THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 26, 1995 TAG: 9502240202
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 25 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
Ann Francisco and Carole Morrison work as interns in health care administration at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. They sit side-by-side 40 hours a week.
But last Sunday, they sat on opposite sides of the table, literally and figuratively.
They were seated in front of the big screen TV in Winners Sports Bar to watch North Carolina and Virginia go head to head on the basketball court. Sitting with Francisco on the U.Va. side was fellow Cavalier Melissa Smith, class of '90. Across from them sat Morrison, UNC Class of '92, and Eric Block, who left Chapel Hill with a degree in 1991. Nachos and a pitcher of draft beer sat in a neutral spot between them on the table.
``We need to bet on this,'' Morrison said as the Tar Heels took a five-point first-half lead.
``Bet? No, I don't really think so,'' responded Francisco, U.Va. class of '88.
Block expressed guarded optimism.
``We're No. 2 now and UConn lost last night, so a win today could make us No. 1, again,'' he said.
The four friendly rivals were part of the crowd of 25 or 30 alumni gathered at the sports bar to root for their respective teams and against each other.
In the early going, it was all UNC, both on the court at University Hall in Charlottesville and in the restaurant on Broad Meadows Boulevard.
The Tar Heels entered the game ranked second in the country, U.Va. 16th. The Cavaliers also trailed in the alumni cheering section about 3 to 1.
It's understandable, said Steve Jackson, president of the local U.Va. alumni association. The Cavaliers have about 200 to 300 members in South Hampton Roads.
Jackson, class of '84, and Jeff Jenkins, class of '83, were almost alone until Francisco and several other U.Va. alums showed up shortly after the tipoff.
UNC claims about 1,350 local alumni, said Mitchell Fine, a 1974 graduate. Fine and his wife, Peggy, helped organize the gathering at Winners.
They sat up front, craning their necks to follow the game on the wall. With them were Thurman Worthington, '59 UNC graduate, and his wife, Mary, a 1959 graduate of then-Woman's College of UNC, located in Greensboro. Thurman Worthington was a student in Chapel Hill when the Tar Heels won their first NCAA title, beating the Wilt Chamberlain-led Kansas Jayhawks in triple overtime.
``I've been a fan since those days, to say the least,'' said Worthington.
The Worthingtons were married in 1960.
And where did they go on their honeymoon?
``Chapel Hill,'' said Mary.
After a lackluster first half by both teams, UNC held an eight-point lead, 32-24. The rivals began exchanging pleasantries again.
Steve Jackson was subdued but confident.
``We're playing good defense and rebounding well,'' he said of his Cavaliers. ``We need to shoot better. We're a second-half team, so I have a good feeling.''
His team must have heard Jackson. They made a 25-4 run midway through the second half to overcome an 11-point deficit.
The UNC faction grew quieter, while the U.Va. crowd found a voice larger than its numbers.
Francisco and Smith had been catching up on the news, discussing work, the home Smith just bought and mutual friends. The Cavaliers' rally brought their attention back to the big screen.
``I just hope we don't suffer from the five-minute choke factor,'' said Francisco.
``Don't worry. They (UNC) started choking when I walked in,'' said Smith.
Rasheed Wallace slam-dunked a missed shot to bring the Tar Heels within two points and 2:30 to go.
But Harold Deane saved Francisco from embarrassment. The U.Va. sophomore point guard hit four 3-pointers down the stretch and two free throws to seal the win: U.Va. 73, UNC 71.
``Tough way to lose,'' said Block. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY EDWARDS
University of Virginia graduates Ann Francisco, left, and Melissa
Smith were among 30 U.Va. and University of North Carolina alumni
who watched last week's basketball game between the two schools at
Winners Sports Bar.
by CNB