Fansided

The 1983 North Carolina State basketball team gets White House recognition

By Andy Erk

Feb 18, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; The North Carolina State Wolfpack mascot performs during the second half against Notre Dame at PNC Arena. The Fighting Irish won 81-72. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; The North Carolina State Wolfpack mascot performs during the second half against Notre Dame at PNC Arena. The Fighting Irish won 81-72. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The historic 1983 North Carolina State basketball team finally gets recognized at the White House.

A flashback was offered on Monday as the 1983 North Carolina State Wolfpack national championship team, finally got a visit to the White House.

What took so long for the historic team to visit the White House? Funding.

During the historic run by the 1983 Wolfpack, the university refused to give the team money to make a trip to the White House. Per NCAA rules, the team could not look for, or receive, outside donor support to pay for the trip to the White House. This led to a long wait for the 1983 team, which finally came to end Monday after Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah granted the request sent by North Carolina State forward Thurl Bailey.

The team won the national championship by getting a 54-52 win over the University of Houston Cougars. The game an instant classic with the Larenzo Charles’ buzzer-beater put-back off the missed shot of Dereck Whittenburg.

North Carolina State beating that Houston team is one of the most memorable and recognized NCAA Tournament upsets of all-time. Remember, that losing Houston team featured some NBA Hall of Fame players in Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon.

And who could forget Jim Valvano running around the floor, lost in the midst of a great Cinderella run and his best coaching job ever. Tragically, in 1993 Valvano lost his fight with cancer. Also tragically, Larenzo Charles passed away in 2011.

While it may seem a little too late for this North Carolina State team, their recognition at the White House offered them the moment they deserved and a chance to honor those who have passed away in Charles and Valvano.

H/T ESPN