January 17, 2002
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Published weekly during the academic year by the Office of Communications and Marketing, 3699 Vestal Parkway East, Vestal, N.Y. 13850.John Hachtel, associate vice president of communications and marketing; Anita Knopp Doll, director of communications; Marty Doorey, editor; Katie Ellis, Janice Endrissen, Gail Glover, Susan E. Barker, Karen Fennie, John Hartrick, Ingrid Husisian, Sandra Paniccia, Susann Viafora, contributing writers; Evangelos Dousmanis, photography; Libby Graves, webmaster. Phone 607-777-6366. COMMENTS: Email Inside. BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY
A narrow loss at UNC yields a big win

BY MARTY DOOREY

The Binghamton Bearcats’ one-point loss to the University of North Carolina Tar Heels on December 16 proved to be a holiday gift in getting notice for a program that only joined the Division I ranks the month before.
“Binghamton Makes its Name” trumpeted the headline in USA Today, accompanied by a multi-column photo of Coach Al Walker exhorting the team’s performance. The New York Times, going for a newsier angle, headlined “Binghamton Gives the Tar Heels a Scare.”
There was also TV. ESPN’s “Sports Center” highlighted its coverage with a video clip during host Chris Berman’s “Top-10 Plays of the Week” segment.
And, when it comes to getting attention over the airwaves, it obviously doesn’t hurt to have an alumnus with connections. Tony Kornheiser ’70 gave the Bearcats a mention on his morning radio show on the ESPN network and boosted his alma mater with a segment on his afternoon show “Pardon the Interruption.” By way of Kornheiser, the game got a mention in the January 7 issue of Sports Illustrated which commented that before the North Carolina near win, Kornheiser was the school’s biggest claim to sports fame.
It didn’t end there. Charles Barkely — yeah, that Charles Barkely, the one who played in the NBA — who was providing color commentary during TNT’s “NBA Tonight” Wednesday game-of-the- week coverage, used UNC’s near miss as prop
A late game Bearcat rally during the December 16 game at UNC brings coach Al Walker and the team off the bench with additional encouragment. (Photography by Evangelos Dousmanis)
to tease fellow announcer and former Tar Heel player Kenny Smith. Barkely presented Smith with a blue Tar Heel jersey with “We did it” on the front side and “UNC 61, Binghamton 60” on the reverse.
The Empire Sports Network, which covers the state, interviewed Walker via phone and used the segment on one of its weekly sports wrap-ups.
The game did not escape the World Wide Web either. ESPN’s college basketball page carried a link to coverage of the game.
And, it’s not over yet. The January 19 issue of TV Guide may use photos of the game (taken by University photographer Evangelos Dousmanis) as part of a generic piece about college basketball.
So, who really won at North Carolina?
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