To the editor:
I’m hoping that somehow Coach Williams will see this note.
Those of us that love college basketball at North Carolina are most proud of Roy. His decision to remain at Kansas was the right one and only makes us prouder of the integrity he has shown to his players, his fans, and most importantly, himself. Good luck, Coach; we’ll miss you.
Michael Neal,
Burlington, N.C.
To the editor:
Your man Roy is keeping his head in the game, right where it belongs! What a tough decision. It sounded as though it could have gone either way. I think he had nothing to lose with that choice, wow , KU or NC. There are tougher choices in life.
The joy in the announcement, I think, goes to the heart of the debate over whether to hang with the program, or move on to brighter prospects (i.e. players leaving their senior year behind, and their teammates and commitments, for an opportunity some other place , [ read NBA money]).
The coach showed us a lot Thursday; I hope everyone was paying attention. It’s a true lesson in character and loyalty. Good stuff, very good stuff indeed! Rock Chalk Jayhawks! KUUUUUUUUUU.
Kelly Cummings,
San Diego, Calif.
Fan in N.C.
To the editor:
As a 1994 graduate from UNC, I was extremely disappointed, but not surprised, that Coach Williams turned down the offer to return as our head coach. Certainly, it was a gut-wrenching decision for the coach, but in my mind it was the correct one.
Coach Williams has an incredible opportunity to be associated with KU basketball much as Dean Smith is with UNC basketball. He has 329 wins, two Final Fours, and has more wins than any other coach after 12 seasons. He has the chance to write his own legacy, rather than living in the shadows of Dean Smith in Chapel Hill. He also has great fan support and an exciting arena on a beautiful campus in Kansas. Looking at these facts, it almost seems like a simple decision.
Regardless of the heat certain Tar Heel fans will give the coach, he should know that the true Tar Heel fans will recognize these facts and support his decision. No one should find fault in Roy Williams, for in the end, he conducted himself with the style and grace, the dignity and loyalty that he learned from his days at UNC. Roy Williams is, and forever will be, a greatly admired and respected member of the Carolina family. My best wishes and sincerest admiration go to Coach Williams.
Greg Fansler,
Columbia, Mo.
To the editor:
Along with seemingly everyone else in Kansas, I applaud Roy Williams’ decision to remain here and continue to lead the Jayhawks. He is a fine coach and always fields a team of outstanding young people we can all be proud of. But I do believe that the attention he and his “boys” receive is all out of proportion to the intrinsic importance of the basketball games they play.
I am certain that if the good people of this state were even one tenth as aware of all the other remarkable things that go on at KU scholastically, musically, artistically they would have even more reason to feel immensely proud of their university as the best possible expression of the values they cherish and stand for. I know we live in a sports-mad society and that nothing I could ever say or do would influence anybody. But the recent torrential downpour of Roy-hype has left me flabbergasted.
No disrespect to Coach Williams intended, but do most J-W readers realize that we have professors and young scholars here who are every bit as good at and renowned for what they do as our coaches and athletes? Our debate team is one of the best in the country. Are J-W readers so intellectually inert that the newspaper’s editorial staff dares not give it a fraction of the attention the sports teams receive? It’s true that our professors do not receive the six- and seven-figure compensation packages that coaches get, nor do they generally own properties in several states. But the work they do is no less difficult, interesting, or important.
Well, I’m just a curmudgeon before my time. All hail the Jayhawks, their innumerable cohorts of fans, and most of all their illustrious leader, Roy Williams optimus maximus et invictus (at least until the ides of March roll around).
Walter Clark,
Lawrence.
To the editor:
Now that the “Affaire doy” is over, maybe the media can get back to covering something of consequence, like what Elian had for dessert yesterday.
John Culbertson,
Lawrence.
To the editor:
First of all, a big thank you to Roy Williams for staying at KU. The decision certainly wasn’t one to take lightly considering all the factors involved and I don’t feel you owe any apologies for taking your time with the decision.
Secondly to those who said negative things when the first AP report came out, saying Roy had already accepted the position, shame on you! Roy Williams is a class act and a gentleman and always has been. For those to bad mouth Coach after the first false report, KU doesn’t need you. They don’t need you watching their games on TV, they don’t need you buying a ticket to games and they don’t need you around the players or seeking autographs.
Go root for someone else and leave KU alone. You’re the first people to boo when things aren’t going just right and then saying you’re the best KU fan in the world when the teams are winning easily. The players, true fans, and Coach Williams deserve the loyal fans and will certainly keep them.
I read a comment on the ESPN site Saturday from a Kansan that said in part, “Roy Williams lied to us.” Take your comments and root for KSU or Washburn. Good luck to the team and coaches next year and thanks once again for staying Roy. I can’t imagine what all had to have gone through you mind, but am glad it was you and not me. I’d have supported you either way, but am more than happy you’re staying.
Robert Holmes,
Dexter, Kan.
To the editor:
To all the Jayhawk fans, we here in the Tar Heel state say congratulations! We realize just how fortunate you are to have a man of integrity to lead your basketball program. After all, he learned from the best. We have always felt a certain kinship with you because of the links between Chapel Hill and Lawrence. We hope you learn to abhor that school in Durham as much as we do. I just wish Roy hadn’t played the “heir apparent” quite so well.
James Young,
Dunn, N.C.
