I can still hear him clapping his hands and screaming in excitement watching Ralph and the boys. I would mimic Sampson's hook shot or even Othel Wilson on the gravel court in the backyard or the playground. We went to see Terry Holland at Drewry Mason High School when he visited Tim Martin. Dad was over the moon. Holland was a god and Dean Smith was the classless devil for that evil witchcraft known as four corners. We made a road trip to watch UVA at home in Charlottesville and it was a big deal. I still have the pom-pom on a stick. They gave out "Hey Vern, it's Ernest!" masks - pretty odd giveaway for a hoops game now that I think about it. I kept that too. My dad probably made $150/mo installing cable so eating Prime Rib at Aberdeen Barn Steak House based on a recommendation from my uncle was like eating out in NYC. It's so fun to see all of this footage and remember being a kid when times were a lot simpler.

Oh yeah, that loss to NC State was devastating.


[Post edited by WildTurkE at 02/22/2022 10:14PM]