SOURCE: WNCN
POSTED BY: Cristina Rodriguez on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013.
-President Obama on why Dean Smith a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor (11/19/13).
SOURCE: WNCN POSTED BY: Cristina Rodriguez on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013.
8 Comments
Kenan Bateman
11/25/2013 02:49:40 am
Dean Smith is one of the biggest names in Carolina history, but at the same time, a lot of what he did remains unknown. He was a very selfless individual. So he often was very soft-spoken about his charitable acts. Yet Dean Smith is the reason for many of the longtime Carolina values we interact with today. He is the best role model Carolina has ever seen, and he was beyond deserving of this award.
Haemi Won
11/25/2013 10:00:57 am
As a transfer student, I did not know much about Dean Smith and his achievement. The fact that now I learned about him, I respect him for what he has done for UNC as a basketball coach. Although I had no chance of seeing him or his players playing a basketball game, I truly believe that today's UNC basketball team could not came this far without him. The article made me think and thanks to those who made a great contribution to UNC, the school I love and attend.
Carolyn Duckett
2/18/2014 12:29:32 am
Coach Smith is one of the incredible reasons I am proud to be a Tar Heel. I have seen the way he affects people's lives, and it is remarkable that a man tied to such legendary basketball championships could be even greater off the court. He coached men in every aspect of their lives, and not just those on his team. My father is lucky enough to have shared over 30 years of friendship with Coach Smith, and from a very young age I have seen and understood the great respect and love he holds for Coach. He has been a fearless yet humble leader, and his award is well deserved.
Joseph Ko
2/18/2014 05:51:47 am
When I first heard about Coach Smith receiving the Medal of Freedom, I did not understand why. But after looking it up, I am glad that he received the award. He helped the University and the country move towards a better future.
Kylee Wooten
2/18/2014 11:12:15 pm
Growing up, I have always been a Tar Heel. My mom graduated from Carolina in '91 and my dad has always been a fan. I knew that I wanted to go here after I went to my first basketball game when I was in first grade. Dean Smith had already retired, but his legacy was still very much present. Smith was one of the most influential coaches of all time; he was a prominent factor in integration, loyal to his team, and innovative as a coach. He started all of his seniors on Senior Day, even drawing a technical foul rather than leaving one of the players out. I respect him for his character as much as his ability to create a winning team. Like my parents, I will always respect Dean Smith, and I think that it is really great that he was recognized by the President for his character both on and off the court.
Ashita Gona
2/23/2014 12:10:49 pm
I have been a Carolina fan for a long time, and have always known about Dean Smith's achievements on the basketball court. It wasn't until he earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom that I really began to understand the depth of his impact on the Chapel Hill community and the country. I had no idea he was so influential in the Civil Rights movement in North Carolina. He went out of his way to pursue African-American recruits and push the ACC to recognize these athletes' achievements. Learning about Dean Smith and the history of UNC makes me even more proud to be a Tarheel.
Claire M
2/25/2014 08:29:27 am
As a close friend to my family, Dean Smith has always held a special place in my heart. Seeing him win the Presidential Medal of Freedom was an incredibly special moment because it showed me that people are aware of everything that Dean contributed not only to UNC, but North Carolina as a whole. He is one of the bravest men I've ever known and is so deserving of this award.
Elisabeth McFarland
2/25/2014 01:38:53 pm
Whenever they show the “This is Carolina Basketball” segment at the games, I always get chills when it cuts to Dean Smith. He is the reason Carolina basketball and the game in general is what it is today. Smith is fully deserving of this award, and he is one of the many reasons why I am proud to be a Tar Heel. Leave a Reply. |