The NCAA News - Briefly in the News

April 6, 1997

In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, college basketball fans schedule their lives around the Tar Heels.

Chapel Hill's town council acknowledged that reality a couple of weeks ago when it canceled a Thursday evening budget briefing. The briefing had been scheduled to start 39 minutes before the men's basketball team tipped off its NCAA Sweet 16 game against Michigan State University.

Town manager Cal Horton confirmed that the council believed local television viewers were likely to choose the Tar Heels' contest over an examination of the public housing department's budget.

"There was a general recognition that a lot of people in our community would choose to watch the game rather than the council budget work session," Horton told the Chapel Hill Herald.

City officials emphasized that temporarily delaying the meeting would not result in any delays in the city's budget process.

Those who run for office in North Carolina also understand the electorate's priorities.

State House candidate Moses Carey Jr. assured supporters that they wouldn't miss the men's regional final matchup with Connecticut if they attended one of his campaign get-togethers. Ads for Carey's event, which started an hour after the game, promised that television sets would be available.

"After all," Horton told the Herald, "this is the best college town in America. And we do take our basketball very seriously."

Perhaps that devotion provides an extra boost. The North Carolina women's basketball team made it to the Elite Eight before losing, 76-70, to defending national champion University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

The men's basketball team earned a trip to the Final Four before losing to the University of Utah, 65-59, in the semifinals.

Utes protect streak

The 10-time national-champion women's gymnastics team at the University of Utah has gone for 19 years without a regular-season loss at home.

The Utes wrapped up another unbeaten year in Salt Lake City March 14, when they defeated No. 11-ranked Oregon State, 195.875-190.100.

Utah has won an unprecedented 145 straight regular-season meets in the Huntsman Center over the last 19 years. Their last loss was February 20, 1979, to California State University, Fullerton.

Utah freshman Shannon Bowles, a U.S. National Gymnastics Team member and winner of a team-high 13 events for the Utes this year, wasn't even born the last time Utah lost a regular-season home contest.

While there are probably many reasons for this incredible streak, the fans can claim some of the glory. Utah averaged 10,211 spectators this year, winning the national women's gymnastics attendance race for the 15th time in 16 years.

This year was also the fifth season that Utah averaged more than 10,000 fans a meet in the Huntsman Center.

The Utes have filled the 15,000-seat facility on four occasions, including 5,238 against Cal State Fullerton in 1991 -- a record in collegiate women's gymnastics.

Coach hits the books

National Basketball Association legend Clyde Drexler recently was named head men's basketball coach at his alma mater, the University of Houston, where he signed a five-year contract.

An unusual clause in his contract makes Drexler both a coach and a student. At his request, a clause in the contract calls for him to complete courses for his degree in communications. He needs 43 hours.

"Getting a degree is a promise I made to Mom 15 years ago," Drexler told USA Today. "One of the things I've missed throughout life is the peace of mind knowing I completed my degree. It's going to be a challenge to coach and take classes, but I'm looking forward to it."

Oscar-winning acceptance

Brian Phelan, the starting catcher on the baseball team at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, always has thought his mom is a star. Now the Academy agrees with him.

Phelan's mom, Donna Dewey, recently won the Oscar for best short documentary with her film, "A Story of Healing."

Phelan and many of his teammates on the Salukis' squad were watching from Carbondale, Illinois, as his mom accepted the award on the national Academy Awards telecast.

At the end of her acceptance speech, Dewey dedicated the film to her son. Then, fulfilling a promise she had made to him if she won, she shouted, "Go Salukis!"

Much of Hollywood is abuzz wondering what on earth she meant, but sports fans at Southern Illinois are proud of the mention of their mascot, an egyptian hunting dog.

-- Compiled by Kay Hawes