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March 7, 2001
Amidst a barrage of sports highlights on any number of television monitors throughout Atlanta’s ESPN Zone, Virginia head man Pete Gillen took center stage for the first of what most Cavalier fans hope is many times this week. Nearly 42 hours before his squad will meet Georgia Tech in the quarterfinal round of the 2001 ACC Tournament, the floor general held court as part of a two-hour Inside the ACC Call-In show. Even Baltimore Raven tight end Shannon Sharpe appeared overlooked and went somewhat unnoticed as coach Gillen shook hands and greeted fans in-between commercial breaks. In what might become tourney-central for those unlucky enough to secure their spot in the Georgia Dome, Gillen entertained a packed house, including 175 Virginia Student Aid Foundation and Alumni Association members and guests, with his tournament insight and basketball savvy.
Hosted by Virginia play-by-play man, Mac McDonald, Gillen was joined by members of Wake Forest’s, North Carolina State’s Duke’s and Georgia Tech’s radio networks in what became a roundtable of basketball talk resembling a friendly version of CNN’s “Crossfire.” Even long-time ACC official Duke Edsall got in on the action, calling via phone to share the inside-story on why he ejected North Carolina’s mascot at halftime of the North Carolina-Maryland game earlier this season. Yet, for the many Virginia fans on hand, the main point of interest came when Gillen addressed the Cavalier faithful regarding Friday’s ACC Tournament Quarterfinal matchup with the Yellow Jackets.
“We are excited about playing in the ACC Tournament, because it represents a new season for us. Georgia Tech is a good team, and Paul Hewitt is a great coach. They will be a tough battle, but we are excited about the challenge, and we are excited about going to the postseason after this weekend.” said Gillen. “This is not the ACC tournament, this is the Georgia Tech tournament, we are trying to win this thing and it begins with them.”
After Gillen finished getting the Wahoo-followers in a frenzied excitement for Friday’s battle with Georgia Tech with his classic one-liners and motivational pep-talks, head Virginia football coach Al Groh made a surprise visit and shared his thoughts on the up-coming weekend. With football season still some five months away, Groh touched on his inaugural campaign as the Cavaliers’ head football coach, but also kept the focus on the main task at hand.
“We are here to play basketball and win the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament and move on to do greater things in the NCAA Tournament this year. This is not a football event, this is a basketball event, but we are proud to be here,” said Groh. “We are just avid fans like the rest of you…here to cheer on the Cavaliers.”
A great way to kick off one of college basketball’s most exciting weekends, the Cavalier coaches, avid fans, and faithful supporters stole the show on this night. Should all go well, Wahoo fans can only hope the party will be even bigger come this Sunday afternoon.