Just a random note from a fan of Walt since his college days... As you all know, Walt's alma mater is headed to the Final Four this weekend. Maryland coach Gary Williams was interviewed by Michael Wilbon in the Washington Post earlier this week... here's an excerpt: ... as he cut that last strand of net from the rim ... [Gary] thought of Walt Williams's loyalty a dozen years ago, when Maryland basketball needed saving... Walt Williams, an NBA player now but in 1990 a sophomore innocently caught in the big net thrown over Maryland by the NCAA. Because of the sanctions [no TV, no ACC tournament, reduced scholarships], Williams could have left College Park, gone anywhere he wanted and played the very next year. "His goals couldn't be met at Maryland," Gary Williams said, "because his goal was to play in the tournament. He never played in a tournament game. He said he would stay, he wouldn't transfer. He'd stay and see it through. I can't tell you how important that was to the program at the time. "Here we are, in a difficult enough situation having to look up at Duke and North Carolina every year. What were we going to do for three, four years? how were going to recruit to the ACC? Why would a kid come when he couldn't play in the NCAA tournament or on TV or even in our conference tournament? I've got to try to reach Walt this week." the whole article here: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/sports/columns/wilbonmichael/A56795-2001Mar25.html Walt of course went on to be the #7 overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in the 1992 draft. go TERPS, beat Dook..... ------------------
