1982 Champion Firebirds Back On Campus

 WASHINGTON, DC: MARCH 1, 2007—Former UDC Head Men’s Basketball Coach Wil Jones led the 1982 NCAA Division II National Basketball Champion University of the District of Columbia Firebirds into the UDC Windows Lounge for a reception, and later into the gymnasium for the basketball game between UDC and Columbia Union College, and in so doing re-ignited fond memories of days and times gone by. The Team had been invited back to the campus to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their winning the 1982 Championship.

 One could not help but being taken back to the glory days of UDC basketball, when the 1982 men’s basketball team was the talk of the town as they defeated one opponent after another, eventually advancing to the “big dance” and then to the NCAA DII Championship game to become the first school in the city of Washington to win a national basketball championship. The 1982 Firebirds amassed a 25-5 season record to win the National Championship, while defeating, among others, the perennial basketball powerhouse Virginia Union University Panthers, a team that included future NBA great Charles Oakley.

 UDC President William L. Pollard officially welcomed the team back to the campus and thanked them for the winning the championship and helping to open doors that had been previously closed.

Coach Jones spoke passionately about the road to the Final Four and some of the obstacles the team had to overcome to get there. Then he introduced the team to a warm and enthusiastic audience of current athletes and university staff. He reminisced about recruiting strategies employed to persuade the athletes and their families that UDC was the place where they could receive a high quality education and play basketball while doing it. He proudly spoke of some of the career successes of the team since leaving UDC, including having at least one assistant principal, a minister and other professionals in the group.

 Each player was invited to address the audience and share their memories of the road to the championship. They spoke fondly of their classroom and basketball experiences at UDC, and the difference that the University made in their lives. They also spoke of how their experiences at UDC helped mold their character.

 The 1982 Champions were introduced during half-time festivities of the UDC- Columbia Union game where they received a rousing reception and were presented plaques commemorating the 25th anniversary of the championship by UDC Atheltics Director Dr. Harold M. Merritt.