Tomorrow night (Friday, 1/31/2020), Oldham County HS will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1979-80 Oldham County Colonel team that went 31-3, won District 31 and Region 8, and played in the Sweet 16 at Freedom Hall.

 

The 31-3 mark still is tied for the best record in school history.

 

That team was coached by Dave Hart, Jr, son of the University of Louisville Athletic Director at the time, Dave Hart, Sr. Dave Hart, Jr., would go on to become the Athletic Director at Florida State, Alabama, and at Tennessee, where he retired.

 

The starting five from that team: (all seniors that year)

 

6'5" center Todd Burns - grew nearly 4" from his junior to senior season. Was nearly killed in December of 1978 coming home from a ballgame when a drunk driver hit him head-on. Spent the rest of that season in a wheelchair; fortunate to have survived. Grew 4 inches in the off-season. Won the Courier-Journal "Game Guy" award for the player who had overcome the most adversity. Set a then-Oldham County record for most rebounds in a season.

 

6'6" forward Curt Robertson - leading scorer for the team; set a then-Oldham record for most points in a game with 45(?) against Fort Knox.

 

6'4" forward David Peden - defensive ace. Incredible wingspan.

 

5'11" shooting guard Todd Harrod - great outside shooter before the three point line existed. Graduated as the career free throw shooting percentage leader.

 

5'10" point guard Joe Crabtree - set the school record for most assists in one season.

 

Four of the five starters averaged double figures.

 

Oldham's final two home games of the season came against Jefferson County schools ranked #1 in the state. The Colonels beat #1 Moore, with Manual Forrest, 70-69, on the next-to-last Saturday of the season, then beat the new #1, Ballard - with Al Miller - by ten points the following Saturday.

 

The path to Freedom Hall was one of the toughest a team could have to take. The Colonels had to beat three 20+ win teams - Bullitt Central, Scott County, and Shelby County - to take the crown.

 

Unfortunately for the Colonels, they met Moore in the first round of the playoffs; after leading by a small margin in the first half, Oldham went cold in the second half and fell to the Mustangs. :-(

 

If memory serves, Oldham finished the season ranked #4.

Recognition will be in between the girls' and boys' games.

Great memories. Although I had done color commentary on radio prior to this season, my first game as the play-by-play announcer came in December of 1979 at the Ashland Invitational Tournament with this Oldham County team. They played Fairview that night (with a sophomore forward named Jeff Hall!)

 

Like I said, great memories.

Colonel, correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Oldham County have an all opponent team that year. Fairly certain my brother Mike made that team.

They did - during Dave Hart's tenure as Oldham County head coach, the Colonels selected an all-opponent team each year.

 

Unfortunately, I don't think I have the list from that year (sorry).

They did - during Dave Hart's tenure as Oldham County head coach, the Colonels selected an all-opponent team each year.

 

Unfortunately, I don't think I have the list from that year (sorry).

 

I remember him making it. He was quite honored. On a side note, my mother passed away in August and my wife and I have just started going through stuff she saved.

And believe me she kept everything. Today we found a program from the 1980 District Tournament at Carrollton.