UNC head coach Roy Williams coached at Kansas for 15 years, but never saw his team win a National Championship. Bill Self delivered that in his fifth season at KU.
Yet, there was Ol' Roy sitting in the stands, wearing a black shirt with a ... huh ... ummm ... Kansas Jayhawk sticker on it. When that flashed on the screen, I was sitting in the breakroom at work and everyone gave me (a Tar Heels fan) grief.
Frankly, it doesn't bother me that much. I just looked as if someone threw the sticker on his shirt. It wasn't as if he came in decked out with KU gear and shaking pom-poms for them. And, really, without a dog in the fight ... why shouldn't he root for the school he coached for all that time? Why wouldn't he want to see the team eliminate his Heels win the whole thing?
Sure, it did bother me to see him wearing stuff from the team that just reemed us two nights ago. I mean, there really isn't anything on this Kansas team that links back to Williams. It also seems more like an olive branch being extended to Jayhawk Nation to stop booing him.
Well, I don't think Ol' Roy has to worry about that anymore ... and not because he wore a sticker. Kansas' pummeling of North Carolina on Saturday night went a long way for Jayhawk fans transition into letting Roy Williams go. With Bill Self bringing a title to Kansas, maybe Williams' leaving isn't as bad.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)
1. I am a UNC fan!!!!!!!!!!!! So, Roy what was the deal with that frigging Jayhawk sticker???????????????What do you think your players thought?(You know, the ones in Chapel Hill). I always thought you had so much class, last night you did not show your true blue(CAROLINA) colors. I hope your team forgives you.
Posted at 7:38AM on Apr 8th 2008 by rita cox
2. Roy wearing a Jayhawks sticker how disrespectfull! How do you think it makes your players feel?!!!!!!
He certainly pull for his old team but to do it in such a visable manner is disgusting!!!! I hope his is brought into someones office at Chapel Hill and given a GOOD reminder of what it means to be a TRUE-BLUE TARHEEL!!!!, to be followed by an appology to his players!!!!!!! Roy in the future if you have any questions, certainly on behavior just ask yourself "WWDSD", what would DEAN SMITH do!!!!
THANK GOD ROY NEVER COACHED DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted at 7:45AM on Apr 8th 2008 by michael doucette
3. Roy Williams wearing a Jayhawk sticker is the worst...if I had anything to do with the UNC basketball program I would be so emabarrased. The tarheels team got roasted on national television on Saturday in what could have been the worst half ever played by a team in a final four and it was becuase Roy Williams did not prepare his team properly...the UNC players must feel like crap seeing their coach wear that sticker. I have to say I would not want Roy Williams to coach any team I was a fan of.
Posted at 8:59AM on Apr 8th 2008 by Maryland Fan
4. Smug, Tarheel Fans need to get a life. They think they are so much better than everyone else. Trust me, I lived there and they act like the rest of the world doesn't exist.
Posted at 9:33AM on Apr 8th 2008 by Rhonda Mundy
5. I've got no problem with it. I usually pull for the team that beat mine to win it all. Coach Smith is a Kansas alum and I'd bet he was pulling for Kansas. Coach Williams spent 15 years there. If you are pulling for a team to win, what's the difference in wearing a sticker that says so. Congrats Jayhawks. Everyone else should get over it.
Posted at 9:52AM on Apr 8th 2008 by fonda1law
6. Seeing Roy Williams wear a jayhawk logo after one of the greatest UNC upsets cuts like a knife into the heart of ever TRUE tarheel fan. It is like he is trying to love wife he married and his ex.. at the same time. Wearing a jayhawk did not and will not end the pain of Roy's broken promises to Kansas. It just created a deeper wound for both his hurting team and fans at home. Maybe that is why he did not properly prepare UNC for the battle. He still wanted to see Kansas win. Shame on Him...He owes every tarheel an appology.
win or loose a true tarheel wears UNC blue with pride like the real fan infront of Roy.
Tarheel Fan
Posted at 10:01AM on Apr 8th 2008 by tarheelblue
7. Seeing williams wear a jayhawk logo after one of the greatest UNC upsets cuts like a knife into the heart of ever TRUE tarheel fan. It is like he is trying to love wife he married and his ex.. wedding ring at the same time. Wearing a jayhawk did not and will not end the pain of Roy's broken promises to Kansas. It just created a deeper wound for both his hurting team and fans at home. Maybe that is why he did not properly prepare UNC for the battle. He still wanted to see Kansas win. Shame on Him...He owes every tarheel an appology.
win or loose a true tarheel wears UNC blue with pride like the real fan infront of Roy.
Posted at 10:03AM on Apr 8th 2008 by tarheelblue
8. michael and sportsdoc are spot on.
Roy "Benedict Arnold" Williams. Inexcusable.
http://pocketpresence.blogspot.com/2008/04/quick-word-about-roy-williams.html
Posted at 11:20AM on Apr 8th 2008 by jctowns
9. I've got no problems with Roy supporting Kansas in the final game. I imagine Dean Smith also supported Kansas where he graduated. I usually pull for the team that beats my team to win it all. If it's okay for Roy to support the school where he coached for 15 years, then what's the difference in wearing a sticker that shows that support. congrats Jayhawks. Everyone else should get over it.
Posted at 11:27AM on Apr 8th 2008 by fonda1law
10. I'm a true Tarheel fan and that just shows class of RW being happy for his old program to win hardwood that he coached for 15 years. That program did alot for his career and his family. We were out so whats wrong with him teaching his kids that we are champions and we can win and lose with CLASS. We were very fortunate to get RW as our coach and it took alot of guts for him to leave the Kansas program and return to Carolina.
