I'm 67 and have been a Carolina fan at least from the time I was 10 years old, maybe younger, I don't remember. I remember pretending I was Billy Cunningham and listening to UNC play the 21-20 game against Dook. I adored Coach Smith and learned many things from him: loyalty, kindness, egalitarianism, decency and that nice guys can win. I have so many memories similar to others (testified to by other nobodies like me). Coach Smith was a priceless gem in so many ways.
Coach Williams is not Dean Smith personality-wise. He is far more "prickly" than DES. DES never cursed; Roy does. I never saw DES lose his temper (close) whereas I have seen Roy lose his temper. Different strokes for different folks. BUT, Roy had the same values as Coach Smith: loyalty and care for his players and he may have exceeded coach Smith in love for the University. I'll bet there is not one major college coach who supports so many other sports and the school the way Roy has done.
He came at a tough time in UNC basketball (yea, I know it was a little bit of his doing by turning us down the first time). He lived through the NCAA crap that would have made other coaches transfer. He won 3 national championships during that time. Best coaching job I ever saw was how he turned players who didn't like each other (including a true odd duck) into a team that won the 2005 championship. I will always appreciate what Roy did for Carolina in all its manifestations.
I hope Roy is physically OK. Perhaps he always planned to retire at 70. Wanda was pushing him to retire when he was at KU. My guess, however, is that he got tired of the BS that college basketball became. The Rat gave into the pay for play years ago; sold his soul for the one and dones. So did UK, AZ, KU. And the egos. They all care about the league and money, money, money. I don't blame kids who go early but how about returning the loyalty UNC showed to them? And the parents. No longer helicopter parents they are bulldozer parents and they know best. And they tweet, tweet, tweet. I'm old school. Roy is old school. Dean was old school. That time is gone, gone, gone.
Coach Williams is not Dean Smith personality-wise. He is far more "prickly" than DES. DES never cursed; Roy does. I never saw DES lose his temper (close) whereas I have seen Roy lose his temper. Different strokes for different folks. BUT, Roy had the same values as Coach Smith: loyalty and care for his players and he may have exceeded coach Smith in love for the University. I'll bet there is not one major college coach who supports so many other sports and the school the way Roy has done.
He came at a tough time in UNC basketball (yea, I know it was a little bit of his doing by turning us down the first time). He lived through the NCAA crap that would have made other coaches transfer. He won 3 national championships during that time. Best coaching job I ever saw was how he turned players who didn't like each other (including a true odd duck) into a team that won the 2005 championship. I will always appreciate what Roy did for Carolina in all its manifestations.
I hope Roy is physically OK. Perhaps he always planned to retire at 70. Wanda was pushing him to retire when he was at KU. My guess, however, is that he got tired of the BS that college basketball became. The Rat gave into the pay for play years ago; sold his soul for the one and dones. So did UK, AZ, KU. And the egos. They all care about the league and money, money, money. I don't blame kids who go early but how about returning the loyalty UNC showed to them? And the parents. No longer helicopter parents they are bulldozer parents and they know best. And they tweet, tweet, tweet. I'm old school. Roy is old school. Dean was old school. That time is gone, gone, gone.
