Lowe Looks Forward to '83 Reunion

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Lowe Looks Forward to '83 Reunion

By J. Mike Blake

Feb 15, 2008

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He was the short and thick point guard who just didn’t turn the ball over.

Alongside him was a similarly built high school teammate who hoisted shots from outrageous distances. In the paint was a smooth-shooting big man who had excellent timing on blocked shots.

And there were more than just these three. There were the sharp-shooters, athletic big men, characters off the bench. Altogether they proved to the country hat an underdog could come out on top after all. And one day, the coach of that team taught the world what it really meant to “never give up.”

Now, 25 years later, a lot of things have changed. One player took up broadcasting as a career. Others had their try in the NBA before finding another profession. And the coach, though he died far too soon, won’t soon be forgotten.

But some things haven’t. That point guard is still running the show at N.C. State, 25 years after leading the program to its second national title.

And now, on the silver anniversary of that 1983 team, coach Sidney Lowe awaits the return of his teammates as they enter town to be honored Saturday when the Wolfpack hosts Clemson at 3 p.m.

“We just had a very close, close team. Everyone got along,” Lowe said of the ’83 squad.

Lowe has even made sure his current players will get a chance to meet with all the championship players.

“I think it’s important that our guys see the former players and get an opportunity to talk to them and [find out] what it means to be here at N.C. State. What it means to wear that jersey,” Lowe said.

At the time, the team “had no idea” the effect the 54-52 championship win over the Houston Cougars would have on others, Lowe said.

Since then, people from all over the country have come up to him and explained that when Lorenzo Charles slammed down Dereck Whittenberg’s errant shot as time expired, it actually changed their lives.

“I would go places when I was in the NBA and the first thing someone would say was, ‘I loved that ’83 game.’ I’m thinking, here I am a coach in the NBA, I thought that was big time and they’re here talking about that game,” Lowe said.

“I think what [that game] did, I’ve had people say this to me, is it gave them hope for some of the struggles that they were having in their personal lives; to see underdogs to come out and prevail. We just touched a lot of people’s lives.”

The perseverance of that team served as inspiration for thousands of people, and in doing so, gave thousands more a few stories to tell.

To this day, patrons tell Lowe their accounts of where they were when the dramatic final basket happened and how much that game meant to them. And Lowe said he doesn’t mind it one bit.

“To me, that’s amazing. It’s fun. I enjoy it. Sometimes people think I don’t like hearing those stories but I love hearing those stories,” Lowe said. “The first thing they’ll say to me is ‘I know you get tired of talking about it or hearing about it but ...’ I say, ‘No, no buts, just tell me what happened.’ It was special.”

Lowe said he’s seen several of the former players over recent years, naming, among others, Thurl Bailey, Cozell McQueen, George McClain, Bailey and Whittenberg, who is now the head coach at Fordham.

In fact, the only one he said he hasn’t seen in awhile is Harold Thompson, better known as “World.” Nonetheless, Lowe said it would be a special moment to see all the members of that team together once again.

“So Harold - excuse me - ‘World’ - would be the one I hadn’t seen in awhile,” Lowe said. “It’d be nice to see him and it’d be nice to see all the guys back together.”

Most Recent Comments

It's sad that the one that should be there isn't. Rest in Peace, Jimmy V.

"Sidney, needs to be thinking about 2008, not 1983."

I'm pretty sure he is. Just b/c a bunch of reporters ask him about the 25th anniversary coming up this weekend and he answers those questions doesn't mean he's not focused on beating clemson.

"I am afraid that we may have made a mistake by hiring an alumni basketball coach like we did in hiring Chuck Amato."

unc doesnt regret hiring roy do they? give lowe time. let him enjoy seeing the old buddies this weekend

This article isn't about the 07-08 season at all; it's about a great and exciting National Championship game. Let them celebrate!

But, I do agree, that great players don't necessarily make great coaches...prime example is Michael Jordan...also, Isaiah Thomas...

Lately when I've seen footage of that team, especially of the ACC/NCAA tourney runs, I've concluded that that team was no "fluke" or "underdog". In my opinion, that was an awesome team that beat all of those other teams fair and square. Lowe was an efficient and super smart point guard, Whit has a very nice jump touch, Thurl put the "power" in the term power forward, Cozell gathered all the rebounds when he should, Gannon the Cannon nailed the three's, and the bench, especially Ernie Myers, all rose to the occasion. And none were better at the X's and O's that year than my beloved Coach V., who put it all together. No fluke, no upsets, no underdogs, no "cardiac pack" in my opinion. It just goes to show, no matter how corny it may sound, that a collective team effort of many less-than-spectacular players who put their egos to the side and play hard at team-oriented ball as directed by their inspiring coach will beat any team of a few superstars..ask Ralph Sampson and Akeem Olajuwon

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