Monday May 12, 2008

Hall of Fame Friend

Hall of Fame Friend
When I first found out Jim Davis was selected to the Hall of Fame at Clemson for the Class of 2008 I could not get to my cell phone fast enough. I am not sure I have met a man with more character or integrity.

No coach has ever won more basketball games at Clemson and no coach has ever won two conference titles except for Coach Davis. He had 14 NCAA Tournament appearances in 18 years and 11 top-20 seasons.

Coach Davis also exemplified academic integrity as 100% of his four-year players graduated during his 18-years at Clemson.

My favorite Coach Davis story came back about 10-12 years ago. Coach Davis just signed a new contract that included a company car. This meant he could sell the car he just purchased not long before he reached terms of his new deal. At the time my car had just died and he found out I was in the market for some new wheels. Coach Davis and I were friends for about a decade before but his act of kindness was uncalled for. I asked Coach Davis what he wanted for his car and he asked me about how much I was looking to spend. He was taught to never answer a question with a question but this one had a point. I told him I was looking in the $10,000-$12,000 dollar range and he said, "Sold. I will take $10,000 for it." It was not until after the sale but I found out the car was worth about $15,000-$18,000.

After knowing Coach Davis for over 20 years, I now believe had I told him I was in the $5,000 range he would have sold it to me for that price. The man who grew up with below the poverty level will give you the shirt off of his back today. I know of few people who are as generous or who have a sense of family and friends the way Coach Davis does.

Coach Davis grew up the 10th of 11 children and tells stories about how he and his brothers slept in the bed sideways so they could all fit. They passed down shoes from one brother to the next and he would cut out cereal boxes and use them in the soles of the shoes to keep the dirt and moisture from coming through the holes. He jokes that he could step on a dime and tell if it was head or tails.

Coach Davis says "we were po". He would have a long walk back and forth to school and football, baseball and basketball practice in his rural hometown. He would joke that "we lived so far out in the country that we had to ride a pregnant mare to town so we would be guaranteed a ride back home."

Eventually Coach Davis worked hard and made a nice living for his family and he never lost that sense of friends and family. I can't remember ever being at a restaurant where he did pay the bill before anyone knew he did it. At Mac's Drive In if he is finished before you finish your meal then he leaves without you knowing he has already paid for yours. He would deny it because he would never want anyone to know it but he makes frequent trips behind the counter to leave nice tips for the cooks.

I loved the fact that he would check and make sure his players always packed for all four days of the ACC tournament even though some of his teams had little chance to win it.

I also loved the idea that he explained to each of his players who this old man that showed up at all hours of the day to send off the Lady Tigers when the bus pulled off campus for the road trips. They only saw a jovial elderly man who gave them a "thumbs up" each time the bus pulled out of sight. They were young and most did not have a sense of Clemson history but you and I know the well wisher as Dr. R.C. Edwards.

Coach Davis said he took each game one at a time but privately he enjoyed beating North Carolina and South Carolina. He understood the rivalries and his players were sure to hear about the importance of them. He had 355 wins but the ones against the Tar Heels and Gamecocks were a little sweeter.

Now his fondest days are spent with family. He says if you have a few extra hours he would be glad to share stories of his grandkids.

You still see him chewing on his cigar at Clemson baseball games and the current players and coaches have few allies like Jim Davis.

One of my biggest regrets is when I was out of town and I missed his retirement dinner. He has these amazing relationships with his former players and many shared them that weekend. As they age they probably have a better understanding of his wisdom like the time he had a player that developed an attitude problem. One day at practice he sat the player in the center of the court in a comfortable chair and she sat her while her teammates run the coliseum steps. It worked wonders for her attitude.

The blueprint for a coach would include one that won with class and dignity. The blueprint would include academic achievement and full compliance within the rules. You could add a great relationship with the community and the rest of your athletic department. The last ingredient would be the ability to teach his players life's lessons that would last longer than the coach.

I enjoy reading stories of John Wooden and his lessons for his players at UCLA but I am thankful I saw great examples for 18 years right here in Clemson with Jim Davis.

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