April 17, 2000

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland head men's basketball coach Gary Williams will host a star-studded charity basketball game to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation May 4 in Cole Field House. Williams, who has guided the Terps to a school-record seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, will coach a team of national and local celebrities against a team coached by nationally acclaimed author, John Feinstein.

Former University of Maryland basketball stars Len Elmore, Tom McMillen, Duane Simpkins and Johnny Rhodes, as well as track All-American and university alumnus Renaldo Nehemiah, are scheduled to participate. In addition, former Terp football great Boomer Esiason, former Washington Bullets Phil Chenier and Kevin Grevey and Johnny Holliday, the voice of the Terps will also donate their time to playing in the event.

Maryland legislators Thomas "Mike" Miller and Steny Hoyer will also play along with Tim Russert, host of Meet the Press.

Following the game, there will be a cocktail reception and dinner honoring Paul Whetsell, president of Meristar Hotels and Resorts. Whetsell will be presented with the Alma and Alfred Hitchcock Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Award by Pat Hitchcock O'Connell, who has a grandchild afflicted with cystic fibrosis.

"My commitment to helping the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation find a cure is a personal one," said Williams, who is a spokesperson for the metropolitan Washington, D.C. chapter of the CFF. "It dates back to my friendship with fellow Maryland graduate, Boomer Esiason, who is the parent of a child afflicted with the disease. My challenge is to help the CFF raise the dollars to give the 30,000 children and young adults the quality of life and the future they deserve."

Those interested in information about attending the cocktail reception and dinner should contact Carole Burke, Director of Special Events for the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. chapter of the CFF at (301) 657-8444 extension 20.

In addition to playing in its school-record seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament this past season, the Terps won 25 games and 11 ACC games. Maryland is one of only 10 teams in the nation to have played in each of the last seven NCAA Tournaments, and is one of one of only five teams in the nation to have advanced to the "Sweet 16' at least four times in the last seven years.

Sponsors for the Gary Williams Celebrity Hoops Classic are: Genzyne, Comcast, Pepsi and American Airlines.