From the creator of WRALSportsFan

Written by sports contributor Bob Holliday for WRALSportsFan’s creator.

Durham, N.C.

I attended my first Carolina-Duke game in Durham over 50 years ago. As I have mentioned before, I was a young broadcaster at the time.

I am not very advanced in age, but my initial trip to Duke University happened so many years ago that the notable structure where the Blue Devils compete was called the Duke Indoor Stadium.

The building was not called by its new name, honoring the university’s athletic director Eddie Cameron, until halftime of the game in January 1972.

I provided coverage of the game from the radio booth, situated high up in the rafters. The booth was elevated to the point where a ladder was necessary to reach it from the top seating level.

I observed an electric atmosphere in the building right off the bat. Despite the 1972 Blue Devils having a record of .500, the Duke students remained standing throughout the entire game, enthusiastically cheering and chanting, “Let’s go Duke! Let’s go Duke!”

The musical group, which was revamped by former Duke coach Vic Bubas after being inspired by the Cal Bears’ renowned “Straw Hat Band,” added a new level of rhythm. The drummers in the Duke band even created a cadence specifically for point guard Gary Melchionni. It was a mesmerizing sight to see Melchionni, whose talent I believe was not fully recognized, dribble and organize the Duke offense while hearing “Bum bum bum; bum bum bum” in the background.

The Duke drummers appeared to be directing the rhythm. They established a consistent pace, and Melchionni seamlessly followed along. The team’s coach, Bucky Waters, was also delighted by their performance. Facing the third-ranked team in the nation, UNC, which included future NBA inductee Bob McAdoo and renowned coach George Karl, Waters was determined to prevent his team from engaging in a fast-paced game, which he referred to as a “track meet”.

The score was even at 74-74 with only 5 seconds remaining. The ball was inbounded and landed in the hands of Robbie West, a lesser used guard who had only scored a total of 142 points throughout his time at Duke. However, West impressively caught the ball and made a 20-foot shot that went through the net, resulting in an unexpected victory for the average Duke team against the highly competitive UNC team that had previously reached the Final Four. This all happened in the first half of a game played at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

I believe that the origin of the legendary Cameron building can be traced back to this point. During the tenure of the late Vic Bubas, his teams had an impressive record of approximately 100 wins and 6 losses. However, as time passed, the level of talent on Bubas’ teams began to decline and their success decreased.

Over the next decade, there were highs and lows like a roller coaster ride. However, on this specific day in 1972, Duke students proved that they could carry an average team to victory, even against a top competitor for the national championship. That game has stuck with me ever since.

Broadcasting in Cameron

In the past, Duke has mandated that all broadcasters work on a higher level to avoid potential issues of capturing inappropriate chants from the clever Duke student population.

However, in 1976, prior to the students earning the moniker “Cameron Crazies,” I provided sideline reporting for the Tar Heel Sports Network. The rights holder, Jim Heaver, who was also a talented producer, came up with the idea, with permission from Duke University, to equip me with a microphone within the student section.

Right before the game began, the play-by-play announcer Woody Durham requested a summary from me. I informed him that it would be a tight game and distinctly recall saying, “Woody, it may all come down to one jump ball!” It should be noted that the jump ball was still part of the game in 1976.

Did I make a correct assessment? The University of North Carolina’s team consisted of four players from the 1976 U.S. Olympic team, which achieved gold in Montreal. However, the Tar Heels narrowly won that game in Durham with a score of 89-87. Consider that for a moment!

This was a rebuilding Duke team now coached by Bill Foster. Most of the players that would lead Duke to glory a few years later were still being recruited. And yet powerful UNC, a top five team all year, barely won. I have only one explanation. The power of Cameron.

Note: The Duke students seated near me were kind and polite when I gave my occasional reports from the sideline, with no negative incidents occurring. However, I was the last to occupy the lower level at Duke. For the rest of my tenure with the Tar Heel Network – I relocated to WRAL-TV in 1981 – I conducted my on-air game analysis upstairs, following the practice of other broadcasters.

The unforgettable deceleration.

