Saturday, May 30, 1998

North Carolina ceremony has Texas spin

By Al Pickett / Abilene Reporter-News

The Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Dallas weren't the only hall of fame activities Thursday.

The North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame also held its annual induction, with a slight Texas connection to the event.

Cedric Maxwell, who won two NBA championships during his eight seasons with the Boston Celtics, was among those honored Thursday in North Carolina.

Although a great player in the NBA and the all-time rebounding leader in North Carolina-Charlotte history, Maxwell is as well remembered for his nickname "Cornbread" as he is for his accomplishments on the court.

One of his teammates ' who is starting to make a pretty good name for himself ' is credited with giving Maxwell his nickname. Melvin Watkins, the new head basketball coach at Texas A&M, spoke last week at the annual convention of the Southwest Region of the Associated Press Sports Editors in Austin and told the story of how Maxwell became known as "Cornbread."

Watkins, Maxwell and another teammate went to see the movie "Cornbread, Earl and Me." Watkins thought Maxwell looked like the lead character in the film, and the trio laughed about it. Maxwell didn't like the nickname, however, so it was dropped.

But North Carolina-Charlotte made it to the National Invitational Tournament, and the New York City media found out about the nickname.

"The New York media picked up on it," Watkins said. "We lost to Kentucky in the finals, but Cedric was named the MVP."

And the name "Cornbread" was born.

That was Maxwell's and Watkins' junior year at UNCC.

The next year Maxwell made first team all-American as he led the 49ers to the Final Four. North Carolina-Charlotte lost a last-second heartbreaker to Marquette in the semifinals.

"The chemistry was right," said Watkins. "We made the Final Four, and that's a dream no one can take away from me. I had a fortunate career. We never lost a home game. We were 58-0 at home during my four years."

Watkins admitted he wanted to attend an Atlantic Coast Conference school like North Carolina or Duke coming out of college.

"But no one wanted a 6-4 center from a small school," he said. "I read in the paper that Cedric Maxwell had signed with North Carolina-Charlotte, so I called them. In fact, I borrowed my sister's car and drove myself there to visit."

His stay proved to be a long one. After four years of playing for the 49ers, Watkins was drafted in the NBA. But he returned to North Carolina-Charlotte as an assistant coach, a job he held for 18 years.

Two years ago, he was named head coach. Watkins led UNCC to the NCAA Tournament both years. The 49ers won their first-round game each year, and this year took top-ranked North Carolina to overtime before losing in the second round.

After 24 years as a player and coach at UNCC, Texas A&M lured him away this spring to try to rejuvenate the Aggies' sagging basketball program.

Watkins, who said the new Reed Arena which opens next season at A&M played a big part in his decision, said he talked to a lot of coaches before accepting the A&M job.

"Across the board, every one of them said it is a diamond in the rough," he said. "There is no reason why we can't get the job done (at Texas A&M), and I'm just crazy enough to think I'm the one who can do it.

"There are a lot of great players in this state, and they're not all wearing football helmets. We'll get the job done, and we'll do it in a first-class way."

Al Pickett can be reached at 676-6772 or picketta@abinews.com.