Commencement address should be made by former Terp athletes, not just politicians

I read in Tuesday’s Diamondback that this year’s graduating class is having trouble finding a speaker for graduation (“Carter turns down offer to give grad speech”). I think I speak for most students when I say I’m not interested in what Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton has to say. My choice for graduation speaker would be former Terrapin men’s basketball player Juan Dixon. This graduating class was very lucky to experience a championship basketball team. Dixon is an inspiration for all of us — on and off the basketball court — and it would be an honor to share my final moments at the university with Dixon.

Hadi Akhavannik

Senior

Electrical engineering

Basketball team did not forge identity this season; needs to answer in today’s game

What does a team decide — to give up or rise and meet a challenge? This is what the Terrapin men’s basketball team did all season — both.

Yes, the Terps met challenges, sweeping Duke, defeating then-ranked Memphis in Springfield, Mass., and starting this season with a 9-3 record before ACC action. Then the Terps were unsuccessful against teams they were supposed to beat, such as Clemson and North Carolina State, which both swept the Terps.

Simply stated, the team was not its customary self — a hard-edged, tough, defensive-minded, championship-level program.

For whatever reason or reasons, the Terps’ customary identity wasn’t forged as in previous years, namely during the 1998-2002 period when the program won the national championship and made two Final Four appearances.

There is an axiom in life — your past doesn’t always predict the present or the future. Everything this team suffered or overcame throughout these past two years impacted it.

Now, the Terps face a new challenge — the ACC tournament at MCI Center with a noon appointment today against ninth-seed Clemson. Putting it simply, the Terps must overcome their recent losses against the Tigers. But the question remains: Will they?

Will this group of Terp players rise as it did against Duke twice or will the team welter under its own psychological problems and performance troubles that led to the its 5-6 finish?

Only this team can answer that question together — but will they? Only Gary Williams, John Gilchrist, Nik Caner-Medley and company can provide a reason for the NCAA to invite the program for a 12th consecutive time.

Time is running out; there are 40 minutes to play today. Now give the selection committee an answer — in or out.

Allen Wagner

University graduate

Class of 2000