Williams greets crowd with one last fist pump Maryland students began lining up outside Comcast Center on Tuesday night, more than 24 hours before tipoff against Duke. They also were waiting to honor the man who helped build the arena, whose court the school named after him Wednesday.
With Gary Williams written in black script in two spots on the Comcast Center floor, Terrapins fans will have a reminder of his 2002 national championship and the 22 seasons in which he transformed a struggling program into a perennial power.
Recommended Stories
After a video tribute, Williams entered to roars and flashed a signature fist pump to a sea of fans dressed in yellow.
Williams was greeted by Maryland president Wallace Loh, athletic director Kevin Anderson and ACC commissioner John Swofford. Williams was the only one who spoke.
“I want to thank all the loyal Maryland fans who made this happen,” Williams said to cheers.
He closed his remarks by urging fans to support his successor, Mark Turgeon.
Williams, who stepped down in May, remained composed throughout his remarks and in a brief press conference afterward.
“I got through it,” Williams said of his fist pump. “It was great to do it one last time.”
Among those in attendance were Williams’ best player, Juan Dixon, and ESPN anchor Scott Van Pelt.
Also making the night special was the opponent. Williams made Maryland-Duke one of college basketball’s best rivalries.
“It wasn’t special getting hammered by 25 points,” Williams said of the beginning of his career, when he lost 12 straight times to the Blue Devils. “Then it became special and a special relationship with coach [Mike] Krzyzewski.”
Williams explained that in retirement he has stayed away from Maryland in deference to Turgeon. He said he wants to do more in the future, however, to help ensure the continued success of the program.
Williams also said he hopes to someday see a Maryland Sports Hall of Fame at Cole Field House, the arena where the Terps played when he started as coach in College Park in 1989.
“Cole was as good a place to play as you could ever imagine,” Williams said. “But it was old. There was asbestos. There were animals running around.”
