Question

Valvano Benched?

If the above were posed as a question the answer would be no, hell no!

He was a starting guard all through high school and then at Rutgers University.

So, that said, to say that he was a hard man to keep down, seated, would be an understatement.

My season tickets in NC State’s Reynolds’ Coliseum were in section 16, across the court from V’s bench. So, when the Wolfpack was playing at home, we had a great view of our coach’s antics---whooping up the players, marching back and forth, imparting his wisdom with his benchwarmers, and certainly sharing his wit and wisdom with the game’s referees.

How hyperactive was he in and around his bench? He had to assign his trainer, Jim Rebach, to serve as a “crossing guard” so to speak. It was Rebach’s job to stand close to the end of the bench arms out, cop like, center court, to keep V from “crossing the line” with the Refs and drawing techicals.

Ah, but there were times when our benchman managed to dodge his keeper and get his points across.

One classic was with Hank Nichols, one of the game’s most revered referees. He and V had been going at it all night with coach V sharing an opinion every time Hank passed the bench. Finally, Nichols stopped and shouted, “One more word and it’s technical time.”  With that V raced to the halfcourt, staying right on Nichol’s tail, broke through the Rebach road block and started shouting, “Hank? Hank? Hank?” Finally, Nichols slammed on the brakes, turned on Valvano and over the din of the crowd shouted back, “What?”

“Can I just tell you what I think?” V responded.

“What?”, Nichols screamed.

“I think you stink!” Valvano shouted.