A View from the Cheap Seats

My extreme, near-sinful hatred for Carolina could only be eclipsed by the even more intense jubilation of beating those Bastards Born & Bred and then enjoying every fleeting moment of it until it is our time, as dictated by some malevolent, forbidding destiny, to lose to them once again.

I can recall with striking accuracy – actually it’s not really that impressive given the limited opportunities in my lifetime – every victory I’ve witnessed over them: 2007, twice in 2003 and 2002…1998, 1995, twice in 1992, 1991, 1990…

Miserably enough, we beat Carolina exactly once while I was at State. But for a kid that dropped C++ because its mandatory lab interfered with that Thursday night Syracuse game my sophomore year, that lone victory over the very namesake that represents everything unholy in this world was easily one of the most satisfying and lasting victories of my lifetime.

That 1998 basketball season would bestow but a single extraordinary, enduring impression during a decade devoid of such. In retrospect, we must hope that the similarities between this season and that one diverge – and quickly.

Like this season, 1998 had arrived with the newfound optimism and promise of a second-year coach and a presumably much-improved team. Then, like now, the previous team had been thin and oft-outmanned, but had made an unparalleled ACC Tournament run on nothing more than sheer will fused with a dogged desire, having come up just short in the championship game against that one team every true State fan wholly detests most.

And entering a new season, there was indeed reason for optimism. Like 2008, in 1998 we had returned the established core of All ACC Clint Harrison along with returning starters Ishua Benjamin and Justin Gainey (unfortunately, Damon Thornton would miss the entire 1998 season recovering from the hip injury that had brought an abrupt end to his freshmen season). Harrison and Benjamin were seniors while Gainey had already proven himself a veteran. Added to this nucleus was the heralded recruiting class of Archie Miller, Kenny Inge, Ron Kelley, and Cornelius Williams.

Expectations had been raised, but State had struggled through two very ugly early-season losses to Princeton and Penn State. In a game that lulled its viewers into a trance, Princeton had won 38-36 in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at the Meadowlands. Each team hit only 15 shots from the field while 24 of Princeton’s 38 points were from behind the arc. Oddly enough, free throws had been the difference: Princeton didn’t shoot a single one while State missed two of its three, total.

By its February trip up I-40, State had already lost 74-60 in Reynolds the previous month in a game that had never been competitive after the first TV timeout; by all indications the game in Chapel Hill could be even worse. By this point, State was 14-11 overall and had floundered its way to 4-9 in the conference, and hadn’t made good on the preseason expectations.

Meanwhile, guided by All Americans Antawn Jamison and Vince Carter and supported by All ACC Shammond Williams, as well as future beneficiary of countless ghost hand-check fouls thirty feet from the basket, Ed Cota, Carolina had steamrolled over the ACC, having been tripped up only at Maryland a month earlier, en route to a 26-1 overall, 12-1 conference record, and the nation’s #1 ranking.

February 21, 1998 was typical for a Raleigh winter afternoon: gray skies and mild; a good day, as always, to beat Carolina.

There was an open viewing of the game on a big screen in Reynolds, which drew quite a crowd, young and old. Beforehand, David Thompson gave his usual speech to the captive audience, most of us convinced there was no way he was taller than 6’4,” which only amplifies his legend. This was my first and only time seeing him speak, and I’ll never forget it.

A short time later, I wasn’t so sure about the game, though. They jumped all over us early, leading 9-2 by the first timeout on the dominant play of Jamison. But then the game changed. The freshmen Inge and Kelley switched assignments and disrupted Jamison’s presence in the lane; along with Williams, the three combined for 27 points to counter the combined 34 points of Jamison, Okulaja, and Ndiaye.

People will forget that effort, however. They’ll also likely forget that State hit 30-of-32 free throws against Carolina’s 14-of-19. Impressive in and of itself, it’s absolutely beguiling that State was even allowed to take 32 foul shots, more than less hit more than Carolina took.

But the effort no one could ever forget is that of Harrison. Like Lakista McCuller before him, with 24 points against #1 Carolina in 1995, he went to work with awesome accuracy and precision, slipping off screens and gliding through traffic to find every available open shot and then taking advantage, hitting 10-of-14 from the field and 8-of-9 behind the arc, en route to his career single-game record of 31 points. Neither Williams nor Carter had an answer for him on defense that afternoon.

On that beautiful winter afternoon of my freshman year, State routed #1 Carolina 86-72. When the team stepped off the bus into the frenzied throng outside Reynolds Coliseum late that evening, they had knocked the Heels off their perch atop the nation. For that day, at least, the top belonged to us.

