"I'm not worried at all. I'm staying confident he'll be back here next year." Sophomore guard Keith Langford about Roy Williams
2B • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Brad Zollars bzollars@kansan.com
Inside Sports
Roy-UNC saga similar to reality TV
FRIDAY,APRIL11,2003
Does this seem like a reality TV show to anyone? Roy Williams furrowing his brow, muttering "gosh darn" under his breath as he holds one long-stemmed rose, while looking longingly at his two attractive suitors. Roy might not be ABC's version of The Bachelor, but he sure looks the part right now.
Al Bohl causing you trouble, Roy? Poof, he's gone. No more dove. Need anything else? Just rub the lamp and Chancellor Hemenway will come out. For North Carolina, it's wooing by kin. From his mother to Dean Smith to the drink cart girl at Pinehurst golf club, everyone that has ever known Roy Williams from his days in Chapel Hill are trying to guilt-trip him into making a move.
True, Roy is married to Kansas, to this University, to the kids in his program. But sometimes love is not enough. Deep down, the Kansas coach wonders if the grass really is greener on the other side. He is curious if things could be better at his alma mater and sadly for us, there's only one way to find out.
Kansas and North Carolina have pulled out the whole bag of tricks in order to get Williams.
But let's be honest. It's not really Roy Williams whom we will miss if he jets to North Carolina, it's the quality of players he is able to bring in year after year. And I'm not just talking physical ability.
Kansas' coach has separated himself from the elite coaches in college basketball by his ability to recruit stars who are not only good players, but good people. Bill Self, Rick Pitino or not. These coaches can't match Roy's eye. Most schools couldn't care less if the players can even string a sentence together — and a lot of them can't — as long as they can play ball. It's not that way at Kansas. People such as Jacque Vaughn, Nick Collison and Jo Jo White can attest to that.
If Roy leaves, my fears won't rest in Kansas' ability to recruit the type of players that will continue its level of excellence. We are still Kansas, with or without Roy. My fear is that we will have to settle for mere talent, for players that smugly smile after hitting a three during the first half of the national championship game.
But who really knows what will happen next. What will the evolving soap opera give us? An Al Bohl book of bird poetry? TJ Pugh coming back to coach his alma mater?
Tune in next week.
Zollars is a Chicago senior majoring in communications.
Georgia hires new basketball coach
ATHENS, Ga. — Dennis Felton kept an eye on the problems at Georgia, hoping to be entrusted with rehabilitating a men's basketball program left in disarray by Jim Harrick.
The Associated Press
Felton will get his chance, leaving Western Kentucky on yesterday to become Georgia's coach with a five-year contract worth $700,000 annually.
"As soon as I thought there might be a chance of a coaching opportunity at Georgia, I was very interested," Felton said. "I want to have the opportunity to build one of the next great basketball programs in the country."
He led the Hilltoppers to three straight NCAA tournament appearances and was 100-54 in five seasons. Before that, Felton worked as an assistant at Providence and Clemson.
"It's a pleasure to have a happy press conference," said Georgia athletic director Vince Dooley. "We haven't one of those in a long time."
Harrick left amid accusations of academic fraud and improper benefits to players. He resigned, then announced his retirement last month, two and a half weeks after being suspended with pay. The scandal also cost his son a job as an assistant coach and prompted the school to ban the Bulldogs from the SEC and NCAA tournaments.
An investigation is ongoing and the school could face additional sanctions.
In looking for Harrick's successor, Georgia used a search firm to run background checks. The screening including criminal records, how well candidates followed NCAA rules and whether their
educational history was accurate.
"We did an extraordinary job of due diligence in this case with all our candidates," Dooley said. "We put a good deal of emphasis on finding the right person, the right fit. He is the right person for Georgia."
Felton's Western Kentucky contract calls for a school that hires him away to agree to a four-year home-and-home series with the Hilltoppers. Felton plans to honor the agreement.
"I'm happy to play the four games," he said. "I've never forgotten how lucky I was. And it would be a way for me to repay Western Kentucky for giving me the opportunity."
"I think they're getting the next great coach." Western Kentucky athletic director Wood Selig said. "I don't think it will be very long before Dennis Felton will be mentioned everywhere among the nation's finest men's basketball coaches."
TENNIS
'Hawks to face in-state rival at first match in Lawrence
The No.61-ranked Kansas tennis team will face in-state rival, the No.34- ranked Kansas State Wildcats, at noon tomorrow at the Robinson Courts in its eighth straight conference match.
"They are playing really well right now," coach Kilmeny Waterman said. "They have pretty much the same team as last year, but it has come together for them."
The Jayhawks have struggled in conference matches with their most recent loss to Colorado April 5, leaving Kansas 7-9 overall and 3-6 in the Big 12 Conference.
With two victories in the last two seasons, Kansas dominates the all-time record against the Wildcats at 38-3.
K-State is red hot with a four-match
winning streak, including its most recent victory over Colorado. The Wildcats are in a fourth-place tie with Oklahoma in the Big 12 standings.
In doubles play, K-State has won seven of its last nine matches while the Jayhawks have struggled to succeed in doubles by losing the last doubles point against Colorado.
Junior Emily Haylock leads Kansas with a 10-6 record at No.3 singles entering the match-up against Kansas State.
The match is the first in Lawrence for the Jayhawks.