Posted at 11:56AM on Apr 8th 2008 by bonzheels
11. Roy has the right to support whoever he wants whenever he wants. UNC's game was over, he was done competing.
He was outcoached against Kansas, it happens.
But to show support for a team which include some of the kids he recruited shows that he is HUMAN. He actually cares about the kids. All of these coaches from Coach "Cal" at Memphis to Coach "K" at Duke know each other and respect each other.
ITS JUST A GAME! Roy was supporting people...let him be a human!
Posted at 12:03PM on Apr 8th 2008 by Pastor Matt Stafford
12. To the first post...Have you forgotten where Dean Smith is from???
Posted at 12:24PM on Apr 8th 2008 by diane minear
13. Roy knows what a true team is. He has the right of freedom of speech as much as the next person. You NC fans and the school begged him to come to NC for 6 or 7 years before he gave in to the money offered. You don't want him send him back to the school he will be loved and treated like he should be. Don't hate that KU used NC in the final 4 game. The better team went on. Get over it!!!!!!! Orange Bowl to NCAA championship; Rock Chalk Jayhawk BABY!!!!!!!!! I was at the party downtown Lawrence and I know Roy wanted to be there. Vete a tomar por culo NC!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted at 12:46PM on Apr 8th 2008 by Kevin V
14. ONLY A TRUE CAROLINA FAN UNDERSTANDS WHAT COACH WILLIAMS WAS DOING LAST NIGHT. ALOT OF SO CALLED FANS ARE GOING TO WISH THEY HAD HIM WHEN HE IS GONE. I FEEL COACH WILLIAMS HEALTH WILL NOT ALOW HIM TO RETURN, NOT THAT I KNOW ANYTHING, HE JUST DIDN'T COACH THE WAY COACH WILLIAMS COACHES SINCE THE ACC TOURN.A TRUE HEEL.
Posted at 2:00PM on Apr 8th 2008 by DON DOWDY
15. As an avid KU graduate I must commend NC's Roy Williams for his incredible professionalism and CLASS. At the end of the KU/NC game Williams didn't just shake hands with Kansas; no, Williams HUGGED the Kansas players after they had just defeated Williams' team. Then, during the Championship game, who was sitting in the Kansas cheering section wearing a black pullover with a big Jayhawk plastered on his shirt? Yup, none other than Roy Williams. The man is all class. Yes, he left Kansas suddenly after 14 years, but he always made it clear that his desire was to coach at his own alma mater (NC). Who can blame him for having that wish? No surprise there when he had the chance to realize his proverbial "fireman" dream. I have nothing but deep gratitude for the 14 years Roy Williams coached at Kansas. This week clearly showed that Roy Williams has a Kansas Jayhawk tattooed deep in his heart. Bless you, Roy!
Posted at 4:00PM on Apr 8th 2008 by Chaz
16. Both my brother and I are true blue Hawks. My brother has had NOTHING good to say about Roy since "that day". Seeing him in the stands supporting a part of his history doesn't make him love NC any less. He just showed what a classy guy he is and why we loved him until "that day". As of last night he is back on the loved list!! My brother even spoke his name without cussing. All wounds heal!! Come on Heels...open up the heart a bit!!! He's just a great guy....you're lucky to have him!!
Posted at 4:24PM on Apr 8th 2008 by Pru
17. I am from NC and raised on Tarheel Basketball. I was glad Roy came back to NC until Monday night. I am not mad with him on how poorly he coached on Saturday night, I am furious with him for not going back to Chapel Hill with his team and staying in San Antonio to sit on KU side wearing Jayhawk sticker. Talking about using poor judgement! Roy, you are not in Kansas any more! Did someone forget to tell him that? He could have pulled for them in the privacy of his on home, but not publicly! He could have least had a UNC sweater on. I love my Tarheels win or lose. Roy was fortunate enough to grow up in NC go to the BEST university in the country, have two children graduate from UNC and now coach Tarheels and do something so disrespectful of his school. Roy, you can go the hell back to Kansas if you love the place that good. The state is not as pretty the colors not as awesome and the history and tradition not near as deep. There are plenty of people who would love to coach the UNC Tarheels and could be loyal to them while they are coaching them and they are not even alumni that could do that! There is only one thing wrong with Lawrence Kansas. It is not Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Nation's First Pulblic State University and school of some of the best players that have EVER played the game. Anybody ever heard of MJ(Michael Jordan)? From a Tarheel stuck in South Carolina--Oh and want to talk about a classy coach--Dean Smith will forever top anyone I have ever seen and while he was born in Kansas--He became a Tarheel and never looked back and continues to live in Chapel Hill. He really is a smart man---Roy should have taken better notes from the master!!!
Posted at 6:04PM on Apr 8th 2008 by Tarheel Blue
18. Roy wearing the jayhawk was a smack in the face to us tar heel alumni and fans. Get over the Kansas deal already!! Roy coached like he wanted Kansas to win Saturday. I wasted time and money to attend that pitiful performance. There is no excuse for putting on that sticker then showing up on national tv on the halftime show.
You are the NC coach. Act like it.
UNC '86
Posted at 6:17PM on Apr 8th 2008 by Sportsdoc
19. KANSAS: The birthplace of North Carolina Basketball!!
Get over it already; you have two great coaches who happen to still cheer for KU. Dean Smith and Roy Williams.
Posted at 6:38PM on Apr 8th 2008 by Lady Jayhawk
20. To the person who wrote the first post...Have you forgotten where Dean Smith is from???
Posted at 7:41PM on Apr 8th 2008 by diane minear