Awesome piece. That State-Terps game here in Greensboro is the subject of recall every year. Lefty was an amazing recruiter. We thought McMillen was going to Kentucky.
McMillen reneged on his UNC commitment and his mom was blamed. Some folks from a fraternity I won't name went to Maryland for the Carolina football game the next year. McMillen was a frosh, and ineligible then, but the boys still ran around a half-empty Byrd Stadium with a banner that read, "Tom, Say Hi To Your Mom.".. ...Then, when McMillen was a sophomore and made his first visit to Chapel Hill, there was legitimate concern that he would be abused by the fans, maybe even physically. So Dean announced before the game that the fans should treat McMillen courteously. In what Maryland assistant coach Dave Pritchett would term a case of "human mind control," the fans gave Tom a standing O when introduced. It blew his mind. Billy Chamberlain held him to 7 or 8 points and the Heels won easily....McMillen was a great guy to deal with, as were Elmore, Lucas and most of the Terps. Lefty did not tell them what to say, which was refreshing for those of us around the UNC program.
Great anecdote. Fabulous insight.
Awesome piece. That State-Terps game here in Greensboro is the subject of recall every year. Lefty was an amazing recruiter. We thought McMillen was going to Kentucky.
McMillen reneged on his UNC commitment and his mom was blamed. Some folks from a fraternity I won't name went to Maryland for the Carolina football game the next year. McMillen was a frosh, and ineligible then, but the boys still ran around a half-empty Byrd Stadium with a banner that read, "Tom, Say Hi To Your Mom.".. ...Then, when McMillen was a sophomore and made his first visit to Chapel Hill, there was legitimate concern that he would be abused by the fans, maybe even physically. So Dean announced before the game that the fans should treat McMillen courteously. In what Maryland assistant coach Dave Pritchett would term a case of "human mind control," the fans gave Tom a standing O when introduced. It blew his mind. Billy Chamberlain held him to 7 or 8 points and the Heels won easily....McMillen was a great guy to deal with, as were Elmore, Lucas and most of the Terps. Lefty did not tell them what to say, which was refreshing for those of us around the UNC program.
Great column, Mark. I assume you were The Daily Tar Heel writer mentioned at the end.