A Time When Michael Jordan Fell Short, Yet Proved His Commitment

Formerly a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) football quarterback, Matt Kupec has been a results-driven university fundraising consultant for many years. In a blog article on his website titled "My Favorite Michael Jordan Story,” Matt Kupec brings focus to a player who came back into the spotlight in 2020 with the release of the ESPN documentary Last Dance.

Over the course of two decades as UNC’s vice chancellor for advancement, Mr. Kupec had the chance to meet fellow Tar Heel alum Michael Jordan on many occasions. One memorable moment occurred when he was providing a campus tour to a high school senior who was trying to decide whether to attend UNC.

Seeing Jordan at the breakfast buffet at the Siena Hotel, Mr. Kupec invited the NBA legend to sit down with the prospective student. As he described it, Jordan “was all in” and spent 20 minutes chatting with the high school student, making a case for UNC as a great academic choice.

Despite Jordan’s best efforts, the student ultimately went with the University of Virginia. The two UNC alums had a laugh at their next meeting about Jordan “not being able a close the deal.” The story does, however, illustrate Jordan’s commitment to his basketball roots and willingness to proactively promote his former college.