In the late 1970s, under the leadership of Foster, Duke rose to prominence as a dominant force in the nation. In my opinion, the key player responsible for Duke’s success was Jim Spanarkel, who currently serves as an analyst for CBS during the NCAA Tournament. On his senior night in 1979, Spanarkel played in one of the most unforgettable games I have ever witnessed.

Duke was the first to score and established their zone defense, utilizing Mike Gminski near the basket. UNC coach Dean Smith promptly utilized his four-corner offense in response.

The reason for Smith’s running throughout the game was not because he truly wanted to, but rather to force Duke to abandon their zone defense and switch to man-to-man. However, Duke refused to switch.

The University of North Carolina controlled possession for over 12 minutes. Towards the end of the first half, with 7 ½ minutes remaining in a 2-0 match, 6’9 center Rich Yonakor inexplicably attempted a 17-foot shot, which missed entirely. This prompted Duke students to taunt him with chants of “Air Ball.” Duke analyst Mike Gminski has mentioned on television that he believes this was the first instance of the chant being used by fans. I concur with this assessment.

After a missed shot, Duke scored and had a 7-0 advantage by halftime. The pace of the game remained steady in the second half, with Duke ultimately defeating North Carolina by a score of 47-40.

In 1980, Yonakor made one last trip to Cameron. During that time, the students at Duke would frequently chant, “U-G-L-Y you have no excuse, you’re unattractive, Carolina ugly!”

They created a fresh chant for the man referred to as “Chicky” in Chapel Hill. It was a fast-paced cheer for missed shots.

As Yonakor joined the layup line, he was met with a resounding chant of “Air ball!” accompanied by clapping. This continued with each attempt he made.

It’s possible that the encouragement boosted the Tar Heels’ performance, leading to their 82-67 victory over Duke.

Brief behavior issues

The reputation of the Cameron Crazies became more prominent in the 1980s, possibly due to the impact of Dick Vitale. I believe he coined the term.

The early 1980s were a difficult period for Duke University as they underwent a change in basketball coaches, from Bill Foster to Mike Krzyzewski. Wealthy alumni expressed a desire to have Krzyzewski fired in 1983, but the athletic director, Tom Butters, decided to extend his contract. This decision proved to be beneficial as Duke basketball experienced a positive momentum in 1984 and has continued on an upward trajectory ever since, with the exception of Krzyzewski’s leave of absence in 1995 for medical reasons.

During the difficult years, perhaps the Crazies acquired unhealthy behaviors. They would often toss items such as car keys, pizza boxes, and even inappropriate objects.

In 1984, during his time at Maryland, highly-regarded player Herman Veal was part of a dormitory incident. However, he was met with an unexpected situation when he was introduced at Cameron. Instead of a warm welcome, Veal was bombarded with condoms and women’s underwear.

Tom D’Armi, the building operations supervisor, and his team were still visible on the court, tidying up after the game. Although Veal and Maryland emerged as the victors, Washington Post columnist Robert Novak received backlash from Duke alumni on the East Coast for his harshly written piece. The alumni were not happy.

Krzyzewski deserves praise for taking responsibility for the students’ misconduct. The Duke staff proactively addressed the students and urged them to only use chants and signs, not projectiles. As an unbiased onlooker, I have not seen any objects being thrown since the 1980s. Moreover, the Crazies excel at using just chants and signs.

The Tent City

In order to truly grasp the extent of Duke’s preparation for the Carolina game, one must witness the establishment of “Krzyzewskiville” approximately six weeks prior to the Tar Heels’ arrival. In 2001, I had the opportunity to visit this gathering of individuals with Duke standout Shane Battier. The camaraderie between Battier and the inhabitants of the tent city was evident.

Duke students are aware of the sacrifices their peers make to obtain a spot at the most important regular season game of college basketball. This serves as a strong source of motivation.

Students usually group together for the midwinter campout. The guidelines state that at least one person from the group must always be in the tent.

I observed that the tents accompanying Battier on that night were well-stocked with various forms of technology for research and communication, as well as entertainment, meals, and possibly drinks and warm attire. The North Carolina winter nights can be quite chilly. The students only dismantle the camp when Carolina arrives.

