Davidson Community is Wild For Cats

What is Davidson? Where is Davidson? Who is Davidson? Until now, few outside the tight-knight Davidson community, home to a college of just 1700 undergraduate students and little else, could have known this "Davidson" as anything more than a small college with a decent basketball team that sometimes makes the NCAA tournament.

Not anymore. Obscurity is a thing of the past thanks to a sophomore shooting guard who looks like he might not be a teenager yet and an unflappable head coach who has turned down countless "bigger" job offers precisely because he believed that something like what is happening right now was possible. Of course, I'm referring to Stephen Curry, the player who has taken this year's NCAA tournament by storm with 70 points through two games and 55 combined in the two second halves, and Bob McKillop, one of the most well-respected floor generals in college basketball who is finally achieving the inevitable with his first two NCAA tournament victories. Together — but with a lot of help — they have engineered two straight comeback wins to put the Davidson Wildcats in the Sweet 16 and make them everyone's (outside of Western Kentucky, that is) favorite 2008 Cinderella.

The first was a thrilling 82-76 win over seventh-seeded Gonzaga in which Curry's 30-point onslaught in the second half (40 total) brought the Wildcats back from an 11-point deficit with less than 15 minutes to play. If you thought that was sensational, you had another thing coming for you two days later when Davidson took on mighty Georgetown, a 2007 Final Four participant and a trendy pick to make it back to college basketball's Promised Land. This time the Wildcats found themselves down by 17 points early in the second half and 16 points down with less than 15 minutes to go. That's right; that's 16 points down with only 15 minutes to make it all up against a Georgetown team known for its ability to put the clamps down on opponents and make anything more than a 10-point lead a certain victory. But when you're a team that has already made a living off overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds, and when you're a team that has Stephen Curry on its roster, impossible is nothing. Curry erupted for 25 second-half points to lead a herculean charge and snatch a 74-70 victory from the jaws of defeat.

Sure, this joy-ride to the Sweet 16 is about Curry, who has gone from the best-kept secret in college basketball to instant stardom (and fame that includes appearances on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption and Mike and Mike in the Morning). It's about McKillop, who has led his team to the Big Dance in three consecutive years now, but fell painfully short of first-round upsets the previous two appearances. It's about Jason Richards, who still isn't getting the attention he deserves despite leading the nation in assists per game and averaging 17.5 points through two NCAA tournament contests. It's about Andrew Lovedale, who did not start playing basketball until 2001 and in just one season (if less) has gone from role player to half-man, half-beast (if you want to know what I mean, just check his 11.5 points and 8 rebounds per game averages in the two games last week against much bigger opponents).

But it's about so much more, too. For the traditional powerhouses like North Carolina, UCLA, and Kansas (among others) who are back in the Sweet 16, winning two tournaments means next to nothing. It only means something if they parlay it into two more wins to reach the Final Four, and two more wins after that to capture the national championship. That's not — and never could be — the case with Davidson. For Davidson College and the miniscule town of Davidson, North Carolina, what this basketball team is doing tugs at the very heart of the Davidson corps. It puts Davidson on the map. And as you will see, it means a lot of different things for a lot of different people.

For Claire Asbury, Davidson class of 2010, this team and this incredible ride to the Sweet 16 is the essence of Davidson College. "For me," she begins, "Davidson basketball epitomizes the Davidson community. Belk Arena (the basketball stadium that seats less than 6,000) buzzes with the energy of students, professors, little kids, senior citizens, alums, and those with no connection to the school. We cheer on these talented players because they are good at basketball, yes, but mainly because they come from us, from this busy, compassionate little town and this little hard-working red-bricked college, home to the biggest statue of a wildcat in the world. They are not distant, they are not "above" any of us; they are part of us. And I am grateful that they speak to that and represent that in every interview I've heard them give.

