Hey everyone,

In the spirit of the tab on the main page asking for people to express their support for Coach G by emailing her. Well, I wrote Coach G to express my support and I wanted to share that with you all. The email I wrote is below, and I hope that others can chime in show Coach G how much we want her to stay!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Donald Wine II
Date: Mar 28, 2007 3:12 PM
Subject: You Are Duke Basketball - Please Stay!
To: Coach G

Coach G,

My name is Donald Wine II, and I graduated from Duke in 2004. I have to admit, I didn't know much about the history of women's basketball at Duke before I got to Duke. I remember one of my first women's basketball games I watched on television was when we upset Tennessee in 1999 to reach the Final Four. Yet, when I came to Duke, I went to my first women's game, and I was immediately hooked. I loved watching our girls play with the passion, dedication and class that college basketball is all about. My roommate was one of the male practice players, and together we definitely supported you all through thick and thin. When I became a Line Monitor in 2002 and Head Line Monitor in 2003, I made it a point to identify women's basketball under the same importance as men's basketball at Duke. I attended just about every game, and I had just as much fun cheering you on to victory as I did our men. Graduating in 2004, being able to see Alana Beard, Vicki Krapohl and Iciss Tillis play for 4 years, I really identified with the women's team while I was there, and I even drove 6 hours to watch you compete valiantly in the 2003 Final Four in Atlanta. I've been all over the United States watching the girls play, and even while in law school down here at the University of Miami, I was still decked out head to toe in Duke gear to watch you all play when you came down.

See Coach G, you are our general. Everything I know about the history of Women's Basketball at Duke includes you. You are not just a big part of Duke athletics, you are a big part of Duke as well. I've been so proud to be able to see you take our program to such great heights over the past decade. I watch every Duke women's game on TV, whenever you are on. I scream at the top of my lungs during the game, and after I'm just as tired as some of the players. I cheer like a madman when we win; I agonize for days when we lose. I was so proud of this year's team for being so successful throughout the season. I was even more proud that you finally started to get the recognition that you deserve, none better than the formation of Goestenkorsopolis earlier this year. I was definitely shocked and heartbroken for the entire team after our unfortunate loss last weekend, because I know that you all worked hard and you deserved to finally crack through. Tears were shed last year after the Championship game. You would have thought that I was playing, because I root so hard for your program to win. My heart truly bleeds Blue and White, and it's because of you that the women's basketball team will remain among my favorite teams at Duke.

Coach G, it makes me proud that you have been such a big part of not only my experience while at Duke, but the Duke experience as a whole. If you were to leave Duke, I know that wherever you ended up, you would coach with the same vigor and class and success that you have brought to Duke. However, when it comes to you, I'm selfish. I don't want you to leave. Duke doesn't want you to leave. Everyone who knows me knows that very few people are more loyal to Duke and more supportive than I. I know that we are on the verge of greatness, of cracking through that ceiling and finally getting that coveted national championship. And I truly hope that you are our coach when that happens, because there is no other coach in America, in any college program, that deserves to hoist that trophy more than you do.

You are Duke Basketball, Coach Goestenkors. You are our Coach G. And I thank you for all that you have done for Duke, and for what you will continue to do for Duke. Just know that there are students and alumni that love you and want nothing more than to see you stay here at Duke for years and years and years. Pat Summitt is synonymous with Lady Vols Basketball, Geno Auriemma is synonymous with Huskies Basketball. You are Duke Basketball. Please stay, Coach G!

Warmest Regards,
Donald Wine II
Duke University, Trinity College Class of 2004