From the front row of the Seattle Kingdome on April 2, 1984, Georgetown students felt like we too were being hugged by John Thompson Jr.

First, the huge coach hugged Fred Brown, the hug that brought a great story full circle. Then he hugged star center Patrick Ewing, a hug of unmitigated joy between two people who will be legends as long as basketball is played. The Georgetown Hoyas were national champions at the apex of college basketball’s mid-1980s popularity, and they did it as one of the most controversial teams in history.