There was no trophy given so there was no banner hung. I concur with that in the context of when it was. In those days, it was very expressly stated that he tournament champion was the conference champion, which is what made our loss to N.C. State Roche's junior year perhaps the most tragic athletic loss in the history of the school.
Was that the game where Roche tried to play with a hurt ankle?
Yep - and where we had gone undefeated in the conference and where the East Regional was to be played in Columbia.
AND the way it happened-a lazy not being aware pass by Cremins that was intercepted by a NC St player who was in full gear before he even caught Cremin's pass meant for Roche. He was watching Cremins and just waiting for him to do what he knew he would do.
Seems to me a Riker basket that would have won the tournament COULD have counted. But ACC refs and ACC clock keepers.
Had nothing to do with leaving the ACC. All about Dietzel recognizing that the higher ACC entrance requirements made it very hard to compete in football
It was that way in every conference back then. My senior year in high school we went 9-1. And didn’t qualify for the playoffs. Just the way it was back then
After I saw your post I tried to look it up but couldn't find anything about the end of the NCSU game except that it was Norm Sloan's first ACC Championship. Both Clemson and NCSU held the ball on us resulting in low scoring games. I have a vague recollection that we had a chance at the end to win the NCSU game, but I may have heard it second hand. (I was 16 at the time)
Between Carolina and Tobacco Road it was quite simply the best college basketball in the country back then
Dunking, and the three point field goal.Yep, they had everything but a shot clock,.
Pepsodent Paul was a good man, but couldn't get it done on the gridiron.
The Marquette and Notre Dame games were similar to the Alabama and Georgia type football games. The ACC game atmosphere, particularly Maryland, NCS, Duke, and Wake were like Clemson football games. The UNC games, especially Roche’s sophomore year from my perspective, were absolutely off the charts. That was serious stuff.
Star guard John Roche went down with a sprained ankle late in an ACC tournament semifinal win over Wake Forest.
Both of those losses were at home.
www.sports-reference.com
It was tense back then...I recall hearing how a NC team (Duke?) threw dead chickens on the court when USC played; and back in those days, Rikard and Ribock were “enforcers.” I was at one game at Car. Col. when fists flew and benched erupted. I think Ribock decked someone (if my memory is correct, he was 6’8” and solidly built). They were scrappy, like dapper Frank McQuire.
The regional at the coliseum that year had some great players if not so great teams in Calvin Murphy and Bob Lanier. They also had some form of national high school player game or games as well; sat in the stands next to the bare footed Bill Walton who was playing in those games. Dude had the biggest feet I’ve seen before or since; his toes were like six inches.
I didn't laugh. I believe I cried, and I was a young but grown man at the time.
Were they hung at the time? If they were hung at the time, we'll talk. But I'll tell you this: McGuire and those people that played for them would not have wanted such a banner - not then. I'm telling you, the mindset was different then and pride wouldn't have allowed for it. They would have viewed it - right or wrong - as a sort of participation trophy. I do not believe the banners you described were being hung at the time.
had we stayed in the ACC we had a chance to become a UNC/Duke type of program in basketball, and the football program could have added some more conference titles, sad! Dietzel and Tanner both the destroyer of GC athletics.
Son, you go ahead and “focus” on that 2020ish championship; make it so. In this thread the adults are discussing an actual event. Run along and find a post where you can discuss your feelings.
