"Imprints 1973," 1973, p. 61 (Pepperdine University Archives Yearbook Collection)Gary Colson
Basketball coach, AD
In 1972, Gary Colson served as both Pepperdine's athletic director and the coach of its men's basketball team.1 In February, he was pulled from a flight after one of his players joked about taking the plane to Florida, a comment that was overheard by a stewardess and interpreted as a threat to hijack the plane.2 As athletic director he oversaw an NCAA rule change allowing freshmen to play varsity basketball,3 as well as the shuttering of the track program in February.4
Sources
- Imprints, 1973, p. 61 (Pepperdine University Archives Yearbook Collection)
- The Graphic, 3/2/72, p. 1, 6 (Pepperdine University Archives)
- The Graphic, 1/13/72, p. 3 (Pepperdine University Archives)
- The Graphic, 3/2/72, p. 4 (Pepperdine University Archives)
