NC State fans pay tribute at Jim Valvano’s gravesite after Wolfpack advance to Final Four
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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – It’s been 41 years since Jim Valvano led the North Carolina State University men’s basketball program to its last Final Four appearance — and then an NCAA title win.
Following NC State’s upset victory over Duke in the Elite Eight on Sunday evening, many Wolfpack fans honored the legendary coach, leaving flowers and several other decorations at his gravesite at Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh.
Oakwood Cemetery’s Executive Director Robin Simonton said people come to honor Valvano every March, but this year is different.
“I was pretty floored by how much had been out here since the last time I was here on Thursday,” Simonton said.
A touching tribute was also paid to former NC State star and 1983 national champion Lorenzo Charles, who is also buried at the same cemetery.
Simonton said it was requested that Charles’ grave be as close to Valvano’s as possible.
(Gilat Melamed/CBS 17) (Gilat Melamed/CBS 17) (Gilat Melamed/CBS 17)
This comes after the Wolfpack’s magical run through March Madness, which began with winning five games in five days in the ACC Tournament earlier this month to earn an NCAA Tournament berth. The Wolfpack, entering the tournament as a No. 11 seed, became the Cinderella story of this year’s postseason, cutting down the nets in Dallas this past weekend.
This mirrors a similar run that Valvano and his team pulled off in 1983 when the Wolfpack defeated the famous “Phi Slama Jama” Houston Cougars that starred future NBA Hall of Fame players Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler.
NC State sophomore Syd Fryer placed red flowers at the grave on Monday afternoon.
“I just was really moved by the parallels between NC State’s run this year and in 1983,” said Fryer.
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NC State fan Jon Potter remembers the 1983 championship run well.
“He never gave up, and that’s something that we could all learn from,” Potter said. “No matter how hard the times get, you just don’t give up, and that’s what this team’s doing now.”
People said they’re honoring the person, not just the coach.
“Just everything that he stands for in terms of believing in yourself, and being there for others, and just being grateful for every day, I think resonated with me so much,” Fryer said.
Current NC State head coach Kevin Keatts and his team look to keep their magical run going as the Wolfpack square off against No. 1 seed Purdue on Saturday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Tip-off is scheduled for 6:09 p.m. EST.
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