RIP UNC Great & Friend/Coach Eric Montross!

[PirateAlew]

I am deeply saddened and tore up today. My childhood hero and friend Eric Montross, UNC great Center passed away today from Cancer (which my wife is battling again).

Eric had a HUGE heart. He was selfless, and giving of himself to all in need. As a kid growing up in Chapel Hill, we all looked up to him, but how could you not when he's 7 foot 1? He often attended my rec league and Middle school games when he was in town and UNC was not playing that night, even skipping hanging out with college kids, parties and other events after practice, as his girlfriend at the time was the sister of one of my teammates. Every time he entered the Gym, the game would STOP and kids would run to get his autograph to which he ALWAYS obliged. Later at UNC Dean Smith camp and team camp, he would come back to volunteer while he was a backup Center with the Boston Celtics. He wasn't paid to do so and would volunteer 1-2 weeks, and was my team coach my Junior year in HS along with Vince Carter and PG Ed Cota.

He was instrumental in securing the 1993 National champ for Coach Dean Smith, as he battled all the big men through the NCAA tourney and ACC. He was the true leader as only a Junior and routinely had amazing battles against Dook's big men, even being bloodied by Cherokee Parks in one game and going blow for blow.

RIP To a Gentle Giant, gone too soon. F$##$#$ Cancer! Damn

 

[dcbets4lf]

He was a monster in college. a great player.

 

[skoalbandit33]

Dang RIP big guy. He was a legend that made the DUKEvsUNC rivalry awesome during his time in Chapel Hill.

 

[PirateAlew]

damnit i am so mad and sad. I heard last year he had Cancer and was being treated at UNC. My dad saw him on golf course a while back and he was in good spirits. I cant remember what type he had but didnt think it was that aggressive. this is just a shock. I do hope they hold a service in Chapel Hill, which I will try to attend like we did Dean Smith, Coach Guthridge and Ted Seagroves (Dean's good friend and my parents Insurance agent). But being from Indiana that may be where it is. I am probably going to be in shock for a while.

 

[PirateAlew]

I was AT this game as a 12 year old screaming his lungs out, behind UNC's bench, with family friend Dave Lohse. Dave was UNC's SID at the time. One of my fondest memories at a UNC game where Montross and Laettner battled it out with Eric being bloodied by Christian and Parks on a few occassions. Bloodied under the eye and on other side of his head thanks to several elbows and punches thrown. We beat #1 Dook that night in amazing fashion. Got to storm the court with the colllege kids and UNC PF Pat Sullivan hoisted me up for a pic...

 

[SherwoodBlount]

Family used to live in chapel hill, I think my uncle actually went to church with him and the preacher used to tell my uncle Dana I didn’t see you in church today and he would reply I was there but sitting behind Eric. LOL. Guy will be missed. Very sad.

 

[vinnyvegas]

Watch him beat Michigan for Ship. RIP EM

 

[PirateAlew]

Family used to live in chapel hill, I think my uncle actually went to church with him and the preacher used to tell my uncle Dana I didn’t see you in church today and he would reply I was there but sitting behind Eric. LOL. Guy will be missed. Very sad.

wow nice! yes i know the church he went to well. He was a deep man of faith. What part of CH? I was born and raised in Carrboro near UNC campus, and later in Middle/High school over by ECHHS, off Weaver Dairy/Airport Road.

 

[SherwoodBlount]

wow nice! yes i know the church he went to well. He was a deep man of faith. What part of CH? I was born and raised in Carrboro near UNC campus, and later in Middle/High school over by ECHHS, off Weaver Dairy/Airport Road.

I’ll ask him. I remember I partied on Franklin street once, it was only 2 miles from where they used to leave..

 

[PirateAlew]

I’ll ask him. I remember I partied on Franklin street once, it was only 2 miles from where they used to leave..

You prob went to Players, the Treehouse, or possibly Gotham behind Franklin and Top of the Hill later. Four corners or "The Rat" (Rhatskeller) for Pizza and Beer.
Funny thing I got my crew cut, buzz cut at 11-12 to mirror Eric Montross and kept it like that for years.

 

[PirateAlew]

Family used to live in chapel hill, I think my uncle actually went to church with him and the preacher used to tell my uncle Dana I didn’t see you in church today and he would reply I was there but sitting behind Eric. LOL. Guy will be missed. Very sad.

was texting with mom so she could tell my dad about his death as I knew they were associated for years while he was calling UNC games. She said during his good friend's Memorial Ted Seagroves (Dean Smith/Roy WIlliams and my family's insurance agent and close friend), he came by and hugged my dad and patted him on the back. Did that again at Dean's memorial. Gentle Giant. Truly an amazing man we lost so young.

I reminded her that he was my UNC camp counselor one summer and when I got a concussion one night being hit in the face, he sat with me for a whole hour, constantly making sure i was ok, and distracting me from the nose and head injury, before he had to leave for a bible study and before Vince Carter's shift took over in trainer Mark Davis' office. We watched Kobe Bryant get drafted by Charlotte then he had to leave.