Remember Wolfpackdevil?

allen · Post by **allen** » April 23rd, 2012, 2:43 pm

Well he may have to change his name to wolfpackpacerdevil.

Sam Murray has recently signed to play basketball at William Peace University (joining the class of 2016 - the first co-ed class at William Peace University - formerly Peace college). After a successful season playing for Northern High school in Durham Sam was recruited by coach Claude Shields to join the Pacers of William Peace University.

Sam had another college offer to play basketball, but chose Peace in part to stay near home (the fact that there will be only about 70 men on a campus of over 1000 may have been a factor as well ;) )

Since he will be local folks may have a chance to congratulate him in person at the opening tailgate

Bostondevil · Post by **Bostondevil** » April 23rd, 2012, 2:49 pm

Congrats!!

CameronBornAndBred · Post by **CameronBornAndBred** » April 23rd, 2012, 3:16 pm

TNT told me the good news on this, and also informed me of the male/female ratio at Peace. Poor Sam, how is he ever going to get any studying done with all those women knocking down his door?

CathyCA · Post by **CathyCA** » April 23rd, 2012, 4:15 pm

Congratulations to WolfpackPACERdevil!

allen · Post by **allen** » April 23rd, 2012, 4:30 pm

After going through this process with Sam I can honestly say that if it was not for the fact that I am a huge Duke fan I'd probably just give up on D-1 athletics and find a local D-2 or D-3 team to cheer for (sort of the same way I like living in a town with a good minor league baseball team). They do this college athletics thing right.

The balance between athletics and academics, and the way that all on the campus keep the two roles in perspective, is really refreshing. Believe me, these schools want to win. But they know that these student athletes will not be playing basketball for a living when they are 28 and they take their academic obligation to them seriously. When you hear an AD answer the question about why all games are on Friday night, Saturday, or Sunday, and he answers with a very simple and straightforward, "so our players don't have to miss class", or when the basketball coach explains how he gathers all of the athlete's schedules, puts them on a spreadsheet, and then figures out how to schedule practices so no one ever has to miss a class, you realize that D-2 and D-3 have been doing this right for a long time and have a lot to teach big-time college sports. Some coaches refused to talk to us until Sam had been admitted to their university because they make no athletic exceptions; coaches have told me that their financial aid offices have no idea if a student is an athlete when making financial aid awards (Sam is a great student and did get some academic based $$, but none for athletics).

Do I wish Sam was so skilled that he had been recruited by D-1 schools? Of course, I'm a dad, after all. But this process through the D-2 and D-3 environment was refreshing

Lavabe · Post by **Lavabe** » April 23rd, 2012, 4:33 pm

allen wrote:After going through this process with Sam I can honestly say that if it was not for the fact that I am a huge Duke fan I'd probably just give up on D-1 athletics and find a local D-2 or D-3 team to cheer for (sort of the same way I like living in a town with a good minor league baseball team). The do this college athletics thing right.

The balance between athletics and academics, and the way that all on the campus keep the two roles in perspective, is really refershing. Believe me, these schools want to win. But they know that these student athletes will not be playing basketball for a living when they are 28 and they take their academic obligation to them seriously. When you hear an AD answer the question about why all games are on Friday night, Saturday or Sunday, and he answers with a very simple and straightforward, "so our players don't have to miss class", or when the basketball coach explains how he gathers all of the athelte's schedules, puts them on a spreadsheet, and then figures out how to schedule practices so no one ever has to miss a class, you realize that D-2 and D-3 have been doing this right for a long time and have a lot to teach big-time college sports. Coaches refused to talkto me until Sam had been admitted to thier university because they make no athletic exceptions, coaches have told me that their financial aid offices have no idea if a student is an athlete when making financial aid awards (Sam is a great student and did get some academic based $$, but none for athletics).

