As he readily admits, Frank Martin was not able to appear in enough NCAA Tournaments to satisfy his superiors or a portion of his fan base. My admiration for Frank Martin has very little to do with basketball, but for his philosophy about his holistic approach to raising young men. Although he has had people come and go, most of his players would do almost anything for him, and they exhibited that on that fateful Monday, March 14th, when he was relieved of his duties by Athletic Director Ray Tanner. I’ve watched him interact with players on and off the court and he has always shown the utmost respect. His home in Northeast Columbia became like a team lounge, due to the hospitality that Frank, his wife Anya, and their family showed to his players.

A further reason to admire Martin is in how he quickly makes peace with difficult decisions and holds no animosity towards anyone. This past Monday night, I sat in my car for thirty minutes to listen to the interview on Sports Talk, because I currently do not have a working radio in my residence. During the interview, the radio station suspended commercials because Frank was that entertaining. Martin has no regrets, and the Martin family has added so much to not only the University of South Carolina, but the community at large the past 10 wonderful years! There is no doubt that Frank Martin is a survivor and will land on his feet. Still, he will be missed by many for his persona and his community involvement.

We look forward with anticipation to what job Lamont Paris can do as his successor. Go Gamecocks!!