University of North Carolina Athletics
Trailblazers Reception Caps Weekend Of Honors
February 24, 2016 | General
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – A stellar weekend celebrating the 2016 Tar Heel Trailblazers was capped Saturday afternoon with a reception at the Kenan-Flagler Business Schools' Kenan Center honoring Sharon Couch-Fikes and Phil Ford. This marked the third year in a row that Carolina Athletics has honored pioneering African-American student-athletes with the award, which recognizes individuals who paved the way for success in all aspects of the student-athlete experience.
"Tar Heel Trailblazers presents us with the opportunity to share inspiring stories and celebrate the accomplishments of some truly remarkable Tar Heels,” said Martina Ballen, UNC's Chief Financial Officer and the chair of the Carolina Athletics Diversity Committee, which selects the award and organizes the weekend's events. “They have made the pathway much easier for those who have followed in their footsteps."
The slate of events began on Thursday night with a discussion about coaching open to all UNC students. Both Couch-Fikes and Ford have coaching backgrounds, with experience on the professional, college, high school and middle school levels. They met with students to talk about all aspects of the profession, and the conversation lasted well beyond the event's scheduled end time. Read more about that event here.
On Friday, the Trailblazers were celebrated at a luncheon with Chancellor Carol Folt, members of the campus community and students from the men's basketball and track & field teams.
Saturday, Couch-Fikes and Ford were honored at halftime of the men's basketball game against Miami, which UNC won 96-71. Watch here.
After the game, it was on to the reception, where senior Victoria McPherson reprised a now-familiar role. For the second year, she served as one of the student moderators of a discussion with the Trailblazers, asking questions about their time at UNC and beyond. She also was in attendance at the first Trailblazers reception, in 2014.
“Being a part of the Tar Heel Trailblazers reception for the third year in a row now was amazing,” she said. “It's not everyday you have the opportunity to network and just casually chat with some of the great Tar Heels that have paved the way for me, my teammates, and every other student athlete on campus. Having these role models is more than I could ask for and this reception is the perfect place to honor and learn from them directly!”
McPherson and classmate Kendra Douglas, a member of the track and field team, questioned the Trailblazers about a wide range of topics:
• When asked, “What would you change about your UNC experience? Ford replied, “I wouldn't change anything. “ But after a pause, he reconsidered: “Well, I would beat Marquette …”
(For those who don't already have it seared into memory, the Tar Heels fell to Marquette in the NCAA Championship game in 1977.)
• Each talked about lessons and qualities learned at UNC, and the list included unselfishness, teamwork, respect … and punctuality. “I'm 60 and my clock is still set 10 minutes fast,” Ford said, “because with Coach Smith, you weren't ever late.”
• They also spoke about lessons learned since graduation, and Couch-Fikes gave plenty of credit to her coach, Dennis Craddock, who has since retired from UNC but was in attendance at the reception. “A lesson I've learned is that you can do it all,” Couch-Fikes said. “Maybe not at the same time, but you can. Coach Craddock taught us all to be well-rounded, that track was important but not the only thing.”
• Both emphasized the outstanding experiences they had aside from athletics. Ford spoke of living in Granville Towers with his teammates and remembered many of them packing into the room of Walter Davis, eventually the No. 5 pick in the 1977 NBA Draft, to watch the Wizard of Oz. He also recognized a favorite professor, Jay Klompmaker, who was in attendance. “So many things make this such a great place,” Ford said.
• And both offered advice to the students in attendance, who are members of the gymnastics, track, women's basketball, football, men's and women's soccer and volleyball teams.
“Enjoy being a student-athlete here,” Ford told them. “Enjoy meeting new people and try to learn all you can. The only bad thing about it is that it goes by so fast.”
“Have the right attitude and put in the right effort,” Couch-Fikes said. “Be tough to beat and respond to the challenges. Whatever it is, respond with the right attitude and right effort, and you can be a Trailblazer, too.”
Players Mentioned
