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If you’re talking about the Missouri State Bears basketball program, you’d surely have to mention the 1999 Sweet 16 team.
For two of those former Bears, that NCAA tournament run is still fresh in their minds.Â
“It doesn’t feel like 20 years. Honestly seems like yesterday,” said former Missouri State Bear Will Fontleroy.
“The great thing about, you know, the sweet 16 rounds we get to circle back and talk about it,” former Missouri State Bear Eric Judd said.
Eric Judd and Will Fontleroy still see each other at the basketball court. But these days, they’re playing different roles.
“It’s a heck of a lot easier to play than to watch,” Judd said.
Now, they’re basketball dads — Will, watching his daughter Bella at Kickapoo, and Eric, watching his daughter Ashton at West Plains. They’re cheering for different teams, but at the end of the day still cheering for each other.
“This is my guy, we’ll be friends until the end,” said Fontleroy.
Even when you’re cheering for other teams when your girls are playing?
“You know we we have to separate a little bit during the game but here we are again right after the game.”
“I’m always rooting for Bella. She’s had success and she’s always been talented,” Judd said.
These dads are soaking up every minute, and all of those yet to come.
“It is fun to see kind of a legacy, you know, start to build and who knows maybe what they’re still around when they’re older maybe they’re kids will end up playing against each other,” Fontleroy said.
