By Rachael Farlow
Just one day after their heartbreaking 90-57 loss to Florida State, the UNC Men’s Basketball Coach Roy Williams had his team on the court of the Dean Dome running drills. But instead of heads hung low amidst a quiet, empty backdrop, the famed dome is filled with jubilant shouts and wide grins. The cause for the celebration? The Tar Heels played host to the ninth annual Special Olympics North Carolina basketball clinic.
Over 100 Special Olympics athletes from across the state showed up for the clinic on Jan. 15 and received basketball instruction from Coach Roy Williams, his players, and his staff. Athletes got the opportunity to work with their favorite UNC players on passing, dribbling, and shooting skills. For the Special Olympics athletes, this was a great time for practice, as they are currently in training to compete at the 2012 Special Olympics North Carolina Basketball & Cheerleading Tournament. At the end of the day, the athletes even teamed up with the Tar Heels in half court scrimmage exhibition games.
For Roy Williams, the day marked 24 years as a coach participating in clinics with Special Olympics. It is the reward for his players and the Special Olympics athletes that keeps him coming back. “At the end of the day, everyone goes in the locker room and feels they’ve given a lot.” Coach Williams walked among the athletes during the event, stopping here and there to give tips and oversee his teams’ coaching of them. “We want them to know our players care about them.”
For Special Olympics athlete, Jonathan Small, the event was truly memorable. “I’ve been rooting for the Tar Heels for 15 years so this is a lot of fun!” Small even scored a few points against his favorite players detailing his strategy afterward and exclaiming, “I’m just as tough as the team.”
If anyone had more fun than the Special Olympics athletes it was the Tar Heel players themselves. On every side of the court, jokes were shouted and high fives given, and there was much showing off when it came time to show off dunking skills. At the end of the period for each skills station, all of the Special Olympics athletes and Tar Heel players formed a huddle and erupted in team chants and an exchange of hugs.
After his final exhibition game, sophomore point guard, Kendall Marshall sat back and watched the last game of the day with a smile on his face. “It’s been a lot of fun and puts things into perspective; the athletes have a great appreciation for the little things.” And after a basketball upset, that is just what the UNC team needs to remember. “They’ve always got a smile on their face,” said Marshall, “and hopefully we can be a part of that.”
Junior Dexter Strickland echoed his teammate’s sentiments. “It humbles you. Most people don’t have the opportunity like you have to play basketball.”
When reminded of the previous day’s game, Strickland’s face converted from a smile to stoic frown, as if he had nearly forgotten about the day before and was called back to reality. “Unfortunately we got the loss, but it’s great to come here and lift our spirits up playing with these athletes.”
After the clinic, the Tar Heels signed posters for the athletes who left the Dean Dome looking as if they had just won the biggest game of their lives. And the Tar Heels headed back to the locker rooms looking, if possible, even happier.
View photos from the clinic and a You Tube Slideshow.
