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.
When I was a young girl, I kept a spiral notebook of player stats. I'd watch every game I could and record every point and rebound. I memorized all the players' personal facts in the UNC Blue Book (do they still print that?)
In 4th grade, I wrote a letter to Dean Smith to tell him how much I admired him. To my surprise, I got a hand-written note back from him, thanking me for being such a great fan. That letter was the highlight of all my “Show and Tell” days in school. That he took the time out his busy schedule to write a personal letter to a 4th grade girl is extraordinary. Yet I bet he did this for many, many fans.
Melissa Brown
There are so many memories in my mind of coach Smith but the one that stands out to me is being first introduced to Carolina basketball on TV in the late 70's and watching how with great calmness he coached on the sideline. He always believed and his players believed that no matter how many points they were down that they could win the game. He touched the lives of every person that played for him, came in contact with him and those that seen him on TV.
George Torres
My favorite Dean Smith memory occurred 3 years before I was born. My parents were born and raised in North Carolina. They were huge UNC fans! Both had been raised with the same beliefs regarding integration: it shouldn't happen. Then one day, in 1967, Charlie Scott played his first basketball game at UNC. While they did not change overnight, they, like many of us had one strong opinion: "if it is good enough for Dean, it's good enough for me". While not all of the beliefs and prejudices changed overnight, my family was changed. Now, 48 years later, I am a father. Through the miracle off adoption, my family consists of 4 ethnicities from 2 continents. We are an integrated family. I often cringe when I think of what I might have missed if not for the fact that the only color Coach Smith cared about was Carolina blue. I will always hold the belief that if it was good enough for Dean, it's good enough for me.
Matt Mecham
In 1980 my dad took me to Greensboro to watch the Tar Heels play. I think it was Arkansas, or maybe Cincinnati. I can't remember. We got there early enough to watch the team do a shooot around. Coach Smith was sitting on the bench alone. There weren't a lot of people in the building yet and no one was around the coach. My dad suggested I walk down there and ask for his autograph. So I did. I walked right up to Dean Smith and asked him to sign my program. He asked my name and I told him. He signed his name and told me he hoped I enjoyed the game.
Well, the Tar Heels won and two years ago, right after the Georgetown championship game, I found myself in Chapel Hill at basketball school. One day Coach Smith walked into the gym my section was playing in. We were all gathered together on the bench because he wanted to talk to us. After a few minutes of listening to him impart wisdom to each of us, his eyes fell on mine. He smiled and said, "Hey, Todd. I remember you coming up to the bench to get my autograph a few years ago. Did you enjoy the game?" It was hard to believe that such an important man rememberd such an insignificant moment but to me, who was thirteen at the time, it was the biggest deal of my life.
Todd Lowe
In 1974, I had just finished 8thgrade and was given a trip to Carolina Basketball School as a birthday present. During the day, we went to several local High Schools for drills, speeches by current or past College Basketball players whether from UNC or not. We would come back to campus for lunch and be thrilled by the players in attendance at pickup games on the court outside of Granville Towers. We would attend more drills in the afternoon and then back to campus for dinner. After dinner we would bus back to those same High School campuses and play basketball games against other campers. Coach Smith would drive throughout Chapel Hill every evening to attend these games for brief periods of time. I remember one evening, he attended the High School Campus where I was playing. I had the ball at foul line extended on offense and made a bounce pass to a breaking player toward the basket for a layup. As I was running up the sideline to get into defensive position, Coach Smith said, “Great Pass Kevin” and I was shocked. I don't know to this day how Coach Smith knew my name. We didn't have any type of identification on us. Just shirts and skins with Carolina Basketball School blue shorts on.
What I later thought and still do to this day is Coach Smith knew the name of every camper who attended. That is Coach Smith.
Kevin Brennan
I came to UNC as a 17 year old freshman in August 1971. That fall I thought I'd try to become a manager on the basketball team. Though he had all his managers already, Coach Smith gave me an interview for the job! I didn't get it but he was such an inspiration in the half hour we talked. Very little about the position, a lot about me and my goals. Fast forward to November 1986. I was Commanding Officer of a Naval & Marine Corps Reserve Center in NYC and Carolina was in NY for the Big Apple NIT. I saw him before the game and as I shook his hand he called me by my first name, asked me did I finish Navy ROTC and what was I doing. I will never forget that moment, I will never forget Coach Dean Smith! We lost a great man last night, the likes of which may never be seen again.
Julian Rosemond
I am grateful for the friendship my husband, Dereck Whittenburg and I shared with Coach Smith! May he rest in peace knowing that he will never be forgotten by those who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Jacqueline Whittenburg
(Editor's note: The author's husband was a starter on NC State's 1983 championship team and is currently on the coaching staff in Raleigh)
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