Dear Chris:

Aug. 19 (Valvano to Mrs. Washburn): "You can't believe the excitement that your son Chris has generated around this state."

By then Washburn had narrowed his choice of colleges to N.C. State and Virginia Tech. On Sept. 3 he made an oral commitment to State. Two weeks later, he transferred from Fork Union, on Virginia Tech's turf, to Laurinburg, in the Wolfpack's home state. Predictably, N.C. State was accused of arranging the transfer to keep closer control of Washburn. But Washburn says he transferred without consulting N.C. State.

Although Washburn had all but signed with the Wolfpack, other schools weren't about to give up. On Sept. 21, Maryland's Dillard wrote Mrs. Washburn, "I hope you realized how disappointed I was that Chris elected so early to go to N.C. State without taking an official visit to our campus.... I firmly believe that Chris in his own mind wanted to visit with us here at Maryland and I think that somehow he is being deprived of that opportunity. Perhaps you and your influence could be a factor in persuading his coach to allow him at least to visit not only with us but with the other schools that he was considering.... I will make a point to stop by to see you one afternoon, okay?"

The following day, Valvano wrote Mrs. Washburn: "I'm sorry that you have to go through all the people bothering you at this time. I'm very disappointed in some of the schools in the way in which they handled the recruiting of Chris. Everything is going to work out fine.... Be strong with me and don't worry about the rumors."

One rumor was that N.C. State had bought Washburn a car. Washburn says the car in question, a Subaru, was bought by his girl friend and that Washburn's name was listed on the purchase agreement "so I could drive it." Valvano filed a report on the car to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

On Oct. 3, Abatemarco and another Wolfpack assistant, Ray Martin, reassured Mrs. Washburn: "We are both hanging in there with you. We love you and you know we'll take care of Chris his four years here. He has two friends forever." The final push to the Nov. 9 signing date was on.

Oct. 3 (Abatemarco to Washburn): "Enclosed is the A.C.C. TV package. We get great exposuer."

Oct. 18: "You are a celebrity already here in North Carolina."

Oct. 25: "Coach V talks about you on the radio all the time."

Oct. 31 (to Mrs. Washburn): " Coach Valvano and I had a great time at Laurinburg on Sunday. We had a chance to go to the Baptist Church [with Chris]. Coach Valvano and I felt it was a very enlightening experience for us. The preacher did a superb job, and he touched Jim and I very deeply."