When people are locked into competitive furor, it’s hard to see past it sometimes. That was especially the case with Lefty Driesell, who was incredibly charismatic at Maryland.
A star at Duke, Driesell had (and still has) a folksy charm and an ability to engage almost anyone. He also had a Steve Spurrier-like ability to piss people off and didn’t really mind making enemies. At one meeting of ACC coaches, Dean Smith left the room and Driesell reportedly said to the rest “we gotta get that guy.”
He even aggravated people at Duke who got to where they couldn't stand him even though he played there.