UNC's Dean Smith Dies at age 83
February 8th, 2015 at 9:27 AM ^
Sad. I was about to post I didn't know he was in bad health until I remembered an article I read within the past couple years detailing how he hasn't really been himself for years. Sad indeed.
Here is the aforementioned article: http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/10545949/precious-memories-dean-smith-story
February 8th, 2015 at 9:25 AM ^
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February 8th, 2015 at 9:32 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 9:26 AM ^
Excellent long article about Smith here:
http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/10545949/precious-memories-d…
February 8th, 2015 at 9:30 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 9:54 AM ^
They also have a long standing tradition of "pointing to the passer" after each made basket. That was Dean Smith.
It was always about someone else receiving credit.
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February 8th, 2015 at 9:39 AM ^
Very sad to hear. One of my favorite coaches ever. Always rooted for UNC (when they weren't playng UM, of course) since the days of Jordan and Worthy.
February 8th, 2015 at 9:36 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 9:38 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 9:53 AM ^
Dementia sucks. RIP Dean.
February 8th, 2015 at 10:04 AM ^
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February 8th, 2015 at 10:11 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 10:37 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 12:27 PM ^
the 4C was brutal to watch. Fine for the last minute or 2 of a half or game, but insufferably boring. I hated Carolina growing up because of it.
February 8th, 2015 at 10:31 AM ^
One of the best, RIP Mr. Smith
February 8th, 2015 at 10:31 AM ^
That's very sad news indeed. I was aware that he was suffering from dementia and had not been well for some time, but still, to look back on Smith's achievements, some of the coaches in his coaching tree, some of the players that he saw come to North Carolina and then go on to productive professional careers (he coached something like 25 first round picks) and it is hard to overstate his impact on the game.
RIP Coach Smith.
February 8th, 2015 at 10:49 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 11:05 AM ^
Yes, we played UNC three years in a row in the tourney, all 2d or 3d round. It was like the committee was looking to set us up.
We lost the first two, but the third time was the championship run. Glen Rice was EFFING UNREAL against UNC that year (well... against everyone in the tourney). I remember we were up 2 with about a minute to play, and Rice launched a 3 from the corner. Swish. Good night everyone.
February 8th, 2015 at 11:16 AM ^
When we won that game and finally got over the hump, I knew we were going to the Final Four. We blew out Virginia in the Regional Final by the end of the first half. At that point, it was destiny.
February 8th, 2015 at 10:35 AM ^
Great, great coach. Not just basketball, but life too. There is the running joke about Coach Smith being the only one to hold Michael Jordan to under 20 points per game. He did not hold MJ back, he made Jordan's game complete, which allowed him to soar when he got to the next level. In addition to Jordan he mentored so many great players and future coaches. His footprint on basketball is tremendous!
February 8th, 2015 at 10:52 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 10:35 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 10:38 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 10:55 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 11:23 AM ^
I remember Dean Smith's last game against Duke at Cameron.
He did something really cool . . . before the game he went around to all the tents in Krzyzewskiville, stuck his head inside the tents, introduced himself, and thanked the Duke students for making it such a great atmosphere for the rivalry.
They were blown away by his class. They knew right then and there that they were at the pinacle of the rivalry, and that it would never be the same after that.
February 8th, 2015 at 11:31 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 11:41 AM ^
Started in 1993 while Smith was coaching. Hope he did not have a role in that. Details not out yet.
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February 8th, 2015 at 11:43 AM ^
February 8th, 2015 at 12:04 PM ^
When I graduated college in 1984, I moved to Raleigh, NC for my first job.
Those were the days of Dean Smith, Jimmy Valvano and the early days of Mike Krzyzewski. Basketball was the religion, and UNC, NC State, Duke was the trinity of the ACC.
I remember in those days the name of Dean Smith spoken of reverentially by UNC fans, and respectfully by NC State and Duke fans. He was every bit the face of UNC as Schembechler was UM. A giant of a man in those parts.
February 8th, 2015 at 12:17 PM ^
and the man was God in North Carolina. His picture was up on restaurant walls and houses like the President (in days when the Pres was respected more). A passing of an era. RIP Dean.
February 8th, 2015 at 12:22 PM ^
Sad loss for college basketball. Didn't always love his teams, but he was a great coach and a good ambassador for the game.
February 8th, 2015 at 2:03 PM ^
Rather that start a new thread I'd also like to send out condolenses to the family of the great Billy Casper. He'll always be remember for doing his part in beating Arnie in the 66 US Open. One of the greatest choke jobs in golf.
February 8th, 2015 at 4:15 PM ^
Forget basketball sanctions: the University of North Carolina should be worried about holding on to its accreditation. Dean Smith was a true innovator of the game, inventing imaginary classes that his illiterate players could sign up for and collect perfect grades. The fact that this scandal won't be paid one single breath in the slurping media eulogies is a sad statement about college basketball and corrosive sports journalism.
February 8th, 2015 at 7:11 PM ^