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While schools around the country are showcasing their first basketball practice as part of midnight madness festivities, Coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Duke men’s basketball team are taking a more modest and covert approach.
Rather than having their practice in front of the Cameron Crazies, the Blue Devils elected to head to Fort Bragg and practice in front of troops. In addition to practicing in front of the troops, Duke will participate in obstacle courses in the Fort Bragg Physical Fitness Center. The troops will also have the opportunity to get autographs and meet some of the players.
This is certainly an honorable move by Coach K and Duke, not only because it provides an excellent source of entertainment for the troops, but also because it sheds some light on a Fort Bragg community that has recently suffered a tragic murder-suicide.
It is impossible to ignore Coach K’s prominence as the foreman in this respectful endeavor. Coach K has long a long history with the military. After enrolling at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point from high school until 1969, Coach K served for 5 years, before becoming the head coach at Army. After his stint at Army, Coach K ended up in Durham, North Carolina and the rest is history.
While Coach K has definitely broken the hearts of college basketball fans around the country by ending their seasons, or making already bad seasons worse, one thing we can all agree on is that this is surely an honorable move. Perhaps the only thing stronger than Coach K’s commitment to Duke basketball, is his commitment to the men and women who serve our country.
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