It says a lot about Trajan Langdon that, in the four years I went to school with him and the two seasons I watched him from press row, I saw him smile just once on the basketball court.
If Duke fans had one complaint about Trajan it was that they wished he would show a little more emotion on the floor. He never beat his chest, never "raised the roof" or otherwise called attention to himself. But in my mind, Trajan's cold demeanor and icy exterior were the signs of a true warrior and winner who didn't waste time with words and celebration-he let his game speak for him. But don't be fooled; he loved Duke and basketball as much as any athlete to wear a Blue Devil uniform.
Oh yeah, the one time: January 29, 1997, 0:42 remaining and Duke leading UNC 72-70. Trajan catches the pass from Jeff Capel and buries the Tar Heels with his seventh three of the game, ending a three-year losing streak to Carolina and starting the biggest and best party Duke saw in my four years. The ball dropped through, Cameron erupted and Trajan smiled.
The icy facade cracked, if only for a moment.
- Michael King, Duke '98
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