true because today is my birthday," Perry said when asked by Haney how good of a reunion it has been. "This is the best possible birthday gift I could ever have. We talk and text through social media from time to time, but seeing these guys face to face... it was just a different feeling."
The 2003-04 season will forever go down as a legendary season for the University of Mobile Men's Basketball program, with the team finishing 29-10 overall and claiming the program's first Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) Regular Season and Tournament Championships. Tramaine Perry and Gimel Lewis were named to the NAIA Men's Basketball All-Tournament Team at season's end, with Lewis being named the GCAC Tournament MVP. Perry and Gabe Feagin joined Lewis as GCAC All-Tournament selections, while Perry was later selected as an NAIA Men's Basketball All-American.
"Besides having 10 of the players come back from as far as the east coast, and Gimel Lewis coming all the way from Trinidad, it was great having Coach Joe Niland and assistant Coach Sam Coates back on campus," Darnell Archey said. "Coach Niland is a legend in my eyes and for 20 years did great things for the University of Mobile and the basketball program. Seeing his former players getting a chance to reunite with their coach after 20 years is something I will always remember and cherish."
The weekend-long reunion featured the following players and coaches: Joe Niland (Head Coach), Sam Coates (Assistant Coach), Chris Bolden, Larry Burgess, Barry Evans, Gabe Feagin, Randy Jordan, Gimel Lewis, Seluynn Palmer, Tramaine Perry, Matt Singleton, and Kenny Wright.
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About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
