Credit to Miranda Fabian

Most little girls growing up enjoy spending time with their dads when it involves going to the movies, the amusement park, having tea parties, getting ice cream, or even going on road trips.

While I still enjoy doing all those things with him, my list looks a little different. Some people may call me crazy, but I have to say my favorite way to spend time with my dad was and still is snuggled up on the couch screaming at the TV because Coach K and the Blue Devils couldn’t make a shot.

Ever since I was little, my dad had a very strong opinion on college basketball, and in that opinion, there was only room for Duke University’s men’s basketball team. While there was no rhyme or reason of where this opinion came from, naturally as you would imagine, that led to me being raised through a royal blue colored glass lens and never enjoying seeing the letters UNC or the color Carolina Blue.

To be completely fair and honest, what is a Tar Heel? Seriously?

Growing up in a big family with two houses there is always a fight for attention and genuine quality time with my parents. Even if it was only an hour or so, and not many words were exchanged other than what was happening on the court, I always (and still do) cherished the time that I got to spend with him on the couch watching college basketball. It is that simple time that I will always be grateful for and never take for granted. And it is that same simple time that made memories and inside jokes between me and my best friend that will last a lifetime.

To this day, our texts partly consist of updates on the players, coaches, team drama, and commentary when a game is on and we are not together. Not only has this experience with my dad grown our relationship but it’s also grown my love and passion for the game. It has grown my interest as well as my ability to watch the game and improve my game from it. It has grown my passion to be inspired by the athletes putting in the work and making it to the next level. It has also grown my passion in hatred for any other team in the ACC.

From Allen to Taytum and from Zion to Cooper Flagg, looking back I couldn’t have prayed for a better blue devil buddy or a better dad.