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HOPKINS FROM PAGE 7
Jardine said Hopkins’ intensity never fades, even when he’s sick. Jardine said he remembers one practice when Hopkins was visibly sick, but insisted on running drills with the players. He tried to work through his illness, continuing to yell and maintain his high level of intensity. As the team ran through a drill, former Syracuse point guard Jonny Flynn hit Hopkins in the chest with his shoulder. Hopkins quickly turned and bolted to a trash can near the side of the gym and vomited. As soon as he finished throwing up, he took his spot in the drill and continued to coach. Boeheim couldn’t get him to go home. No one could. “That was one of the biggest things he taught us that year,” Jardine said. “No matter how you feel, you’ve always got to bring it.” Former Orange guard Jason Hart first met
MIKE HOPKINS CAREER STATS SEASON
1989-90 1990-91 1991-92 1992-93
G
FG PERCENTAGE
20 55.6 31 51.4 31 44.8 29 43.8
PPG
2.9 3.3 6.5 9.2
sports@ da ilyor a nge.com
Hopkins when he was playing AAU basketball out in California. When he arrived at Syracuse, Hopkins had only been on the coaching staff for one season. Even then, though, Hopkins understood the importance of getting to know his players. He built up a relationship and earned their trust, especially Hart. When Hart made the nearly 3,000-mile trip from Los Angeles to Syracuse, he found himself in a new world. He was playing for a team that drew thousands of fans and captured the attention of an entire city. The spotlight was always on the Orange. Hart had never experienced anything like it. “Since Syracuse is the only ticket in town, you have to do things a little differently,” Hart said. “You have to almost become a pro. He taught me how to deal with the media, instead of running, dealing with them and speaking after a good or bad game. Those are the things I had no idea of doing.” Hart said Hopkins’ attitude, personality and genuine interest in the players’ lives were consistent. Whenever Hart needed help with something, basketball-related or not, he knew he could go to Hopkins. And he spent hours with Hopkins and his wife, Tricia. “I think I was more like his little brother or son,” Hart said. “It was more like my comfort zone, being away from California, he was another guy I could relate to. Obviously as my coach, he was more of a friend and a mentor.” Now as an assistant coach at Pepperdine,
Hart said he’s trying to follow Hopkins’ coaching model. When Hart received the Vic Hanson Medal of Excellence in 2011, he referred to Hopkins as his “white angel” in his acceptance speech. Hart said he saw Hopkins tear up. After everything he had been through, Hopkins was always there for him. From an 18-yearold kid from South Central Los Angeles to a married father of two children, Hart said Hopkins helped him develop into who he is today. Hart showed Hopkins his appreciation. “It was me coming back and giving a speech, and me appreciating what he did for me during those four years I was in school on and off the basketball court,” Hart said. Jardine shared similar sentiments about Hopkins. He was a father figure and a role model. In his phone, Jardine has Hopkins listed as “White Dad” in his contacts. “He’s a guy that anytime I need a shoulder to lean on, somebody to talk to and who’s always going to listen to me, give advice, Hop is always the guy to call,” Jardine said. “He’s always been big in my life. Probably one of the biggest influences in my life.” Jardine said the most important lesson he learned from Hopkins was to treat everyone with respect. On the court, Jardine said he also learned to work as hard as possible and stay motivated at all times. Syracuse guard Brandon Triche said Hopkins’ energy at practice is infectious. It forces
the players to work as hard as they can. His enthusiasm challenges them to keep up. “He brings energy to practice every day and I don’t know when he sleeps, if he sleeps,” Triche said. “I don’t know how he does it.” Soon, Hopkins will likely do it as head coach. Hopkins’ contract was reportedly reworked in 2009 to guarantee he takes over for Boeheim when he retires. And in the wake of the Bernie Fine sexual abuse scandal, Boeheim acknowledged during a press conference that Hopkins will “win” as head coach of the Orange when he takes over. “Roy Danforth won here, Fred Lewis won here, the guy next, Mike Hopkins, will win here as well,” Boeheim said. Hopkins’ name was brought up when the Charlotte head coaching position opened up in 2010. But Hopkins opted to stay at Syracuse. Hart said it shows his loyalty to the program and to Boeheim. At some point, the team will be his. The years of building relationships with players, perfecting his coaching methods and learning the best way to draw every ounce of energy from players will carry over to a headcoaching role. Hopkins won’t be seeing another lull in his basketball career any time soon. “We’ll see when his day comes, I think he’ll be ready,” Hart said. “I think he has his gift of coaching.” cjiseman@syr.edu @ chris_iseman
BEAT WRITER PREDICTIONS MICHAEL COHEN
27-4 (14-4)
NCAA Tournament finish: Elite Eight
CARRIER DOME FROM PAGE 9
moment. He hit the game-winning shot in the waning seconds in the Orangemen’s 65-63 victory over No. 2 Georgetown at the Carrier Dome on Jan. 28, 1985. The shot capped another memorable chapter in the teams’ rivalry, one in which the SU fans hurled oranges at Patrick Ewing and John Thompson. The third-largest crowd in Carrier Dome history at the time — 32,229 — witnessed the instant classic and rushed the court after the win. Washington’s heroics created a similar scene a year earlier when Syracuse took on Boston College. Washington’s running prayer from half court as time expired was answered, and the SU guard famously veered right off the court with his hands in the air. “That’s all over the country that day so we got incredible, incredible exposure,” former Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese said. “And the Dome played a really significant role in helping promote the conference in those early years.” The television exposure played a major role in Washington’s decision to come to Syracuse. The highly touted guard out of Brooklyn said he decided he would attend SU during his junior year in high school. Washington wanted to play on national television, something only the Big East could offer.
RYNE GERY
26-5 (13-5)
NCAA Tournament finish: Sweet 16
CHRIS ISEMAN
28-3 (15-3)
NCAA Tournament finish: Elite Eight
“I knew that when I came to Syracuse, I knew coming into the Carrier Dome was going to be great,” Washington said. “And I knew that we were going to be on TV too just about all our games also, so for me, that was perfect for me.” The same factors grabbed the attention of high school players across the nation as the Big East continued to establish its presence. They watched Washington and his Orangemen teams regularly take part in games in front of 30,000 fans against Georgetown and St. John’s. Suddenly, they flocked to Syracuse and other Big East schools rather than UCLA and the ACC powerhouses. They wanted to play in the Carrier Dome and become a part of the rivalries. “Jim Boeheim was recruiting kids from California to play at Syracuse and I said to myself, ‘Have they ever been to Syracuse in the winter? Why anyone would leave from California to come to Syracuse, New York,’” Berman said. “But that was the appeal. That was the allure of the Carrier Dome.” Tranghese called the Carrier Dome “a huge factor” in the league’s growth. Lappas said he was always excited to make the trip to Syracuse. Washington considers the Dome the “second mecca” of basketball behind Madison Square Garden. And Berman said the arena — like the league — was simply “big time.” “The fact that it was on campus and you’re getting over 30,000 fans dressed in Orange,” Berman said, “that was pretty eye-opening for a national audience.” rjgery@syr.edu