The sophisticated technique Brother Augustus Spurrell, known by some simply as Ben, brought to each practice as coach of the Regina High School basketball team.
Every conceivable drill was run on countless offensive and defensive systems that most rival coaches weren’t even aware of at the time.
To play the game Br. Spurrell’s way was to play with an absolute academic precision.
“He studied the game,” said Byrne, the current Minister of advanced education and skills, who was a centre on those Regina teams for three years, up until his graduation in the spring of 1984.
Learning the art and science of the sport from the Irish Christian Brothers who taught in Harlem, N.Y., Br. Spurrell carried that knowledge with him to the gym floors of this province.
“That’s how he really elevated the game of basketball, not only in western Newfoundland, but throughout all of Newfoundland,” Byrne said.
Br. Spurrell died on Sunday at the age of 73 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
“He was the greatest mentor I had as a teacher and as a coach in high school,” Byrne said. “There’s no question about that.”
Br. Spurrell certainly had a somewhat abrasive side to his coaching style, Byrne recalls. He was a disciplinarian — “in the best sense of the word.”
Anyone who wanted to play basketball on his team had to be dedicated, disciplined and come ready to play. Anyone who wasn’t, didn’t.
Byrne laughed recalling a game he struggled mightily in, so much so, Br. Spurrell pulled him off the floor and made him go sit on the opposing team’s bench.
“I don’t know if you’d get away with it in today’s world, but I didn’t suffer from it and we as a team didn’t suffer from it,” Byrne said. “We always knew … he was going to bring out the best in us, and he did it.”
His methods helped Regina, the smallest competitive high school at the provincial 4A level at the time, win championships, including the 1983 title.
Even after the summer of ’83, when the school burned down and the players were forced to spend an uncomfortable Grade 12 year in portable classrooms and borrowed gymnasiums, they were contenders.
Byrne believes they would have gone back-to-back, but the outside distractions and challenges of that season eventually caught up with them.
Art Griffin, then-coach of the rival Herdman Collegiate squad and a good friend of Br. Spurrell’s, did his best to help.
There had been a Regina Invitational tournament every year for quite some time, but due to the fire, it appeared that tradition might end.
Griffin promptly offered up the Herdman gym to host. The supposed enemy grounds suddenly switched to friendly confines.
When contacted on Monday evening, Griffin was still struggling to come to terms with the death of his friend of over 40 years.
“He defines friendship and loyalty for me,” he said. “The many, many years I played basketball with him, coached against him, (it was) nothing but an honourable, sportsmanlike relationship, even though the rivalries were very intense.
“In a capsule form, that’s about all I can say,” he added. “Now, if you wanted me to write a book, I could do that.”
A wake will be held today at Mount St. Francis in St. John’s, with visitation from 12 noon – 4 p.m, and 7-9 p.m., and a prayer service taking place at 8 p.m.
His funeral will be 9:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Patrick’s Church.
