Fan Memories Of Dean Smith: Tuesday

Yesterday, we asked for your favorite memories of Dean Smith, and hundreds of you responded. We'll be publishing some of the best each day this week, and there's still time to send us yours.

Here are Monday's memories.

My Dean Smith story... asked him to sign something for my son at a dinner years ago. Told him my son's name and then started spelling it - . J O R D A N... Coach Smith looked up at me with a wry smile and said "I think I know how to spell that one." Indeed, he did.

Leigh P Rowe

I remember my junior year, one of the greatest games he ever coached, the 1993 game against Florida State in Chapel Hill. My friends and I had some of the best seats we ever had, behind the basket on the end of the court adjacent to the Tar Heel bench. During the late game comeback that was sparked by the remarkable leadership of George Lynch and managed masterfully by Coach Smith, there was a questionable call by the referee. The crowd on our end began the familiar chant: "Bull $h!%, Bull &h!%". Smith left his seat and marched over to the baseline and began waving us off, imploring us to cease and desist. I know Coach Smith didn't have any idea who I was, or would probably never know I was part of that group. However, I still felt like my mother had just put me in my place. He was always a class act, even in the most trying game situations.

Michael Miller

My dad was a student and graduated at unc during the golden years of Carolina basketball (1981-1985). He played in the pep band and marching band all four years he was there. On his final home game at Carmichael he asked the band director, Major Y, for tickets since his parents had never seen him play in the pep band. Unfortunately the last home game of the season was the Duke game. Major Y said he would do his best but no promises. A couple days went by and my father assumed that he couldn't get the tickets. That same day he received a phone call. The man on the other end said "Keith this is Dean Smith". Laughing my dad assumes it's one of his college buddies playing a trick. The voice on the other end said "Major Y told me you have done a lot for this University and want tickets for your parents". Realizing it truly was coach Smith my dad shakily said, Yes sir. Coach Smith said tell your parents to meet one of my assistants at the back entrance.

Dean Smith gave my dad a great gift not just because he was a great man but because he loved what my dad had done for four years for the University.On a side note the assistant who came to give my grandparents the tickets was Roy Williams. It's such a small world.

Ryan Windley

My father, Arnold Jacobs, played freshman basketball during the Depression until he had to leave school to work. Coach Smith treated him as a member of the Carolina basketball family until the day he died. When my father was in the ICU, Coach Smith took time in the middle of the ACC Tournament to write a note of encouragement to him. Daddy died a couple of days later. The only flowers my mother allowed at the funeral were from Coach Smith and the Carolina basketball family.

My son, Jason, like many kids, attended Carolina Basketball School. Every kid there wore the same shirt, most had the same haircut, and most wore the early Nike shoes with that famous blue swoosh. In essence, they all looked pretty much the same in the fourth grade. Many years later, Jason was the sports editor of the Washington Daily News in Washington, NC, and was attending ACC media day. He called and excitedly told his father and me, "Coach Smith made a king out of me today. When he got to the table where I was sitting with people from the News and Observer and other big newspapers, he looked at me and said, 'Jason Jenkins, what are you doing here?' When I told him, he said, 'Your grandfather must be so glad to have you down here in NC." I couldn't believe that he recognized me, Mom."

Jason was so thrilled that Coach Smith knew who he was. So many of us had that same feeling when he remembered us and our families. Jason called me this morning and we cried together. I'm sure there were similar scenes in many households this morning. There will never be anyone like Coach Dean Smith…truly a legend.

Nancy Jenkins

I entered Carolina as a freshman in 1966, joined in that class by scholarship players Charlie Scott, Eddie Fogler, Jim Delaney, Al Armour and Gray Whitehead. I got to play against those guys when I tried out for Larry Brown's freshman team. I had never seen anyone do the kind of things that Charlie Scott could do on the court. I did not make the team, but Coach Smith took the time to tell me that I played well.

The next year I walked into Coach Smith's office and asked him if I could try to walk on. Amazingly, he said that he remembered me and would let me try. After about 5-6 practices, he told me that I would not make the team. He could have left it at that, but instead invited me to remain involved as a manager of the freshman team under first year Coach Guthridge. Coach Smith even let me sit on the bench with the varsity players during their games. He let me travel with the team to many away games. I got to know Miller, Clark, Bunting, Grubar, Scott, etc. I couldn't believe that Coach Smith had recognized how much I love the game of basketball and had taken an interest in me.

Coach Smith would sometimes have me stand in a chair under the goal and let Rusty Clark shoot over my out-stretched hands, first right handed and then left. I used to stay after varsity practice and get rebounds for Coach Smith's son shooting free-throws. One practice I will never forget: it was near the end and I was running the scoreboard. Coach Smith yelled at me to "bring the ball up". I couldn't believe it. I got to practice for about 5 minutes with the varsity team.

Coach Smith taught me how much difference you can make by showing a little kindness to another. I went on to a 31 year career in child protection social work, never forgetting that lesson.

Chuck Harris

I work at the Bull's Head Bookshop in the Student Stores and at the end of one of his book signings I was finally going to get my picture taken with Dean Smith!! (I'm blanking on the year this would have been -sorry.)

Anyway---My camera wasn't working correctly and I was telling Christina my Bull's Head Bookshop co-worker) how to get the camera working and Dean Smith leaned closer to me and said "way to coach".

One of the best moments of my life. Truly.
Stacie D. Smith

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