Kansas University basketball fans are not happy with Roy Williams’ comments about KU signee David Padgett during ESPN’s “Pardon The Interruption” television show Tuesday.
Williams was asked whether it was fair for the NCAA to hold athletes to their letters of intent when coaches leave the school a player signed with.
“There’s no doubt in my mind kids choose where to go to college … the head coach is a huge factor for that,” Williams said. “I don’t think it’s fair for David Padgett to be stuck out there now, and yet in that national letter of intent that they do have to sign, they put in bold print you are signing with the school, not the coach. But that doesn’t make it right.
“The fact is you do sign with the school, but if they do want to play for a certain coach, I feel there’s nothing I can ever do to repay David Padgett for showing me the faith and then I leave. Guys, that’s hard.”
Fans on Internet message boards didn’t like the “stuck out there” reference or the fact Williams is talking about KU signees, especially ones that chose KU over UNC.
“David Padgett’s final two choices were Kansas and North Carolina, and his dad said he wanted to play for Roy Williams,” Williams said. “I feel badly and I’m not just saying that as a light statement. I tried to call yesterday … the timing … I talked to my team at 3:30 (p.m.) and I was leaving there at 5. I tried to call David and his family before 5 o’clock, and I missed them.
“Then I get here (to North Carolina), and we rushed to the press conference, Now, not only is it something I don’t feel comfortable doing (calling the Padgetts) but I did not get to them until after the fact so I insulted them.”
Pete Padgett, David’s father, told The Associated Press he heard about Williams’ interview with ESPN and planned to watch a rerun late Tuesday night. He said the family also knew the 7-foot high school All-American might change his mind.
“We’re taking a step back to see who gets hired at Kansas,” Pete Padgett said. “If David feels like it’s somebody he would like to play for, then I would think he would want to come to KU. If not, we’re going to pursue the possibility of his release.”