A Passing Worth Noting and Mourning

I may not hate the Packers, however, I most certainly, utterly, despise UNC. But this morning I, along with the vast majority (if not the entirety) of the Duke community, are putting the hatred aside: yesterday morning, UNC student government president Eve Carson was shot and killed in a random and senseless act of violence.

I've got a handful of friends at UNC; Eve was not among them and in reading what's been written about her in the latest twenty-four hours, I'm indubitably the poorer for that. On ESPN this morning, they quoted UNC President (and former Clinton Chief of Staff) Erskine Bowles as saying she had more potential than anyone he had ever met. High praise, indeed. The Daily Tarheel's memorial wall is worth reading. The remarks by UNC-CH's chancellor are worth watching (I won't embed the video). But most of all, say a prayer for her friends and family who are left with a great, gaping hole in their lives.

The bitter, tragic irony of her death is that it came just two days before the second Duke-UNC game, this one within the walls of one of the greatest sports venues in the world. By all accounts, Eve was a rabid Tarheel fan and was no doubt was looking forward to the game. It had promised to be a titanic match-up, what with UNC point guard Ty Lawson expecting to play after being sidelined with an ankle injury in Duke's 11 point win in the Dean Dome. The regular-season ACC title is on the line, and UNC's the #1 team in the country. Don't think for a moment that this game will not be intense, probably a classic given how much there is on the line for both teams and the new motivation for Carolina.

But I think the focus for many people in the two communities separated by just eight miles will be elsewhere, on Eve. Although I'm glad it's going to be played in Cameron, in front of the Crazies, part of me wishes it was in the Dean Dome instead, so that UNC students had something to take their mind off of this tragedy if only for a few brief hours. She'll be remembered at the game with a moment of silence. I won't be surprised if Coach K, who wore a Wake Forest-colored tie in memory of the late Skip Prosser when Duke played Wake recently, has some subtle personal tribute of his own. GTHC, and RIP Eve Carson.