The issue caused a stir from Asheville to Kitty Hawk. Even the Duke newspaper, The Chronicle, criticized the unsavory appearance of Krzyzewski's role in the reception. It was like being heckled by his own Cameron Crazies.

Suddenly, Coach Klean had been sullied, as if his halo had been made of nothing more than tinfoil and pipe cleaners. For some reason, the meticulous coach who had always kept a lid on his politics in the past hadn't anticipated a game plan for the outrage.