Unfortunately, access to Cameron Indoor Stadium is not granted until two hours prior to the start of the game. One evening during my time in television, I arrived at the venue simultaneously with the rowdy student section known as the “Crazies.” I was amazed by their enthusiastic and energetic rush to their designated seats. The atmosphere was filled with noise and excitement.

Please note: the majority of students will stand for the entire night, both before, during, and after the game, with a brief sit down during halftime. When the Crazies enter the building, the noise level quickly becomes very loud and stays that way until the National Anthem.

The volume increases once more as the players are introduced.

“The Duke team has a strong bond with its fans and the energy they share can be difficult to overcome. In the past 25 years, Duke has defeated Carolina 15 times at Cameron. However, four of UNC’s victories were achieved when the exceptional Tyler Hansbrough was on the court. Without Hansbrough, UNC has only managed to win six times in Durham in the last 25 years.”

Duke is praised for allowing members of the media to sit courtside at events. However, this does not apply to live play-by-play broadcasts. In contrast, North Carolina and State have chosen to relegate most media to the upper deck.

The long press table at Duke starts about 7 feet behind one basket, spans 94 feet alongside the court, and then extends another 7 feet beyond the second basket. Movement in this area can be rather complicated.

During my time working in TV, I used to sit behind the Duke basketball hoop. I would often have to turn my chair to prevent getting a sore neck while keeping track of the game. Though not ideal, I needed a location where I could easily leave for a live broadcast or communicate with my colleagues at the station via phone. The loud atmosphere inside Cameron made it difficult to hold conversations.

Currently, I create articles for WRAL.com and I am usually given a spot close to the middle of the court. The perspective is incredible! It enables you to observe everything. However, entering and exiting these press seats is indescribable.

The press table is divided into sections, with each section being approximately 110 feet long. However, there are only a limited number of these sections, with 20 seats between each break in the table.

Journalists who are placed at the back of the room during a recess, and these seats are in high demand, have the freedom to enter and exit at their convenience.

But if someone is sitting five or six seats away from the break, they will encounter challenging terrain. For the Carolina game, not all students will be able to secure seats in the grandstand. There are also two to three rows of students standing in a makeshift aisle between the press row and the grandstand, making it hard to move.

Many journalists must navigate through a crowd of individuals in order to reach their designated seats in the press row. This journey can be time-consuming, especially for those who are sitting further down the row. However, the seat itself is highly desirable if one is able to reach it.

After reaching your designated seat, the second challenge begins. You must ask the Cameron Crazies, who are standing close behind the media seats, to move back. The students always comply and move back. However, once the media member is seated, they ask you to move forward. These negotiations can be difficult as there is limited leg room under the table.

A former player from Duke University sat beside me on the press row. He expressed surprise after a couple of minutes, saying, “I had no clue it was like this over here.” Indeed, no one does. The ex-player soon ended up sitting behind the Duke team bench.

Entry and exit to the press area is very limited. In previous years, I would maneuver over others or even climb over tables. I would also go to the press room during halftime to gather statistics and a drink of water. Nowadays, I simply remain in my seat until the end of the game.

Indeed, the game has come to a close!

After Duke emerges victorious, members of the media have only 30 seconds to quickly leave the press table and move to the sidelines to avoid being caught up in the celebration. This is a common occurrence at games held in Cameron, as Duke’s players and coach Jon Scheyer are known to partake in a victory lap.

They complete a complete lap around the court, giving high-fives to every Duke fan within reach.

People who are stuck in press row are caught in the middle of a sandwich, being surrounded by both players and fans, who are eager to make contact with each other, even if it means reaching over or around the person in the middle. This is an interesting tradition to witness, but if you are in the middle, it can feel overwhelming.

The team we’re facing on Saturday is definitely capable of silencing the crowd and potentially stopping us from having a post-game celebration with high-fives.

However, if we look back at the last 25 years excluding Hansbrough, it seems that this coming Saturday will culminate with a triumphal celebration, acknowledging Duke’s exceptional bond with its incredible supporters.

Source: wralsportsfan.com