“SHARING THE MOMENT” Manager Eric Skeffington leaves Duke with title, life lessons


By Eric Skeffington Senior Manager, Duke ’10


As cool as it was to be on the court listening to “One Shining Moment” after the team won the national championship, my best memory will always be the 10 minutes after we left the court in Indianapolis when Coach addressed the team in the locker room. He told us to soak it all up, and for that short time it was only us -- as a Duke Basketball family -- sharing in the moment together. I will always be thankful to have shared in that -- it will always be a defining moment in my college experience.


The great thing about being a manager at Duke is that you get to work so closely with so many great, diverse people. Like the team, we go through a lot together. Through thick and thin, we always have each others’ backs and, even though we might not seem to have that much in common, we share the special bond of Duke Basketball. The managers I have worked with at Duke will forever be some of my best friends in the world and are a huge reason my Duke experience has been so special -- they are family.


For us, the experience is about way more than watching basketball, assisting at practice, compiling stats, and preparing Gatorade coolers. Coach K has shown me the meaning of toughness, hard work, and perseverance. Nothing is impossible if you’re willing to give everything you have to the pursuit of a dream, but to do so you must be tough. It’s no secret that there are a lot of Duke haters in the world, and so I’ve learned that when someone tries to knock you down it is key to brush them aside, dig deep within yourself and keep moving forward. To be successful, you must always be self-motivated and hungry.


I have been blessed to work with Duke Basketball these past four years, and it goes without saying that the whirlwind after the championship has been an amazing experience. Still, to me, the best part about winning the national title was watching the players react. As a manager, I have become very close with a lot of the players, especially Jon, Lance, Brian, Steve and Jordan. Those five seniors in particular have persevered through a lot these past four years, absorbing a lot of criticism from outsiders. Despite it all, they never complained or even faltered. Nothing made me happier than seeing their efforts vindicated because they have represented the program so well for so long. As Coach might say, they are “worthy of being champions.” I am very proud of them, and so honored to be a part of the Duke team.


183 WORTHY CHAMPS


THE MANAGERS


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