Virginia’s ‘tallest cheerleader’ Ralph Sampson pulling for his team at Final Four - St. Paul Pioneer Press

April 07, 2019 at 07:53AM

At 7-foot-4, Virginia Cavaliers legend Ralph Sampson was hard to miss Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

"I'm their tallest cheerleader," he said.

Sampson, one of the greatest players in college basketball history, was on hand for the Cavaliers' national semifinal against Auburn. In the second game Saturday night, Michigan State faced Texas Tech.

Sampson, who led Virginia to the 1981 Final Four, has been to all his alma mater's NCAA tournament games. The Cavaliers haven't been to the Final Four since 1984, the year after the center's senior season.

Chris Brogan, 46, of Annandale, Va., poses with former Virginia legend Ralph Sampson at the Final Four in Minneapolis on April 5, 2019. Brogan made an enlarged emoji of Auburn legend Charles Barkley shedding a tear. Virginia faces Auburn in a national semifinal on April 6 at U.S. Bank Stadium. (Courtesy of Steve Kellogg)

"About time they're in the Final Four (again)," Sampson told the Pioneer Press. "Great coach, great university. Tony Bennett has done a remarkable job. I love him to death."

Sampson, 58, is one of three hall of famers cheering on their alma maters at the Final Four. Magic Johnson is a big supporter of Michigan State and Charles Barkley of Auburn. Tigers coach Bruce Pearl said "there's bragging rights at stake."

"I know Barkley well," said Sampson, who played in the NBA from 1983-92 and appeared in four All-Star Games. "I know Magic. We'll see what happens."

Sampson shrugged off that their might be trash talking between the three. Then again, he did say about facing Auburn, "I think we'll win."

While Sampson didn't deny that the Cavaliers have had an exciting run to the Final Four, he said he usually is calm during games.

"I'm usually a student of the game," he said. "My interest is how the game is going to turn out and whole aura of the basketball business."

Sampson meets with Virginia basketball players when he can during the season. He offers advice and words of encouragement, and they appreciate that.

"He comes around a good amount," Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome said. "He's just super supportive and any piece of advice he has, we're all ears. It's an honor to have him around."

Despite three times being named college player of the year, Sampson was unable to lead Virginia to an NCAA championship. After the Cavaliers fell short at the Final Four when Sampson was a sophomore in 1981, they were upset in a regional semifinal in 1982 and lost 63-62 in a regional final in 1983 to eventual champion North Carolina State.

Sampson said those losses are behind him, and he's not of the belief that a Virginia championship at this Final Four could help make up for anything.

"That was 35 years ago," he said. "It's totally different. It's a totally different game, a whole different era. The arena is different (playing in football stadiums), the social media is bigger. Whatever happens now is about now. It's about UVa's basketball legacy."

At 7-foot-4, Virginia Cavaliers legend Ralph Sampson was hard to miss Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

"I'm their tallest cheerleader," he said.

Sampson, one of the greatest players in college basketball history, was on hand for the Cavaliers' national semifinal against Auburn. In the second game Saturday night, Michigan State faced Texas Tech.

Sampson, who led Virginia to the 1981 Final Four, has been to all his alma mater's NCAA tournament games. The Cavaliers haven't been to the Final Four since 1984, the year after the center's senior season.

Chris Brogan, 46, of Annandale, Va., poses with former Virginia legend Ralph Sampson at the Final Four in Minneapolis on April 5, 2019. Brogan made an enlarged emoji of Auburn legend Charles Barkley shedding a tear. Virginia faces Auburn in a national semifinal on April 6 at U.S. Bank Stadium. (Courtesy of Steve Kellogg)

"About time they're in the Final Four (again)," Sampson told the Pioneer Press. "Great coach, great university. Tony Bennett has done a remarkable job. I love him to death."

Sampson, 58, is one of three hall of famers cheering on their alma maters at the Final Four. Magic Johnson is a big supporter of Michigan State and Charles Barkley of Auburn. Tigers coach Bruce Pearl said "there's bragging rights at stake."

"I know Barkley well," said Sampson, who played in the NBA from 1983-92 and appeared in four All-Star Games. "I know Magic. We'll see what happens."

Sampson shrugged off that their might be trash talking between the three. Then again, he did say about facing Auburn, "I think we'll win."

While Sampson didn't deny that the Cavaliers have had an exciting run to the Final Four, he said he usually is calm during games.

"I'm usually a student of the game," he said. "My interest is how the game is going to turn out and whole aura of the basketball business."

Sampson meets with Virginia basketball players when he can during the season. He offers advice and words of encouragement, and they appreciate that.

"He comes around a good amount," Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome said. "He's just super supportive and any piece of advice he has, we're all ears. It's an honor to have him around."

Despite three times being named college player of the year, Sampson was unable to lead Virginia to an NCAA championship. After the Cavaliers fell short at the Final Four when Sampson was a sophomore in 1981, they were upset in a regional semifinal in 1982 and lost 63-62 in a regional final in 1983 to eventual champion North Carolina State.

Sampson said those losses are behind him, and he's not of the belief that a Virginia championship at this Final Four could help make up for anything.

"That was 35 years ago," he said. "It's totally different. It's a totally different game, a whole different era. The arena is different (playing in football stadiums), the social media is bigger. Whatever happens now is about now. It's about UVa's basketball legacy."

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