Coach Gary Blair’s final game in Reed Arena was against the toughest opponent the Aggies have faced all season, the top-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks. The game was not a storybook ending to Gary Blair’s career, but even when faced with a disappointing result, Coach Blair and his team remained dignified, just as they have in every season since Blair started at Texas A&M in 2003. Coach Blair leaves behind a legendary career at Texas A&M, retiring as the most successful Aggie basketball coach of all time; in men’s or women’s basketball. The Texas A&M women’s basketball team will return to Reed Arena and the Gary Blair Court with a new head coach in the fall.
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A&M coach Gary Blair throws candy to the Hullabaloo Band members before the start of Texas A&M’s game against South Carolina on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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A&M coach Gary Blair throws candy to the Hullabaloo Band members before the start of Texas A&M’s game against South Carolina on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Coach Gary Blair throws candy out to the student section before the start of the Aggies’ game against South Carolina on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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The basketball court at Reed Arena has officially been named the Gary Blair Court in honor of the national championship winning coach.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Coach Gary Blair reacts to the brief pre-game ceremony commemorating his final game at Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Coach Gary Blair during the pre-game ceremony commemorating his final game at Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Coach Gary Blair Gigs ‘Em before coaching his final game at Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Redshirt junior guard Jordan Nixon (5) grabs the ball and throws it back onto the court before it goes out of bounds in Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Junior guard McKinzie Green (23) stands at midcourt in Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Senior forward Aaliyah Patty (32) holds the ball away from a South Carolina defender in Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Graduate guard Qadashah Hoppie (2) dribbles down the court in Reed Arena on on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Junior guard McKinzie Green (23) faces off with South Carolina guard Lele Grissett (24) in Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Graduate guard Kayla Wells (11) on the court in Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Graduate guard Qadashah Hoppie (2) passes the ball to a teammate in Reed Arena on on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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After the game, Coach Gary Blair was honored on the court by several speakers including SEC Commisioner Greg Sankey and Athletic Director Ross Bjork.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Athletic Director Ross Bjork pats Coach Gary Blair on the shoulder after the end of his final game in Reed Arenaon Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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SEC Commisioner Greg Sankey speaks to the crowd after the end of Gary Blair’s last game in Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Coach Gary Blair gestures towards SEC Commisioner Greg Sankey after telling a story from early in their shared careers.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Coach Gary Blair and SEC Commisioner Greg Sankey go to shake hands in Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Athletic Director Ross Bjork speaks to the crowd in Reed Arena about his interactions with Coach Blair on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Coach Gary Blair and Athletic Director Ross Bjork shake hands as coach Blair withdraws the speaking notes he prepared earlier in the day in Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Coach Gary Blair throws candy out for the last time in Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Coach Gary Blair gave a speech in which he thanked everyone for the well wishes but asked that people remember that the Gary Blair Court be remembered as a “we court, not a me court”.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Coach Gary Blair saws off varsity’s horns one last time with his family in Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Graduate guard Destiny Pitts (3) and coach Gary Blair square dance as the Hullabaloo band plays “Hot Time” for Gary Blair’s last home game in Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Graduate guard Destiny Pitts (3) and coach Gary Blair square dance as the Hullabaloo band plays “Hot Time” for Gary Blair’s last home game in Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Coach Gary Blair distributes his final piece of candy as the head coach of the Texas A&M women’s basketball team in Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Graduate guard Kayla Wells (11) signs a jersey at request of a young fan in Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Coach Gary Blair invited all spectators onto the newly named Gary Blair Court to meet and greet everyone that came out for his last game in Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Coach Gary Blair makes good on his promise of a “we court” as he was approached by fans on the court after the end of his final game in Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Coach Gary Blair makes good on his promise of a “we court” as he was approached by fans on the court after the end of his final game in Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
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Coach Gary Blair was forced to delay the start of the post-game press conference as he was stormed by fans asking to get photos and meet the legendary coach after his final game in Reed Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Photo by Photo by Robert O'Brien'
