1983 team goes to Washington

College Basketball NC State NCS Basketball NCSU Sports History Politics & Others Sidney Lowe11

h/t Mark Armstrong

It took 33 years, but today the Wolfpack’s 1983 national championship basketball team was recognized and honored with a trip to the White House. Several of the local sports broadcasters went along on the trip, including Mark Armstrong and Jeff Gravley.

At the time, the school wouldn’t cover the players’ transportation to Washington or hotel rooms. And accepting a donor’s offer would have violated NCAA rules. Only Wolfpack coach Jimmy Valvano met then-President Ronald Reagan.

“Everybody looks like they could still ball a little bit,” Obama said as he and Vice President Joe Biden posed for a photograph with the players. They presented the president with a red team jersey emblazoned with Obama’s name and the number 1 on the back.

…

Officials organized the visit after lobbying by Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, acting on a request from former Wolfpack and Utah Jazz forward Thurl Bailey.

Here are some pictures from the day in Washington. Congratulations to the 83 team!

Here is a video of the ceremony:

About ruffles31

1996 NC State graduate who is still waiting on his first ACC conference championship in any of the four main revenue sports (football, men's basketball, women's basketball, and baseball) since enrolling. All I want is a ACC Champions t-shirt.

College Basketball NC State NCS Basketball NCSU Sports History Politics & Others Sidney Lowe

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Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
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  • 05/09/2016 at 10:05 PM #103255
    ruffles31
    Keymaster

    h/t Mark Armstrong It took 33 years, but today the Wolfpack’s 1983 national championship basketball team was recognized and honored with a trip to the
    [See the full post at: 1983 team goes to Washington]

    05/09/2016 at 10:31 PM #103256
    Aeight
    Participant

    What a fantastic representation for our university. We are very proud of the 83 team and very proud of the class they represent themselves and NC State. This is the only “feel good” moment I’ve had regarding NC State athletics in a few months. Wonder why no current athletic dept representative was with them? Very proud day.

    05/10/2016 at 8:00 AM #103260
    BJD95
    Keymaster

    I am disappoint that my man Barry didn’t take this opportunity to say “Hey yo, where my BFF Cat at?”

    05/10/2016 at 9:20 AM #103264
    PapaJohn
    Participant

    Great for the guys, very happy for the team.

    I wonder if players today get jazzed about this sort of thing?

    05/10/2016 at 4:27 PM #103279
    PackofMac
    Participant

    Thurl Bailey is a class act, any NC State alumni or fan should be extremely proud of him and how he represents NC State.

    05/11/2016 at 2:03 PM #103304
    Adventuroo
    Participant

    Truly long overdue.

    Observations….

    Willis Casey was AD and was too CHEAP to fund trip
    The compliance guys would not let the Donor’s pay for it….fear of NCAA violation.

    Jamie Valvano attended the event and spoke emotionally at dinner the night before. She said that for a long time, she and her sisters actually were jealous of team and resented them as they took JV’s time away from family. But she now considers them as brothers. JV would not have left such a legacy without them. Jeff Gravely dismissed this on a long segment about the personal side of the reunion of the FAN.

    This was the first thing in almost 7-1/2 years that Obama got right. I do thank him for doing it.

    Thurl is well suited to the broadcast booth.

    05/11/2016 at 2:55 PM #103305
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    Hey sweet, it only took 6 posts. I win on the under (I’d have cashed in even if it was 10).
    Thanks Obummer!!!!!

    05/11/2016 at 3:35 PM #103306
    Daniel_Simpson_Day
    Participant
    PackofMac wrote:

    Thurl Bailey is a class act

    He was always my favorite player.

    05/11/2016 at 5:52 PM #103307
    mak4dpak
    Participant

    The travesty of this all is that the man who made the winning shot, never got to make this trip. RIP Lorenzo Charles!

    05/12/2016 at 4:10 PM #103317
    Dire_Wolf
    Participant

    Was it a money issue? I remember that the issue was not the payment, but the fact that such a visit would have been a “benefit” that was not available to all students. After some folks pointed out that other national champs had done this previously, the NCAA changed their ruling for subsequent winners. Just another example of how the NCAA had it in for State back then.

    05/12/2016 at 9:44 PM #103322
    Adventuroo
    Participant

    http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/College-Basketball/2016/05/09/NC-State-basketball-1983-NCAA-champions-finally-visit-White-House/7061462827709/

    The only member of Valvano’s staff that I knew passed away a few years ago, otherwise, I would quiz him.

    The “cover” story was that it would be an impermissible benefit…..IF it were paid for by “donors”.

    BUT, Old Willis “Scrooge” Casey would not pop for the costs….

    Or that is what we learn now….

    Some of the insiders will have to tell us….

    05/13/2016 at 12:57 AM #103324
    TeufelWolf
    Participant

    As a Marine, I’ll bite my tongue. I can say that I stopped to refuel in Tallehasee in a military helicopter. Coincidentally, Biden happened to be there refueling as well. It was a Sunday afternoon and I was kicked back in an FBO recliner watching football when we were invited to go meet him…. If anything, my chair seemed to recline just a little more.

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