Carolina coach Robinson to face alma mater in opening round
Mar 18, 2009
Tags: ACC
When the Tar Heels sat down together to watch the NCAA Selection show Sunday night, they knew it was a possibility that they would see Radford on the 16 line right under their name in the Big Dance's opening round. Once that possibility became a reality, one man in the room in particular had a bigger than usual smile on his face.
"When it came up and I saw Radford, I said whoa," North Carolina assistant coach Steve Robinson said with his eyes wide open. "It was a pretty neat deal to see that and know that that's the place where you went to school. Once upon a time, I don't think anyone could envision or dream that they could be participating in the NCAA Tournament, especially when you go back to when they first started the basketball program, trying to become a Division I program."
Robinson was the Radford team captain in 1980 and 1981, and was one of the school's first three scholarship athletes. In 1979, Robinson was a part of the Highlanders team that won a school record 23 games.
His picture is even in the team's media guide this year, an image that some of his players can't help but laugh about.
"We've seen the 'fro from back in the day, back in his skinny days when he was jumping," Danny Green joked.
"[He's] a lot lighter I'd say, some more hair," Bobby Frasor added. "It was a pretty funny picture. He should bring [the 'fro] back - if he could - it was a good look for him."
While coach Robinson knows he has a job to do Thursday night, he admits that part of him will be with the team on the other bench.
"I feel a part of the program, success or failure," Robinson said. "I was able to play for Joe Davis...and he was the guy that really kind of got it going. I have always and will always feel a part of the program."
Radford has done a lot of work on its basketball facility recently and Robinson says he would like to check out the progress soon.
Hopefully for him and Tar Heel fans everywhere, his calendar will be pretty booked until the middle of April.
