Wednesday, July 5. 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
Strong support for Roy on campus
By Karen Lucas
writer@kanson.com
Kanson staff writer
The news that Roy Williams might leave Kansas for North Carolina triggered varied reactions on the Hill Friday.
Richard Givens, assistant provost and professor of chemistry, said it would be a huge loss if Williams left.
"He's been a first-rate coach and a gentleman and has run a very clean program at KU," Givens said.
Brooke Elliot, Lawrence freshman, agreed.
"He was kind of like the heart and soul of the team," she said.
Frank DeSalvo, director of counseling and psychological services, said he'd understand if Williams chose to return to Chapel Hill.
"I wouldn't hold it against him if he goes," he said. "It's hard to turn down an opportunity to go back home."
Hayden McCalman, Tulsa, Oklahoma, senior, said he didn't think Williams would leave.
"He's been here for 12 years and has too much going," said McCalman, Tulsa, Okla., senior. "He's done so much for the Lawrence community and the University of Kansas."
McCalman said a friend had surprised him Thursday night with the news Williams. McCalman called KU Info to confirm the news. "The guy at KU Info freaked out,
But not everyone on campus Friday spoke favorably of Williams.
Kamali Marsh, Jefferson City,
Mo., senior, said it would be good for the program if Williams left.
"KU basketball has been stagnant for a while." he said.
Adam Koch, Hutchinson junior, agreed.
"We need someone a little more hard-core than Roy," Koch said. "We always get to the finals and nothing happens."
But "KU loves Roy" banners that blossomed around campus Friday and a crowd of about 200 enthusiastic Williams supporters outside Allen Fieldhouse after the Friday evening press conference made it clear there was strong support for Williams.
Parker McConachie, Wichita senior, and Jeff Dreiling, a May graduate from Overland Park, spent most of Friday displaying their game-day flag on the lawn in
front of Allen Fieldhouse. Teddy Riss, a Shawnee Mission senior, joined them Friday evening.
"I love Roy to death." Riss said, and whatever makes him happy is good for me."
Passing motorists honked at their "Honk for Roy" signs after the evening press conference. They also had signs reading: "Roy's Girls." "Don't Leave Us," "We Love Roy," and "Home is where the Hawk is."
Claire Durwood, Mission Hills sophomore, Ashley Waggoner, Overland Park junior, and Kim Glacobbe, Amherst, Mass., junior, wore crimson and blue.
"I grew up with KU basketball."
Durwood said. "I went to a basketball camp with Roy. KU isn't KU without Roy."
- Edited by Jim O'Malley
Sun sets on Guthridge's career as Tar Heel
By Mike Ogle
Daily Tar Heel sports editor
According to Sprite, image is nothing.
Sprite could never be the official soft drink of North Carolina basketball.
Bill Guthridge's decision to retire last week, like many of the actions of the men's basketball program, had as much to do with the image it painstakingly works to maintain as it did with anything else.
He did leave under his own volition. He was not pressured to leave in any way and was welcome to stay for the remaining two years of his contract and beyond if desired.
In fact, Guthridge insisted that he intended to take advantage of that opportunity until a few weeks ago. He said he still loved the job and felt he could continue for years to come.
Was he lying through his teeth? Or did he recognize a slim window of opportunity from which to escape coaching gracefully — the opportunity afforded by last season's team?
The latter is most likely.
Until the Tar Heels' Final Four appearance in March, Guthridge had been walking a plank. But the
trip to Indianapolis rolled out the red carpet for his graceful, early exit. Guthridge chose to stride down that carpet instead of risking another walk down the plank.
During the royal treatment of the last week, many following UNC basketball were likely convinced of Guthridge's sainthood.
Only four wins ago, fans were far from praising him. They were com-
hitting blasphemy and praying for a one-way trip by Roy Williams from Lawrence to Chapel Hill, N.C.
Guthridge could be remembered in a number of waves.
He compiled one of the greatest three-year head-coaching careers ever, statistically speaking. Only he and North Carolina State's Everett Case enjoyed 80 wins in their three years. He led his team to the Final Four in two of three seasons.
