North Carolina State University Athletics
ESPN Classic Remembers 1983 Title With 30-Minute Special
4/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ESPN Classic Remembers: NC State Upsets Houston will honor the legacy of Jim Valvano and his 1983 North Carolina State Wolfpack team that won an improbable NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship 25 years ago. The program airs Friday, April 4 at 8 p.m. (Eastern) on ESPN Classic.
Jim Valvano led his underdog N. C. State Wolfpack to a last-second upset of favored Houston and its "Phi Slama Jama" in Albuquerque, NM. Later, he enjoyed continued success as a commentator for ESPN and ABC Sports. Less than two months before his death, Valvano delivered a historic speech at the Inaugural ESPY Awards, which included his now famous words, "Don’t Give Up. Don’t Ever Give Up."
It was similar to a speech he delivered at Reynolds Coliseum prior to an NC State-Duke game that honored the 10th anniversary of the 1983 team.
These words would become the motto of The V Foundation For Cancer Research, established by ESPN and Valvano.
The program, hosted by Rece Davis, will follow the re-airing of the 1983 NCAA Championship game on ESPN Classic, which begins at 6 p.m., ET.
To relive the Wolfpack's 1983 championship season, visit GoPack.com's anniversary page, Relive the Magic of 1983.
The V Foundation for Cancer Research
The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, The Foundation has raised more than $70 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide.
It awards 100 percent of all new direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. The Foundation, which has received five consecutive top 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator, awards grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Review Committee.
For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.
