Prosser belongs at head of class

Skip Prosser could handle criticism as well as anybody, but he was looking forward to rewriting recent history

A part of a sports columnist's job is to occasionally criticize and second guess, and it probably goes without saying that I've done my share of both over the years.

In my case, it is never, ever personal. It wasn't with Dean Smith, Chuck Amato or any number of the state's other coaches.

Most folks don't understand that part of it, and that's perfectly reasonable. Skip Prosser was a rare exception. Over the past two or three seasons, I was sometimes critical of the job he did as Wake Forest's men's basketball coach, and he knew it. But he could handle it with class -- class that will be missed after his death on Thursday.

Unlike many coaches, Prosser made it clear he read newspapers in and out of season. Most coaches do. They're not unlike actors; they read the reviews, good and bad.

The last conversation Prosser and I had dealt with that subject. It was late in the night of March 9 at a hotel restaurant in Tampa, Fla. A few hours earlier, the Deacons had lost in the second round of the ACC Tournament to Virginia Tech, 71-52. A day earlier, Wake had upset Georgia Tech, 115-114, after two overtimes in one of the most memorable league tournament games ever. At 15-16, Wake's season was over. No NCAA, no NIT.

I was eating alone at a corner booth when Prosser seemed to appear out of nowhere. He sat down across from me, and we shook hands. I congratulated him on the performance against the Yellow Jackets.

"Thanks," he said. "We finally got hot for one game, if nothing else. Long day?"

"Yeah, but I guess that's life in a 12-team league," I said.

"Tell me about it," he replied. "It seems like we've rewritten the calendar for long days the past two seasons. But, as you know, everything written can be rewritten, and our program's goal is to force a few rewrites from some of you guys, and starting next season."

We laughed, and I assured him that I stood ready, willing and able to jump back aboard the Good Ship Prosser if he could chart a change of course. He spent the next 10 minutes explaining how that would come about. He talked about the recruits on the way and those on the periscope. He talked about what he had learned but still needed to learn more about. Bringing up the exploits of Jim Grobe's football team, he envisioned the day in the near future when Wake Forest would become the patron saint of collegiate long shots.

I believe Prosser was sincere about his vision for Wake basketball -- that he knew what could be achieved.

If that happens, someone else will be in charge. Wake Forest and all of college athletics will be fortunate if it happens under a person with the character of Skip Prosser.