"This is my home in no light sense of the word," Asbury continues. "The academics are great, but the people are better. The camaraderie, the friendship, the singing of corny but perfect Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond's classic that has somehow become the basketball theme song played at every eight-minute media timeout in the second half); a lot of it is difficult to put into words, really. It's like belonging to a family that spans decades and knowing that you'll never know every single one of them, but when you are all smushed together in a huge gym, or crowded around a TV cheering for your other family members (the ones who got the athletic genes), it doesn't matter. You support each other. I'm not an athlete, but I feel supported by friends, mentors, professors, and this town in general. It's not exclusive to our boys at all. And it is these moments, when my feet leave the ground ("1, 2, 3, 4!") and my face aches with gratefulness ("SO GOOD! SO GOOD! SO GOOD!"), that remind me how important this community will always be in my life. I feel so blessed to have gained this family, and I am so proud of what all our members accomplish — on the national stage and off."

Steve Suflas, class of 1973, shared a similar observation while attending last weekend's games in Raleigh. "After the stirring win against Gonzaga, the players, as a group, walked to the front of the section containing the Davidson faithful and applauded their supporters. That's when I teared up; watching this manifestation of what it means to be a part of the Davidson community."

John Bryant, class of 2008, agrees that the Wildcat basketball team has done a remarkable job of making sure that each every achievement is not just a triumph for the team, but a triumph for the entire Davidson family. "Cheering for this team for four years has been an incredible blessing," says Bryant. "I've seen the seniors grow and develop, coming off the bench as role players to now starters with 100 career victories. I've spent what must be the equivalent of weeks in the student end zone section of Belk Arena. What impresses me so much about this team is how they participate in and inspire the Davidson community that we love so much. At every home women's basketball game that I have attended, the guys are there cheering them on. Even though there aren't many students for the women's games, the men's team brings consistent support.

"I attended the Southern Conference Tournament in Charleston in 2007 and 2008," Bryant continues. "Both years after the festivities were over, the team climbed into the stands. I was impressed each time that the players greeted many of the fans by name and as friends. This year I made a special point to congratulate Stephen Rossiter (sophomore forward) since I had a class with him last spring. Having heard countless stories about the "Davidson bubble," I shouldn't have been surprised when he immediately recognized me by name, but I still was. Given the high emotional intensity of the moment, I feel I would have been hard-pressed to remember anyone's name outside my own family."

For Bryant, however, this dream season extends far beyond Davidson, North Carolina. "In terms of inspiration, I experienced a great moment in this year's tournament. I went home to Alabama for Easter break and on Easter Sunday was on effective news lock-down. My family had gone to have Easter dinner with friends in Tennessee who had no TV reception and an ancient dial-up connection. We found a way to get (Davidson broadcasters) John Kilgo and Logan Kosmalski over my cell phone, which we put on speaker. When it began, I was the only one listening. However, as the game progressed, more and more people began to huddle around the phone. While I was the only Davidson-affiliated listener, everyone was rooting hard for the Wildcats. I'm sure hearing all the North Carolina fans join in singing "Sweet Caroline" in Raleigh (Carolina beat Arkansas in the following game) was impressive, but for me, seeing a group of diehard SEC football fans surrounding a cell phone and pulling for Davidson was amazing."

Carolyn Meier, class of 1986, enjoyed a similar experience last weekend with friends and family members who had little, if any, association with Davidson. "I don't come from a Davidson family. I was quite literally born an Iowa University Hawkeye, where my dad was a student. I grew up in the shadows of Vanderbilt University and Belmont College. I currently live in the sleepy town of Charlottesville, Virginia, home to ACC-member University of Virginia. This week I have heard from old friends, family, business acquaintances, and complete strangers from all over the country who sought me out for one reason: to talk about Davidson basketball. How loudly they cheered as the 'Cats roared back from seemingly impossible deficits to beat two of the most respected basketball programs in the NCAA.

"What an amazing team the Wildcats are," Meier adds, "to be able to play with such heart and obvious love of the game against such incredible odds. Having yelled until my voice nearly gave out, clapped until my palms are bruised and cried at the sight of Coach Bob McKillop and the guys jumping around center court as the newest team to join the Sweet 16, I took each call with a sense of pride and a feeling of giddiness which comes from watching history in the making. For one bright, shining moment, the whole world seems like Wildcat Country."