Do I wish Sam was so skilled that he had been recruited by D-1 schools? Of course, I'm a dad, after all. But this process through the D-2 and D-3 environment was refreshing

Amen, Allen. Division 3 is very refreshing... academics and athletics both in perspective! Congratulations to Sam and to you!!

lawgrad91 · Post by **lawgrad91** » April 23rd, 2012, 4:41 pm

Congratulations to Wolfpackpacerdevil!

OZZIE4DUKE · Post by **OZZIE4DUKE** » April 23rd, 2012, 4:53 pm

Congrats to you both! And TNT told me about his maybe going to Peace on Saturday, too. When he mentioned the M/F ratio, I commented that there used to be a saying about the women at Peace And St. Mary's, another (at the time) all female college in Raleigh: If you want a saint, go to Peace. If you want a piece, go to St. Mary's. I never checked out either school for the veracity of the "old saying"... ;)

TillyGalore · Post by **TillyGalore** » April 23rd, 2012, 5:37 pm

Congratulations wolfpackpacerdevil! I hope you enjoy college as much as I did, but remember more of it than I do.

Very Duke Blue · Post by **Very Duke Blue** » April 23rd, 2012, 8:22 pm

Congratulations Wolfpackpacerdevil!! I'm happy and proud for you. Think of all the kids who play HS sports and never get a shot at playing ball in college. Not many. Good job!!

DukePA · Post by **DukePA** » April 23rd, 2012, 8:43 pm

Woo Hoo!!! Go Wolfpackdevil!! We're all pulling for you!

Ima Facultiwyfe · Post by **Ima Facultiwyfe** » April 23rd, 2012, 9:23 pm

It sure would be fun for all of us to show up en masse and root for Wolfpack/Pacer/Devil at one of his games in the future. We could all do our "Crazie Schtick" and paraphrase some famous Duke chants (Or,maybe he would rather we DIDN"T?

)
Love Ima

DukieInKansas · Post by **DukieInKansas** » April 23rd, 2012, 9:31 pm

Congratulations, Sam! Enjoy your college years.

Congratulations to you, too, Dad. Based on his choice, you have raised an intelligent young man.

DukieInKansas · Post by **DukieInKansas** » April 23rd, 2012, 9:31 pm

Congratulations, Sam! Enjoy your college years.

Congratulations to you, too, Dad. Based on his choice, you have raised an intelligent young man.

DukieInKansas · Post by **DukieInKansas** » April 23rd, 2012, 9:32 pm

DukieInKansas wrote:Congratulations, Sam! Enjoy your college years.

Congratulations to you, too, Dad. Based on his choice, you have raised an intelligent young man.

An unintended double post - but a matter that is definitely worth multiple congratulations!

DukieInKansas · Post by **DukieInKansas** » April 23rd, 2012, 9:32 pm

DukieInKansas wrote:Congratulations, Sam! Enjoy your college years.

Congratulations to you, too, Dad. Based on his choice, you have raised an intelligent young man.

An unintended double post - but a matter that is definitely worth multiple congratulations!

DukieInKansas · Post by **DukieInKansas** » April 23rd, 2012, 9:33 pm

Oops - I did it again.

Congratulations again.

devildeac · Post by **devildeac** » April 23rd, 2012, 10:56 pm

Allen,

That is GREAT news. Please pass on my most sincere congrats to Sam. We look forward to regular updates on his progress as a student-athlete.

Daryl

Miles · Post by **Miles** » April 24th, 2012, 11:07 am

Great news allen. We look forward to your updates!

allen · Post by **allen** » April 24th, 2012, 3:57 pm

Ima Facultiwyfe wrote:It sure would be fun for all of us to show up en masse and root for Wolfpack/Pacer/Devil at one of his games in the future. We could all do our "Crazie Schtick" and paraphrase some famous Duke chants (Or,maybe he would rather we DIDN"T? )
Love Ima

It would make for a great excuse for a mid-winter tailgate in the parking lot at Peace College.

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