After 40 years, Dunphy shaves mustache
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After 40 years, Dunphy shaves mustache
Gone.
Temple basketball coach Fran Dunphy had sported his trademark mustache for 40 years, going back to his days in the Army. But today at the Liacouras Center he shaved it off, in front of an amused crowd and a row of cameras capturing the moment, for the best of reasons.
A couple of years ago he made a promise. Now it was time to keep his word, because this summer former Owls standout Dionte Christmas took an online elective class that gave him the final three credits necessary to earn his degree in African-American Studies.
"It’s not a story about me," Dunphy said. "I’m just proud to be part of these guys’ lives. I’d do it once a year, by the way. I got a text from a former player who said, ‘I’m sure you hope he doesn’t go to grad school. Then what would you have to get rid of?’
"I’m proud of him. I’m proud of Temple, for giving him the opportunity, [former] coach [John] Chaney and his staff. Everyone’s contributed in this. I beat [Dionte] up pretty good about not getting his degree in a timely fashion, because he was so close and has worked so hard."
Christmas is the second person in his family to get a college degree. He helped the Owls win the first two of their three consecutive Atlantic 10 titles and has spent the last two seasons playing professionally overseas.
"[Dunphy] always brought it up," Christmas said. "I was almost afraid to come back here. At first I thought it was a joke. Then I knew it was real. That was a motivation, too."
Maybe he should have taken the class that Dunphy teaches?
"I wish," Christmas said, smiling. "Actually, I don’t."
It took mere minutes to erase four decades. Dunphy said his wife has never seen him without the mustache. "She wasn’t all that fired up," he noted.
Athletic director Bill Bradshaw wore a fake one for the occasion. "I told him 20 years ago that if he ever shaved his off, I’d grow mine," he explained.
Everyone had a good time. Why not? They were, after all, there to celebrate something.
"I have no idea what’s underneath it; I had a doughnut this morning . . . " Dunphy said, before the shaving began. "It’s about the wackiest thing I’ve ever done. I’m way more nervous than any game I had the chance to play in or coach. Where’s coach Chaney when I need him? I’m thinking about just shaving one side, to see what it looks like."
Actually, he didn’t look so bad with a hairless upper lip.
"I don’t know what to do, to be honest," he admitted. "I should have marketed this better. But it won’t take too long to get it back."
At least, hopefully, until there’s a good enough reason to have a next time.
Comment removed.
Never met a shot he didn't like.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt- I would have let my son play for Chaney. I would let my son play for Dunphy. Temple seems to find coaches that really put the kids first.— syddan26
- This comment has been deleted.— GeorgiePorgie68
- feel better now? racist troll — cheese396
- Afican-American Studies??? Do all basketball player's receive a degree in that for being on the team?— IvanDejesus
- Maybe Jim Gardner will do the same on live TV?— The Baron
- Racist comments? Really?— rubicon24
- Rubincon, which one of the insensitive buggers has a degree in anything? That is what I'd like to know.— mike l
- A degree in African American studies? We all know the story at this point. Do we really need a degree for it?— hipdaddy
- lmao to these comments— lighterfluid
- Guess these morons have been too busy beating up the local blacks to read that by 2040 whites will be the minority. He idiots, look at it as AMERICAN HISTORY, because that's what it is. You imbeciles.— CiceroSpuriousDeodatus
- Do any white guys have a degree in African American Studies?— ameadie
- great story, great gesture by a great coach. and kudos to Christmas for finishing up and getting his degree. but you chicken-bleep racist pigs, GeorgiaPorgie, IvanDejesus and hipdaddy, you turn this into a racial thing? and, of course, do so by hiding behind your on-line pen names. why don't you sign your real names? mine's Jack Wilkinson, a 61-year-old white guy who lives in the South. you three? gutless trash.
way to go, Fran. way to go, Dionte. write on, Mike.
— E-6 - Comment removed.
