You know, there's a lot of history in the ACC, and while there are dozens of stories of glory, there are also some really sad endings as well. The saddest is probably Len Bias, but the deaths of Everett Case and Gerry Gerard are significant as well. Chris Patton of Maryland died suddenly as did another kid from Maryland not too long after that, and there was a kid at State who committed suicide during the season, which must have just crushed his team.
But those are balanced by the magnificent victory lap run by Jim Valvano and, more recently, the stunning fight Kay Yow is putting up against cancer.
Yow doesn't have the personal magnetism of Valvano - almost no one does - but she has the heart of a lion. Her fight is as inspirational as was Valvano's.