ROWING
The Kansas rowing squad will travel to the East Coast to compete in the Knecht Cup tomorrow and Sunday in
Jonah Ballow
Kansas to row in Knecht Cup after success in Austin, Texas
In their last competition, Kansas was swept in all five faces against Texas on March 29 in Austin, Texas.
Camden, N.J.
"Our expectations is to be in the top of the medals," coach Rob Catloth said. "We've had good success in our previous years at this race.I don't expect that to change."
Last season, the Jayhawks captured first place titles in the varsity fourwoman and both 2nd varsity eightwoman races. Kansas finished third in the varsity eight-woman race.
Catloth say there will be around 70-75 teams in the Knecht Cup. Despite the magnitude of the Knecht Cup, senior Lauren Royall said the team would be awestruck about the number of entries in this weekend's event.
"These races are a little more exciting with more boats," Royall said.
Jason Hwang
Will Roy Williams fill the coaching
Men's golf at the Intercollegiate 2003, all day, Chapel Hill, N.C.
= Yes. Nick and Kirk are gone; so is Roy.
Football spring scrimmage, 1 p.m., Memorial Stadium
SUNDAY
Baseball at Texas Tech, 2 p.m., Lubbock,
Texas
SATURDAY
Men's golf at the Intercollegiate, all day, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Track at John McDonnell Invitational,
all day, Fayetteville, Ark.
TODAY
vacancy at North Carolina
Tennis vs. Kansas State, noon, Robinson Courts
No. He stayed last time; he will stay this time.
Kansas Athletics Calendar
Rowing at Knecht Cup, all day, Camden, N.J.
than I thought and you should have been fired a long time ago.
No. North Carolina won't pursue him after he said no last time.
器
Baseball at Texas Tech, 7 p.m., Lubbock, Texas
Softball vs. Texas A&M, 1 p.m.,
Go home, Fresno.
Jayhawk Field
than I thought and you should have been fired a long time ago.
than I thought and you should have been fired a long time ago.
Rowing at Knecht Cup, all day, Camden,
N.J.
Baseball at Texas Tech, 1 p.m., Lubbock,
Texas
than I thought and you should have been fired a long time ago.
kansan.com
Is it me or is Al Bohl acting like a 13-year-old girl?
四
Hey Al, don't you know you can't mess with God? Especially when God's name is Roy.
than I thought and you should have been fired a long time ago.
The only reason Bohl got fired is because Roy doesn't want this to become as big a football school as it is a basketball school.
图
than I thought and you should have been fired a long time ago.
Three years ago, Roy Williams pledged his loyalty to KU and his players, but now he's using the same job offer to leverage his popularity against his superiors. And this is from a guy who preaches constantly to us students and fans about having class.
Roy, if you stay at Kansas, I'll come over to your house every Saturday morning and move your lawn for free.
Boo for Bohl, Roy for pre
--than I thought and you should have been fired a long time ago.
than I thought and you should have been fired a long time ago.
Out with the Bohl and in with the new.
than I thought and you should have been fired a long time ago.
I'm wondering if someone would please call the whambulance for Al Bohl.
POLL
I just heard Al Bohl talking about Roy Williams, and nobody talks about Uncle Roy like that. Rock chalk, Jayhawk.
Al Bohl is blaming the media and he is blaming Roy. Is he ever just going to take responsibility for being a sucky director? We love you, Roy.
Al Bohl, if you think that you can wage a war against Roy Williams and win it in Lawrence, Kansas, you're even dumber
He will consider it after the tournament excitement dies down.
Hey Al Bohl, the fact that you refused to step down and then released nasty remarks to the press just proves you never belonged here at Kansas. We're too classy for that.
This whole athletic director thing is making Roy look bad. Bohl wouldn't have been fired if it was unfounded. We love Roy.
图
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Hey Al Bohi, even Nixon had brains enough to resign when he saw the writing on the wall.
Hey everybody, Kansas Relays are next week, April 16-19 at Memorial Stadium. Things are going on all day, all four days, so come down and be part of one of the longest-running traditions in KU history. It's not just a track meet, it's the Kansas Relays.
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Wilt Chamberlain did play basketball at KU, but what was his first reason for coming to KU? That's right, he wanted to run track and perform at the Kansas Relays.
Hey Al, Mizzou's calling.
二
The only day in recent Jayhawk history was the day Al Bohl was chosen to represent us.
The venomous sewage which spewed forth from Al Bohl's mouth in his press conference ensures the fact that he will never work in Division I basketball again. I hope you've had a good time, Al. You suck.
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Bye, bye, Bohl
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Yes, Mr. Bohl, you just got crushed by Roy. And you deserved to be crushed by Roy.
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Someone stick a pacifier in AI Boh's mouth because that baby needs to shut up.
Do you suppose Al Bohl accidentally put on a pair of Quin Snyder's panties? Because he's sure acting like something's getting squeezed a little too tight.
四
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Everyone needs to go to www.petitiononline.com and click on "Keep Roy at KU." Rock chalk, Jayhawk.
Al Bohl, you should have known when you came to Kansas that Roy is the law. You fought the law, and the law won.
I'm a former football player and I'd just like to thank Al Bohl for everything he's done for the football team.
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Al Bohl, you got fired because you were doing shady business at Fresno State, not because Roy doesn't like you.
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Someone should build a big statue of Al Bohl, just so we can drape a KU flag over his head and then tear it down.
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