We regrouped outside Owen, reconnoitering in anticipation of the already-building celebration. Of course we did the only logical thing we could think of: we merged with the growing mob as it drove us in chaotic, herd-like fashion towards Hillsborough Street. It had been a late-afternoon game so the celebration carried on late into the evening, and we hadn’t cleared Hillsborough until we had learned that the team bus would soon be arriving at Reynolds. Which was good, because I’m certain there remained no more parked cars undamaged along Hillsborough. I’ve seen video of the celebration on Hillsborough after the National Championship, and I would never attempt to compare the two, but that night it was utter chaos so I can only imagine just how truly epic it was in 1983.

Alas, this tale ends like too many other State stories: as dictated by some warped, predisposed fate, it would seem, our reign over Carolina wouldn’t – couldn’t – last. Evil wins more often than not, which is entirely necessary to ensure that Good remains all that more virtuous. Carolina got its revenge soon enough, in Greensboro a few weeks later, and while their season ended at 34-4 against Utah in the Final Four, our season ended at 17-15 against Georgia in the second round of the NIT.

But on that evening, none of that mattered, because North Carolina State University, the only land-grant institution established for the fine people of the Great State of North Carolina, the school of the greatest college basketball player ever and the original Cinderella, of Fire & Ice and the Spirit of Jimmy V, reigned supreme, once again, if only for that day.

I look back now at that 18 year-old kid and scoff at his innocence and naiveté: if this was just my freshman year, I could only imagine what the next four would hold in store. I mean, c’mon, we’re moving into the new arena in a couple years, we’ve got a stellar recruiting class again in 1999, and we’ll certainly have the most dominant frontcourt in the nation in 1999 and again in 2000. We’ll be a Final Four team for sure by 2001 after that Wilkins kid arrives. Things are going to be very good around here from now on, count on it.

I sure miss that kid.

I’m not callow anymore; on the contrary, perhaps a bit too cynical, hardened. I’ve also matured enough – I think – to appreciate that while sport often transcends life, it is still only a game; winning and losing isn’t life and death. This means I don’t yell so much at the TV anymore (apparently Herb couldn’t hear me anyway).

Of course, there are always exceptions: Carolina. Beating those Bastards Born & Bred is one of the things I treasure most in life. But I’m reticent to the reality of our chances this weekend in that heap of a town in Orange County, especially with Horner and Fells ailing. The simple reality is we don’t do a lot of things well this season while Carolina does, and I’m afraid they’ll easily exploit our many, many weaknesses — unforced turnovers, poor rebounding, poor perimeter shooting, lack of hustle. Right now, based on what we’ve seen to this point, Carolina is a league above us.

Which in this rivalry means absolutely nothing, as we’ve shown many times. Perhaps we’ve got them precisely where we want them, right? If anyone can fire this team up, it’s Coach Lowe, who understands what this game means to us all, because it means the same thing to him.

I want to win Saturday more than anything, and not even for myself – I’ve seen us beat a #1-ranked Carolina before. My reasons are entirely unselfish. I just want us to win so that my baby sister, who is a senior at State right now, can graduate this spring having experienced the elation of knocking off those bastards o’er the hill when they’re #1 like I experienced way back in 1998. I want to win this one for the kids.

C’mon, why is that so hard to believe?

About LRM

Charter member of the Lunatic Fringe and a fan, loyal to a fault.

07-08 Basketball General NCS Basketball

77 Responses to A View from the Cheap Seats

  1. whitefang 01/10/2008 at 3:40 PM #

    Thanks for this excellent post and the memories it brought back.
    In January of that year I had gotten to know the UNC chancellor at the time, Michael Hooker,through my business. Anyway we got into the State – Carolina stuff and he challenged me to come to CH as his guest for that game. For some reason I accepted and my oldest son who was 11 at the time wanted to go with me.
    I actually tried to talk my son out of it the Fri before as I was afraid of the long drive for the butt-whipping we would probably take. That Sat morning early my son walked out of his room wearing State red from head to toe. I told him to tone it down as we were going into enemy territory. He said “NO WAY Dad”, so off we went for the 3 hour drive over there.
    It was a beautiful game of course, but with about 2 minutes to go I am ashamed to say I told my son that we needed to head out to beat some of the traffic as I had to drive 3 hrs in the dark. He told me, “Dad we aren’t leaving here until the horn blows,” so we didn’t.
    When the horn blew he stood up, raised his arms, and yelled “YES, YES, YES!” over and over. Due to his conspicuous appearance in the land of baby blue, State fans were running up to him and hi-fiving him on the way out. Also I must say as much as I hate them the Tarheel fans were very gracious to him the entire game.
    In any case this post was especially meaningful to me as I lost my son 2 years ago, and I will always remember this special game as one the special days we spent together.
    Thanks again.

  2. doatesjr 01/10/2008 at 3:44 PM #

    Folks, no matter what your allegiance, whitefang just put this all in perspective and showed how sports, rivalries, etc. can be such a wonderful thing.

