News-Record.com

Les Robinson is known in North Carolina mostly as a former N.C. State basketball coach, player and athletics director. In South Carolina, he's known for his role at The Citadel, where he once was the basketball coach and most recently the athletics director.

Robinson's final day at The Citadel came Monday, when he retired as AD. One of his legacies there was mending relationships with such people as paralyzed former linebacker Marc Buoniconti and novelist Pat Conroy.

There were joyful tears when Buoniconti received his long-sought class ring and saw his Citadel jersey retired two years ago.

"That was very meaningful to me," Robinson said.

There had been hard feelings about Buoniconti, who sued the school after an on-field collision left him paralyzed in 1985. After going almost 20 years without visiting, Buoniconti now holds an annual tailgate party on campus.

"That was an emotional time," Robinson said. "I feel good about what we've done."

In 2002, Robinson was on the scene when The Citadel and Conroy reconciled. Conroy, a former Citadel basketball player, had criticized the school in a novel.

FOOTBALL

GEORGIA TECH: Cornerback Jerrard Tarrant has been charged with rape and suspended from the team. The alleged victim said she was raped at an on-campus dormitory April 25. Tarrant, a redshirt freshman, was considered a potential starter at cornerback.

DUKE: Defensive end Justin Wilkerson has left the team and plans to transfer. He didn't play as a freshman last year.

TENNESSEE: Wide receiver Rodriquez Wilks had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, and guard Darris Sawtelle had surgery on his left shoulder. Sawtelle also will have surgery on his right shoulder this month. Wilks is expected to play this season; Sawtelle isn't.