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| | Friday, July 7 Loyalty a rare site in today's sports | ||||||||||||||
| ESPN.com Roy Williams shocked the North Carolina faithful when he said no to his alma mater, instead electing to remain at Kansas. ESPN.com users were split on how to feel, at times expressing gratitude and respect for how Williams came to his decision while also showing disappointment because Williams turned down Dean Smith and the Tar Heels in their hour of need. Below are some of the best responses: Roy Williams is my hero. I would let him take my son, my car, and the keys to my house. I formerly lived in Lawrence and found him to be a rare person in this day and age. A man of values and honesty. It's a great day for Lawrence and KU. Gene Gant Tampa
I never thought I would see the day where I would have to cheer for team coached by an ex-Duke player (Quin Synder, Missouri) against a team coached by an ex-Tar Heel (Kansas). But with Roy's obvious betrayal to "The Family," I'm forced to make this brutal change in allegiance.
Brent Knight
I was never a fan of Roy Williams to begin with. Most people I know and talked to didn't want him as the next coach at UNC either. My vote was for Michael Jordan all along to replace 'Coach Gut'. Wishful thinking. Whoever the next coach is will be successful anyway, because it's Carolina. Tim Roberts Asheville, N.C.
I am very disappointed that Roy is not coming home to North Carolina, however I respect his decision and wish him the best. Roy is a man of great character and principles and it was obvious in his press conference Thursday night. I am sure the people of Kansas realize how fortunate they are to keep this man as their coach. Good luck Roy and don't look back! Greg Simpson Greensboro, N.C.
Many people forget about the ties between Chapel Hill and Lawrence. Both programs are in the top five of all time, Dean Smith played for the great Phog Allen, a coach who remained at KU over five different decades. The ethics Dean taught Roy were influenced by Phog. While Dean has a great legacy, Roy has the opportunity to continue building a legacy to rival Phog's & Dean's. Chad Dickason San Francisco
When I first heard that coach Williams was leaving, I felt like a family member had died. Watching the press conference last night had all the anxiety and anticipation of a national championship game. I honestly can't say that I would be more thrilled with a championship than this decision, to hear Roy say "I'm Staying" to me felt like we had just won the Final Four at the buzzer. We have! Monte Monfore Mission, Kan.
I was really looking forward to see Roy Williams coach at Carolina. I feel that he will regret his decision in the long run but it was his to make. I wish him the best of luck at Kansas. I hope he has a great season. As far as UNC I think that the powers that be will hire the best man available. How about that retired player -- what's his name -- Michael? Oh yeah, Jordan!! Just kidding -- it will be Eddie Fogler or George Karl. Get some spice in there! Elizabeth Byrd Raleigh, N.C.
Coach Williams wasn't as mindful of Carolina in this process as he was of his own personal needs. This elongated decision process has left Carolina in a poor light. He could have said "no" long ago. He shouldn't have practically begged for the job over the past 12 years. His approach was unprofessional and careless. I don't want to say that he used this opportunity to get exposure for the Kansas program, but it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility. One thing is certain: Roy Williams is no longer a beloved son of the Carolina coaching tree. I'm sure his return trips to Carolina will be without "love" from the community. We really don't care if he ever comes back. Bret Johnson Durham, N.C.
I have always liked and respected Roy Williams, but after last night my respect has gone up to a whole new level. I am amazed and thankful that he chose to stay. Around Kansas, Roy Williams IS Jayhawk basketball. He is the type of coach I dream about sending my two sons to play for someday. Tim Schild Wichita, Kan.
I think Carolina was looking for the smartest guy for the job and it is now obvious that Williams could not have been that guy. To turn down a job at UNC, the school that made him what he is today, could only mean that he is not all too bright after all. Coach Smith gave Roy every opportunity to succeed when he was a high school coach at small Erwin High School in N.C. and turned him into one of the most respected assistants in colege basketball over 20 years ago. Roy spent 10 good years at UNC and then with the recommendation of coach Smith got the job at Kansas. To turn down coach Smith is ridiculous. Loyalty to his players? If he were indeed loyal to his players, he would not have considered the job in the first place. This loyalty scam is just a cover-up and recruiting ploy to make Roy's decision look like it was made for the right reasons. Greg Lyda Raleigh, N.C.
He's out of the family! Jason Chapel Hill, N.C.
Dean Smith couldn't be prouder of the decision Roy Williams has made. In a cynical world like ours, decisions like this are seldom made. Dean Smith instilled loyalty to Roy Williams and it may have backfired, but not to everyone involved. Roy Williams is a class act and well respected in his profession. I hope he never has to live with the undeserving title (for anyone) as the greatest coach never to win the national title, because his numbers speak for themselves. Roy is a great coach, and his legend is growing more and more every year. His dedication and loyalty to his players is so uncommon because of the ludicrous money deals being made...I hope more and more coaches look to Roy, and Dean for that matter, as an example of what winners do. Oh, and by the way, I'm a huge Duke fan and don't like North Carolina one iota. I thank Roy Williams for staying, despite the fact that I felt it was a job you couldn't refuse. Bryan Roybal Edmond, Okla.
