Feb 4, 2009
Marcus Ginyard prepared to enter a press conference he had never been ready to attend – a press conference at which he fielded questions about his decision to sit out the rest of the 2008-2009 season in hopes of returning as a medical redshirt next season.
He wore a three-piece suit, minus the jacket, and his oration mirrored his outfit: jacket off, signifying openness, but vest buttoned, representing some still-restrained emotions.
As Ginyard walked into the press conference, UNC Associate Athletic Director Steve Kirschner prepped the guard/forward for questions, questions reporters have wanted to ask him for a long time. Ginyard underwent surgery last offseason to fix a stress fracture in his left foot, but the injury took longer than expected to heal.
Ginyard tried playing in three games this season, which was supposed to be his senior year – the year when he and the heralded class of teammates with whom he entered school were everyone’s preseason pick to win it all. Ginyard played a major part in that picture of Carolina on top as the Tar Heels’ best individual defender by far and their most vocal on-and-off-court leader.
“My family and I have come to the decision that ultimately will be the best for me,” Ginyard said. “I guess, at this point, we’re just excited about the challenge that I have ahead of me, excited to get back healthy again … to practice with my teammates … and to get to the goals that we originally planned on getting to this year.”
He probably never envisioned finishing the season with this stat-line: Three games played, zero started. Thirty-seven minutes, total. One-of-four from the field, two-of-four from the foul line. Four points, total. Eight rebounds, five fouls, four assists, three turnovers and two steals.
And what must have felt like 8,000 years sitting on the bench, wondering if he’d play again this season. He won’t.
Ginyard described his pain as “somewhere in between a dull ache and a sharp pain … definitely something that’s enough to be a concern.” He said he did not regret having the surgery and that doctors still have no idea exactly what’s wrong – if anything – with the foot. He said he struggles with making lateral movements, something a great defender absolutely must do to compete.
He said the toughest part involved the self-nagging question: Can I come back late in the season and help Carolina win a national title, and when do I shut it down? “That question right there is what kept me up late at night, is what kept Coach Williams up late at night,” Ginyard said. “What was it that was going to be that tipping point to definitely decide to redshirt?”
As it turns out, Ginyard’s father first broached the subject of redshirting with his son around Christmastime. “Have you thought about going another year?” Ronald Ginyard asked his son.
“I looked at him, and I was almost, kinda’ pissed off at him,” Marcus said. “I said, ‘No.’ That was never something that I thought. From the very beginning, we were going to go into it, we were going to have surgery, hopefully 8½ weeks (later) I’d be playing again.”
As the weeks piled up, Ginyard had to confront his father’s question more seriously – and the Tar Heels had to confront more seriously the reality that they might lose their defensive stalwart for good.
Already without 7-foot freshman Tyler Zeller (broken wrist), the Tar Heels officially lost Ginyard and Will Graves on the same day (Graves was suspended for an undisclosed reason). Sports-talkers had noted the Tar Heels’ incredible depth heading into the season. Now, it's the lack thereof that draws notice.
But Ginyard, and his teammates and coach, spoke about the hardships of adversity with cautious optimism. “This is an excellent opportunity to show what type of character that this Carolina basketball team has. There’s no doubt about it that every national championship team has had to overcome some type of obstacle,” Ginyard said.
“Everything’s not gonna’ go your way. And every championship team has been able to find a way to get through those things and persevere. So, if anything, this is the most perfect situation for this team right now.”
It’s not “the most perfect situation” for Ginyard himself, but it’s a situation that, at least, has finally resolved itself for him. After the question-and-answer session, Ginyard received "job well done" shows of support from Kirschner, Sports Information Director Matt Bowers, and from his mother, who hugged him tight.
Neither Ginyard, nor the Tar Heels, were prepared for such a moment, but the moment has come. What they do from here matters most.
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