    LRM Note: Right on. It’s true that sports really do transcend life.

  3. jbpackfan 01/10/2008 at 3:45 PM #

    After watching the youtube video, I’ve decided that Engin Atsur must have been the greatest PG in the history of NC State, and probably should have his jersey retired. Considering how good we could be when he played last year, and how God awful we have been without him, I have no other explanation.

  4. Mike 01/10/2008 at 3:50 PM #

    Not trying to hijack the post, but I just read where 4 football players have come to school early.

    DB Dominique Ellis, LB Dwayne Maddox, DT Kyle Linney, and OL Ahmad Jaradat have all enrolled and will participate in srping practice.

  5. Trip 01/10/2008 at 4:21 PM #

    “This is the TFerg I want to see…”

    There’s no way that’s the same kid, that just goes to show you that it’s confidence that’s lacking in his game. He hit a near-half court 3, dribble penetrated, ran the floor, threw a few assists… Assuming that his ability hasn’t faded away (Which, it shouldn’t have)… then the only thing thats different is that he’s playing against harder competition.

    “7 guys should play: Javi, Grant, Costner, McCauley, Hickson, Harris, and MJ.

    I expect to catch lots of shit for this – but under no circumstances would I even CONSIDER suiting up Fells or Horner for this game. I want as strong a hand as possible for the trip to Littlejohn.

    No shit from me, I don’t think they should play either in a game that the odds are highly weighted against us UNLESS they’re close to 100%. Let them heal up so that they can play sooner against teams that we have a better chance of beating. If they’re going to beat Carolina, it’s not going to be because of Horner/Fells, it’s going to they because we show up, ready to play, and give it everything they have.

  6. Sweet jumper 01/10/2008 at 4:24 PM #

    Whitefang, Thanks for putting this rivalry in perspective. I have also always found the Carolina fans to be gracious and polite at the Dean Dome and at Carmichael. Your son was a true Wolfpack fan. That story reminded me of great times that I spent with my Dad at many ACC rivalry games. Thanks for sharing that and I am sorry for your loss.

  7. benniebolton 01/10/2008 at 5:15 PM #

    great post, thanks for that. I hope Sid will get these boys fired up for this game, as we’ve yet to see anything resembling fire in this team yet. Man, would it be sweet to give them their first loss and maybe kickstart our season

  8. ltm3434 01/10/2008 at 5:34 PM #

    great piece! As you once were, I’m an 18 year old here at State very hopefull of a victory over Carolina. However, I am ready for the disappointment as I’ve been watching State since I could walk. I can remember back to that game in ’98 when C.C. Harrison was my hero.

    saw Courtney walking today, he said his ankle is doing pretty good.

  9. highstick 01/10/2008 at 6:20 PM #

    Wow is all I can say Whitefang! That loss makes these basketball game losses look petty! Everytime we beat them from now on, I’ll think about your son and his NC State pride!

    Since I’m probably one of the oldest State grads on here, “we beat ’em before and we’ll beat ’em again”! I’m just hoping for the wins to be more frequent like they were when I was there the second time during the Thompson-Burleson era. I keep thinking about how this season has been a “let down”, just like the 75 season was. Except for TB, we still had a bunch of talent and there was a “meltdown” in the team chemistry that year.

    Did anyone happen to see Psychotic T dunk on Kenny George last night? And I almost gagged when the TV announcers said “he may have traveled”!!! May have??? Always does!!!

  10. redfred2 01/10/2008 at 6:47 PM #

    Great header from LRM, good stuff all the way down, and a post that makes us all stop…and think. Some would be quick to tell us that college basketball is just 40 minutes of our time and a silly game afterall. But as whitefang just pointed out, we all know much better than that.

  11. werncstate 01/10/2008 at 6:58 PM #

    Wow! I just watched trevor’s Utube clip. To all of those who have been hoping and praying that T-Rev never sees the floor again at NCSU, shut the hell up. This kid has game. Sidney sees it. The young man has been through quite a lot in his life. He just needs to get his confidence back and then watch out. For all of those who have been saying State has no back up for Fells you are wrong. Say hello to T-Rev. You will be seeing a lot of him. Show us what you got young man.

  12. TTandB74 01/10/2008 at 7:31 PM #

    I hope and pray we play with effort. I don’t get many games on TV in Georgia, and this one I’ll get to watch. Whether I hit the house bar before halftime is another question…
    Also, I thought Sheridan went 4-7 his second year. Wasn’t that when Preston Poag was QB and punter?

  13. doug74 01/10/2008 at 7:51 PM #

    Actually I think he’s played well already this year, just hasn’t started making his threes yet. Some of the early games he was more into it than anyone else. We’re going to need his handle and fresh legs now.