Allison Marsh, class of 2004, also appreciates the sudden end to Davidson's relative obscurity. "Having grown up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama where we take for granted the fact that everyone in the country knows the names of our football coach and starting quarterback, going to a small school like Davidson (known more for it's academics than athletics) was a dramatic change. Many of my friends both then and since have asked me, 'Why Davidson? What is Davidson? Where is it, anyway?' Like so many other Wildcat alumni, I faithfully answer this question with the response, 'Davidson is a small liberal arts college 20 miles north of Charlotte. It's one of the highest ranked liberal arts schools in the country and they do your laundry for free!' But this response is so far from capturing what we know in our hearts to be the true reason we went to Davidson ... because we could never imagine going anywhere else.

"Today," she goes on, "I am a Davidson alumna myself and I have my own ring to prove it. Choosing Davidson remains the one thing in my life of which I am most proud. I have always known what it meant to be a Wildcat; I think I knew it before I even saw the campus for the first time. But I also know how disconcerting it feels when I meet someone who has never heard of the school. It's not my frustration that they don't recognize my alma mater, that they don't know where that diploma over my desk came from, but more sadness that they don't understand ... they don't get it. This past weekend I stood with several of my closest friends and fellow alumni on the front rows of the crowd in the RBC Center (in Raleigh) as we watched our Wildcat basketball team beat not just one, but two of the best teams in the country; big teams with big names. I yelled and cheered until I was hoarse. I jumped up and down pumping my fist in the air to the beat of "Sweet Caroline." I was caught up in the utter joy of the fact that now the rest of the country is finally getting to see a piece of what Davidson is and what it stands for. Coach McKillop and all of our players are perfect representatives of the spirit behind our school and I have never in my life been prouder to be a Wildcat. It was an overwhelmingly big moment for a girl from Alabama."

John Burns, class of 1992, also realizes that that the efforts of this underdog team and underdog town are making an impact far and wide. "I would say the greatest moment this week was not Curry's four-point play against Georgetown, not Andrew Lovedale's screaming rebound against Gonzaga. It wasn't the ridiculous Curry layup against Georgetown. It wasn't even "Sweet Caroline." It was the look on my little boy's face when he realized the number (30, for Curry) on his jersey was the same as that incredible kid on the court, and the pride he had when he walked into school on Monday wearing that jersey. Davidson has a whole new generation of fans now. Some of them six, some of them 60. The world knows now. They might even just begin to understand."

Stan Brown, class of 1978, also shared the moment with his son. "I was in Raleigh with my 7-year-old on Friday," he says. "The last few seconds of the Gonzaga game, when it was absolutely clear that we would win, tears wet my cheeks and my chest heaved. I hugged my son and just held him. Finally, he looked up at me and said, 'Dad, you're hurting me.' And we laughed. I always hoped we would win one in the NCAA. I always thought it was possible that we could have a program build to that point. But I was fearful it might not happen. The emotions have calmed down quite a bit over the last two days. Now, the only time I get choked up is when I see a picture of our players celebrating. Those pictures get me every time."

Like Brown, Rand Hartsell, class of 1986, realizes the impact this wild ride has on the younger generation. While he talked about how much fun — for him — it was watching Davidson's two NCAA tournament wins, he admitted that his enjoyment hasn't been the best part of the whole thing. "The coolest thing? Some kid somewhere went outside to the driveway with a basketball after Davidson beat Georgetown, and dreamed of being Stephen Curry."

Little kids, current Davidson students, and more recent graduates aren't the only ones whose dreams have become reality this week. For some Davidson alumni who experienced first-hand the glory days of former Davidson coach Lefty Driesell, the ongoing Wildcat craze is sweeping them right off their feet. William Robertson, class of 1978 and son of Bill Robertson, class of 1945, is one such fan. "For me," he explains, "the great revelation came sometime Sunday morning when I realized that I love this team as much as I did the teams from the '60s. I forged that original bond as an impressionable teenager. Last week I would have told you that at age 54 I still care a lot about Davidson basketball, but I could never care that much again. I was wrong about that, and glad today to have that part of my heart still working strong."