He rather smoothly and successfully followed the legend of legends, Dean Smith.
But truthfully, years from now he probably won't be remembered
Commentary
much. He'll likely be that guy sand-wiched by two greater, longer Tar Tar Heel coaching careers.
It began with the '97-'98 team that will go down as one of the biggest disappointments in UNC history. Led by an all-star cast, Guthridge's team was supposed to run away with the NCAA title. They
returned from Sai Antonio with anoth er semifinal defeat
Antonio with another semifinal defeat. That was OK, though. Guthridge was forgiven. The best team regularly does not win the NCAA tournament, and the fans had forgiven Dean Smith so many times before
for the same fate
That next group had an understandably shaky regular season but seemed to get it together by March.
Then the bomb dropped. North Carolina left the Big Dance in the first round.
Unfortunately, they didn't get to see what the Tar Heels could do until the Final Four run that was more uncharacteristic than it was improbable.
Unthinkable in Tar Heel country. Fans understood the program was in a rebuilding year.
The aest side of Allen Fieldhouse is covered with posters, signs and heartfelt letters urging Coach Williams to stay "where the hawk is." Photo by Craig Bennett/KANSAN
The team lost several games it should have—but it also lost a lot it shouldn't have.
It seemed the Tar Heels couldn't bounce back like a well-coached team should. Forgetful fans began looking up how many more years remained on coach's contract after a first-round departure from the ACC Tournament.
Somehow the Tar Heels put it all together and saved Guthridge's image with four wins. He was paroled once again.
Guthridge realized something at that point. Maybe this head coaching thing wasn't his bag after all.
He had his moment in the sun and saw a way out. An exit that preserved the maximum amount of dignity and the most positive legacy that he likely could have gained
And so, too tired to go on or not, he resigned, and his career was rightly celebrated.
Perhaps Guthridge will spend his retirement years in Las Vegas. He certainly knows how to quit while he's ahead.
Roy's possible departure stuns Jayhawk faithful
By Phil Cauton
Kansan staff writer
Reactions from Lowrences:
- "I played on the women's team and I'm real disappointed because there's just so much tradition here. He put Kansas on the map and I'm sure it won't be the same without him. No 'Late Night with Roy Williams,' I don't know, it just doesn't seem like it will be Kansas basketball without him. It's just going to be different seeing him in Carolina blue instead of crimson and blue."
- —Casey Pritt, 2000 KU graduate, Jonesboro, Ark.
- "I don't know what to think. That is pretty huge. It'll take years to build the kind of power he had at the University and in the area. He's an icon."
—Chris Choun, 22, Kansas City. Mo.
-Kyle Billings, 22, Lawrence,
manager of Fun and Games, 816
- "That's unfortunate. Maybe I'll get something done during basketball season. I'm the kind of fan that if this team goes downhill, I'm going to turn the TV off. But I don't see KU going downhill without Roy because, hey, this is KU. Roy is just another of many names that will be remembered at KU for a long time, from Naismith to Phog Allen. But if we went anywhere else (other than North Carolina), I would be more upset."
Massachusetts St., great nephew of Bob Billings, Kansas basketball great and Lawrence developer.
- "We're all crying. He's going to be remembered and loved. A lot of people will forget that he's the winningest coach of the '90s. They might remember that he didn't win a national championship. But anyone that says 'good ridance' or that `we didn't need him` just doesn't know the program. At first he came basically as an unknown and if he does leave, it will be as a legend."
- —Jon Amyx, 44, owner of Downtown Barber Shop, 824 Massachusetts St. Roy's (and much of team's) barber
- "The community is so used to Roy's style and he's brought such a winning tradition. If there's a new coach, the expectations are going to be really high."
- —Marcus Murphy, 45, Lawrence, computer consultant
- "It's good for him to get back to his alma mater. It's where he's always wanted to be. Everybody F —Brad Scott, 23, brewer at Free State Brewing Co., 636 Massachusetts St.
- "I don't blame him. He should go where his heart is. He was a great coach but it's probably time for something new around here."
--Mike Haynes, 40, Topeka, 1983 KU graduate
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