Thank you. Simply, thank you. Michael Sullivan Springfield, Mo.
I have been a UNC fan since the day I was born. What Roy Williams did last night was what he said was in the best interest of his players? He stabbed UNC right in the heart. UNC didn't need him anyway. I wouldn't want a man who didn't have 100 percent of his heart in it. If he would have come to Chapel Hill, he would have always thought about Kansas. Roy, you can stay in Kansas with your second-class program. UNC will hire the best man for the job, and we will be the ones in 2001 cutting the nets down. UNC will come out on top!
Dayton, Ohio
As a lifelong Carolina fan, I just knew in my heart that coach Williams would be coming to back to UNC. However, the lessons taught him by the master of college basketball were too great, and my heart was broken for a third time in three years. I wish coach Williams the best, and hope that the Tar Heels find us another great coach soon. Rob Peed Virginia Beach, Va.
As a longtime UNC fan I am extremely disappointed in the way Roy Williams handled this. Not taking the job is OK , but waiting this long not only hurt recruiting it really was kind of a slap in the face to everyone involved at UNC. He left us out to dry and now we have very little time to find a replacement. It was always assumed that everyone in the UNC family was on call if the program needed them. Roy was called on when we needed him and my respect for him and probably in most UNC fans eyes has been diminished. Matt Morgan Carrboro, N.C.
Roy Williams is THE class act in college hoops. I, along with all Jayhawk fans across the country, am breathing a sigh of relief as well as celebrating a victory that may be as good as three national championships (and one that may bring three in the next few years)! Roy has proven that he is as great a man as he is a coach. Sorry UNC, but you made one mistake -- you didn't look deep enough into Roy Williams. Sure, you recognized his coaching ability, but you failed to recognize the man that lives within. He is loyal, honest, trustworthy and happy -- happy to build his own legacy at a school that is pretty rich in tradition in its own right, happy to coach in an historic field house that is located on a street bearing the name of James Naismith, happy to be in Kansas and happy to be a Jayhawk! We wish you luck, UNC. The way I see it, you have returned us a favor -- we gave you Dean, now you have given us Roy. I have a feeling they will both go down in history as two of the greatest coaches of all time! Michael MartinEast Rutherford, N.J.
Loyalty speaks more about a person's character than anything else. Roy Williams has more character than most of us -- our marriages may fall apart, or we might change jobs for better pay -- but Roy has given a certain stability to his fans and to the realm of college ball. I'm a Kansas State University student, but I am, always have been, and always will be a Kansas fan thanks to Roy Williams. Ben Perry Manhattan, Kan.
This is about the most disrespectful action I have witnessed in sports. One should not lobby for 10 years for a position and tell a number of sources that he would take the job on call and then turn down the school when it needs you most. Dean Smith and North Carolina made Roy Williams, and as far as I am concerned as a Carolina fan, Williams should never be asked again for this truly elite position and the Carolina family should look at this as a loss of one of its members. Robert Ounjian Los Angeles
As a die hard Carolina fan, it is hard for me to admit that coach Williams made the right decision. Recalling that he sounded off at one press conference about how the fans were not cheering enough at one game, he would have been miserable with our spoiled, and often unattentive, "wine and cheese" fans that make up the majority of the Smith Center crowd. David Grimes Smithfield, N.C.
I think Roy Williams did what he thought was the right thing for him, although as a UNC alumnus, I'm very disappointed in his decision. I also wish he had taken two days to decide instead of one week. With this jilted feeling burning in me, I hope Williams never goes past the first round of the NCAA tourney ever again! You DO NOT say "no" to Dean and the Carolina family. Tony Steen New York City
He's not as smart as I had thought he was. This was a dream job, and I am sure it will never be offered to him again. His shortsighted decision to remain with players he recruited will haunt him later, when these players fail to win a championship. Roy is a class act, and I wish him well, but this was very bad decision for him to make. Michael Kessler Fort Pierce, Fla.
It's too good to be true. Williams turns down what is probably the ultimate of coaching jobs because the loyalty for his players outweighs any of his own desires to be at North Carolina? You've got to be kidding me! I didn't think people like this existed in sports anymore. God bless Roy Williams and God bless the Jayhawks. Brian Kansas City, Kan.
It's refreshing to see a man stick to a program for the sake of the kids, a la Tom Izzo, rather than jump at what may be the chance of a lifetime, a la Lon Kruger. Williams may never get this chance again, but he's headed for immortality in the state of Kansas. Ponder this, though: how quick are the people that so venomously hated Williams one week ago waffling back to his side today? Aaron QuesenberryMitchell, Ind. | ALSO SEE Williams says no to UNC, stays at Kansas Sixers' Brown becomes UNC's top choice Thanks, but ... Fogler withdraws name from UNC race Breaking down the UNC candidates Weekly Word: Keep what you have Katz: Surprise leaves Carolina scrambling Roy Williams' coaching record, timeline | ||||||||||||||