We have certainly seen enough of that in these last two weeks of the Olympics. We can be grateful that the incidents of social unrest have been the only disruption to the games. On a much more local level we have more than a little experience with the agony of defeat part as well as some acquaintance with the thrill.
One thing is certain: Before the beginning of any major athletic season both Virginia Tech and UVa will be hyped beyond any reasonable expectation. And each time fans of both teams revel in the prospect of glory . . . until reality sets in. It may be quite different from what was anticipated.
To be sure there have been great teams over the years. Virginia Tech played for the national championship years ago in football, they have won the NIT in basketball; UVa has been in the Final Four a couple of times, once (only once) won the ACC tournament (1976) and that was in the pre-Sampson era. On the opposite side of the coin there have been many seasons which were so bad that the headline hype before the first game was played is seldom remembered.
This basketball season has been quite odd. Not only are there teams in the conference a half a continent away from the Atlantic Ocean but there are others who have more snow each week than we normally see in ten years (2014 excluded).
Most peculiar of all, in the ACC, UVA is the sole possessor of first place and Virginia Tech is the undisputed cellar dweller. Despite that, VPI came quite close to embarrassing the astounding Hoos, living far above their pre-season publicity and Boston College- who had managed to defeat no one except VPI when they took down mighty Syracuse in overtime and on the Orange’s home court, no less. That is, as the pundits pontificate, why we play the game.
Obviously, the players are the ones who win (or lose) the game. Invariably at halftime the coaches are asked by the comely court commentator, “What do you have to do to turn this around?” The answers vary from the arcane to the obvious, but no coach ever says, “The players have to score more points.”
Clearly, the coaches are monumentally important. In football we think of Joe Paterno (before the Fall), and right here at home, Frank Beamer. In basketball, Bobby Knight, despite all his personality quirks, comes to mind. In a class by themselves are Jim Boeheim of Syracuse and Mike Krzyzewski of Duke. Between them they have won 1,924 games. Before they retire, if that ever happens, the 2K win mark will have been broken. They are truly exceptional coaches and everyone recognizes that.
I have heard coaches say, players win games, coaches make suggestions. How well the players listen is vital. That generally seems to be true. Athletes at the highest level are brilliant at their game. If they are fortunate enough to have a coach to whom they will listen, then good things are more likely to happen.
It is always satisfying when the game is decided on the participants, not be the referees. Think back to the officials’ decision to put one second back on the clock of the Alabama-Auburn game last December. Certainly that influenced the outcome.
Those who officiate the games are human and just as entitled to make mistakes as the players, but the rematch of Duke-Syracuse had the rare misfortune to have a coach be responsible for the loss. Syracuse was down by two points and a game-tying layup by C.J. Fair was disallowed because of a charging call. Clearly, it’s one of the most difficult of all calls in basketball; this one may have gone the wrong way . . . at least in the eyes of Coach Boeheim.
Generally a cool coach, he exploded onto the floor with Biblical fury, flung his coat on the court and yelled in a prolonged fashion at the ref. With 10.7 seconds left, he picked up two technical fouls, was ejected from the game, and Duke got four free throws, increasing their lead to five and the ball out of bounds. Even the commentators said that the game was effectively over even though there was still 10.7 seconds left.
The irony is that, had Boeheim not gotten the technical fouls, the call would have been reviewed and probably reversed. This time the coach, not the team, really did lose the game. While there have been a lot more thrills than agony for Jim Boeheim, it was sad to see the game end this way.
Don’t be too upset, though. They will likely meet again and who knows what may happen.
That’s why they play the game, that’s why we watch.
Hayden Hollingsworth