Sunday's win over Georgetown and subsequent berth in the Sweet 16 also erased painful memories for Robertson. "One other thing this has done for me is put to rest the ghost of the moment when Charles Scott's shot fell through the net all those years ago (Scott's buzzer-beater defeated Davidson and sent North Carolina to the 1969 Final Four). I refused to go to school for a few days after that because all my friends were Carolina fans. My dad, who was younger then than I am now, had attended the game, and I worried about him, even though now I realize he had enough sense to keep it in perspective, even though as a former Wildcat basketball player he was an avid fan and really loved the Lefty era. Anyway, I hated UNC and everything about it for decades. The pain eased a lot when we beat them in Chapel Hill a few years ago, and then when two of my children went to school there, I actually began a reasonably sincere support for UNC sports on their behalf. I rooted for the football team with passable sincerity, but my feelings about the basketball team were somewhat compromised.

"When we (Davidson) beat Gonzaga, with a reasonable level of support from the UNC fans in the house, all the old bad feelings were gone. The Charles Scott moment is history now; it is no longer a painful reminder of a high watermark that seemed destined not to be reached again. (I think we have a good chance to get to the regional finals, but even if we don't, I consider the achievement equal because of beating a No. 2 seed. You could argue the point, but that's my stand.)"

Bob Cordle, class of 1963 and former Davidson football player, was also around during the Lefty era. "I was at Davidson when Lefty was hired," he says, "and I was at his first game when the Cats beat Wake Forest and Billy Packer in 1960. I saw [Fred] Hetzel, [Dick] Snyder, and many others play, but only one team from a conference was allowed in NCAAs. Lefty's first great teams lost in conference tournaments. Dick Snyder's senior team was first to go (to the NCAA tournament), and I missed the games because I was in law school. After law school and a tour in Vietnam, I returned to Charlotte and have been a basketball and football season ticket holder since that time. We lost to UNC in the 1968 regionals when I was in Vietnam, and I only found out about it about a week later when my Charlotte Observer arrived in Xuan Loc. I did make the first round game in Raleigh in 1969, and the Regional Final in College Park when Charlie Scott hit his back-breaker.

"I have seen many Davidson teams play since that time, but as I told my wife last year when I made sure I could go to all of the games at home and a number on the road: this is a special team with great kids that makes you proud to be a Davidson grad. It is even better this year as one sees the kids handle the pressure and their personal growth as men and basketball players. I enjoyed the games in Raleigh as much as I have any sporting even in my life. It was great fun to be there and see it. I plan to be in Detroit (where Davidson plays Wisconsin on Friday night), and after 39 years I am looking for a different outcome this time."

As discussed earlier, the Davidson sensation is not only seizing the old, but also the young. Jip Richards is a 16-year-old high school student who lives in Davidson and has not missed a home game in seven years. "My dad and grandfather both went to Davidson and I hope to do the same," he begins. "I sit front row, center court for every game in Belk Arena. When I saw us come back from a 15-point half-time deficit against UNC-Greensboro, I knew this was the year. I knew Jason Richards and Stephen Curry would not let the 'Cats lose against Gonzaga or Georgetown. They are that good. They are the best backcourt in the tournament. My dad always tells me stories about the teams we had in the 'Lefty Era' and how he didn't think we could ever make it back to the Elite Eight the way college basketball is today. I never believed him. I knew with Bob McKillop as our coach, we could do anything. Well, when the buzzer sounded this weekend he believed it, too, as does the whole country. Davidson, for the first time since 1969, has a shot at a national title!"

That title shot might already be gone had it not been for one simple question. When Davidson trailed Georgetown by 16 points in the second half on Sunday afternoon, Bob McKillop called timeout and — now famously — asked his players if they were having fun. Suflas considers it to be the defining moment of the entire weekend. "Down 16 to Georgetown in the second half. Davidson timeout. Things look bad. Our coach greets his players by saying: 'Are you having fun?' This is a coach who is selflessly teaching his players life lessons at the single most important moment of his career, proving that we have a basketball program that reflects and enhances — rather than detracts —from the mission of our great and special institution."

To answer McKillop's question, they had fun throughout the last 15 minutes of the Georgetown game. They had fun not only winning two NCAA tournament games in one weekend, but winning them against the biggest of odds. They had fun when Stephen Curry held up a cut-out face of his point guard, Jason Richards, and did his own version of "Role Play" while joining Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon for PTI's "Five Good Minutes" segment.

"Steph's impersonation of Jason on TV was terrific and an indication of how they are having fun," added Robertson.

Oh, they are having fun all right.

They aren't the only ones.