  14. howlie 01/10/2008 at 8:19 PM #

    I am upset by your article.

    Sir, having an “…extreme, near-sinful hatred for Carolina…” is NEVER sinful. NEVER.
    It is pure.
    Righteous.
    Cleansing.
    Redeeming.

    Carry on.

  15. Octavian 01/10/2008 at 8:20 PM #

    I agree with the previous comments; combat UNC’s size with great length (shelving Horner and Fells). Start 1-MJ, 2-Grant, 3-Costner, 4-Ben and 5-JJ

  16. highstick 01/10/2008 at 8:35 PM #

    I love the terminology of “Bastards Born and Bred”!!

  17. PapaJohn 01/10/2008 at 10:27 PM #

    Best post, top to bottom, in a while. Thanks to all, especially Whitefang.
    Favorite kid story – Sometime in the 80’s when Washburn was there I got 2 tickets to a Sunday afternoon game and decided to take my five year old daughter to introduce her to the finer things in life. It was her first game. We were playing Kentucky on national television, they were good that year, but we expected to beat them. (of course)
    We walked in the door and the atmosphere was electric. I decided to go all out to make it special, so we bought a bunch of snacks and I got her a pennant and a stuffed toy. With our arms filled we walked to our seats and sat down. As soon as they started the introductions the volume went through the roof and my daughter covered her ears and started crying. When she was little she was a little sensitive to loud noises and the faithful were at their best that day. So about five minutes into the game, we dumped all the food and left because she couldn’t stand it.
    Today she is a mother of three and I still kid her about that.
    By the way, that may have been Wash’s finest game. We won, and over the closing credits they ran the game highlights, most of which were Wash bringing the ball the length of the floor and nearly tearing the rim off the backboard.
    The local cable channel for American sports just announced that they will be showing the game live here in England Saturday afternoon at 5:00! Woohoo! It may be the only time I see them this year, so I hope and pray the ‘good pack’ that we’ve seen glimpses of this year shows up for the whole game.
    GO PACK!!

  18. choppack1 01/10/2008 at 10:54 PM #

    Whitefang – Thank you for sharing that story.

    LRM – nice article. I remember that game well. I was in Charleston, SC that weekend w/ my future wife and we were visiting her Mom. Her mom laughed at me because I was so into the game – just like my future wife’s Dad.

    I’m surpised Noah hasn’t weighed in on this yet, but in V’s final year, I want to say that we beat UNC w/ a makeshift line-up that included starting Mickey Hinnant.

    PapaJohn – Glad you’ll be able to enjoy the game across the pond.

    Good stuff here, all.

  19. cooldrip 01/11/2008 at 12:58 AM #

    Saturday evening, and every other time I witness a victory over the holes, my first toast will be to the Family of Whitefang. Your son’s passion represents all that’s good about NC STATE athletics. May he live forever in our memories, standing alone amongst the enemy, but proud, loud and ultimately victorious!

  20. RAWFS 01/11/2008 at 8:35 AM #

    highstick: sing it to the UNC fight song

    I’m a bastard born, and a bastard bred
    and when I die I’ll be a bastard dead
    so p___ on Care-lina, lina,
    p___ on Care-line, lina,
    Let’s go N – C – State!

    LRM Note: What a great song. A few days prior to any game against them, I call my Carolina buddies and sing this on their voicemail…but i use “they are” instead of “I’m” — just can’t bring myself to say it!

  21. Pack92 01/11/2008 at 8:38 AM #

    Salute to you Whitefang and that special young man you were blessed to have for too short a time.

    ^Ditto howlie. No way is hating the scum that spews out of chapel hole sinful. I don’t even want to get started on their “contribution” to NC.

  22. Texpack 01/11/2008 at 9:12 AM #

    Sing this to the UNC-CH Alma-Mater

    Far beyond West Raleigh’s ditches
    there’s a place called hell.
    Where ten thousand sons of b****
    Call it Chapel Hill.

    They can rant and they can rave
    About their so called class
    And they can take their cultured bulls***
    And shove it up their a**

  23. zahadum 01/11/2008 at 9:47 AM #

    I see where Costner was quoted as saying that if we don’t get back on D, then it might be a long night.

    Hopefully, he does realize the game starts at noon.

  24. LRM 01/11/2008 at 4:13 PM #

    I’d like to amend this with one completely inexcusable omission from the end of the column:

    Go to hell, Carolina!!

  25. highstick 01/11/2008 at 5:05 PM #

    Thanks for the two new songs! I’ll be sure to use them. I was in the office in Charlotte today for the first time since early December. The Tarholes were doing a lot of strutting! Sure wish I could go back again Monday grinning like a “possum eating sh.t”!

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