Nantz on Dean - 1991 Duke/UNLV

[VaDukie]

I'm watching a tape of the Duke-UNLV game, and Nantz is discussing the upcoming halftime report on Smith's ejection from the earlier game. He says:

"I really feel bad for Dean Smith. I thought he was shown up at the end of that game. Although the replays gonna show he was out of the coaches box. Too ticky tack technicals on the legend and he was thrown out at the end of that game"

Does anyone else remember this? Did the media drool over Smith that openly? I was 11 when Dean retired so my memories on him are thankfully very small.

[cspan37421]

I'll be watching that one again soon. The issue was touched upon briefly in the Final against Kansas. I think they showed an extra long piece of bright tape applied to the floor (near each bench) so the coaches knew where they could not cross.

Over the years, there seems to be no consistency at all with respect to staying on the sideline in the coach's "box". Sometimes, esp. during a regular season game, a coach is a step or two on the floor itself, when action is at the other end. Far and away more than going a step too far toward the centerline. Nothing is usually called.

My SWAG is that Smith had probably ridden the refs throughout and, given his stature in the history of the game, they felt they needed something undeniable to point to, to justify tossing him with a second T.

I think Lute Olson would get the same fawning media treatment. K would probably too, if he would allow for some grey hair so that his appearance would be more consistent with that of a long-time legendary, distinguished, older coach.

[tommy]

I'll be watching that one again soon. The issue was touched upon briefly in the Final against Kansas. I think they showed an extra long piece of bright tape applied to the floor (near each bench) so the coaches knew where they could not cross.

Over the years, there seems to be no consistency at all with respect to staying on the sideline in the coach's "box". Sometimes, esp. during a regular season game, a coach is a step or two on the floor itself, when action is at the other end. Far and away more than going a step too far toward the centerline. Nothing is usually called.

My SWAG is that Smith had probably ridden the refs throughout and, given his stature in the history of the game, they felt they needed something undeniable to point to, to justify tossing him with a second T.

I think Lute Olson would get the same fawning media treatment. K would probably too, if he would allow for some grey hair so that his appearance would be more consistent with that of a long-time legendary, distinguished, older coach.

"Allow for?" What might you be suggesting?

[1Dukie]

Yeah I remeber that. But what was that about some of the unc players going after the officials in the tunnel/locker room and the police going after the players??????? Funny you never hear about that. :confused: UNC=Thuggish program!!!!!

I'm so glad we upset UNLV and then beat Kansas.

[3rdgenDukie]

Guthridge dressed down the officials in the tunnel after the game. Also, after Dean got tossed, he spent a good 5-10 slowly walking down the Kansas bench and congratulating each player and shaking their hands. Prima Donna.

[oso diablo]

"Hey Pete, how much time do I have? Hey Pete, how much time do I have?"

That's what i remember. Smith asking that question to ref Pete Pavia in a very sarcastic tone, after one of the Tar Heels had fouled out. Must have repeated it 5 or 6 times, as i recall.

[bill brill]

as luck would have it, I was the lone media member present in the room after the tunnel when the carolina team left the floor after the loss to kansas. bill guthridge completely lost his cool and shouted at pete pavia, who had called the second T on dean. guthridge doesn't swear and I can't recall if he did then, but he was screaming about how pavia had treated the greatest coach in the country. dean knew what he was doing. he obviously knew he had one technical. I'd bet he never thought a second T for being out of the box would be called that late in the game, with the outcome decided. I've been told by two people seated behind the unc bench that dean was baiting pavia throughout, and especially after the first technical, which I'm not sure who called. I can't vouch for that authenticity. sadly, pavia died from cancer quite a few years ago.

[captmojo]

I guess this is just what we do in the off-season. I've been re-exploring the '86 season lately. I just finished the tournament title game. What a war!
Was that the only time Smith was ejected? Anyway, the holes should hang a banner.

[Johnboy]

My recollection is that the coach's box was either a recent invention at that time, or that it was a point of emphasis. I remember being both surprised and very satisfied that El-Deano got caught and the refs didn't let him get away with it - he was clearly baiting Pavia when he got called. The greatest thing about that night is that I was in a room full of Tar Heel fans watching Duke win in a huge upset and Carolina lose.

[DU82]

Best part about being there was saying "Ahhhh, See Ya!" to St. Dean.

He was clearly out of the box. That was a point of emphasis at that time, because of other incidents with coaches in previous seasons. The way it was explained to me by a couple of refs, if you're coaching (giving instructions to your team) the refs would give you some leeway, if you're baiting them, no such luck.