The day of Dean Smith’s letter, 1993

Any Carolina basketball fan would know that April 5, 1993, was the day UNC won the national championship beating Michigan 77-71 in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.

My sister and I had gained tickets in the lottery about nine months before the tournament. At that time, she didn’t know she had incurable cancer. By the time UNC began its tournament run, she knew and did her best to stay healthy just in case Carolina made it to the Final Four. She made it to New Orleans and climbed those humongous steps to see her alma mater win the national title. What a wonderful time that was for her. Thanks to Dean Smith and the squad, she had a final dream fulfilled.

But the best day came on June 30,1993, when Dean Smith answered our personal letter. Some of it was form text for loyal fans, but he wrote 36 personal words and said he had told Lynch and Salvadori what fans we were of the team, and them in particular. What a gentleman Dean Smith is.

Gail C. Johnson
Arapahoe
Tideland EMC