Roy Responds to criticism over cheering for Kansas

[NeilFraudstrong]

I don't think that pulling for Kansas was a big deal. His team was out of the tournament, why not root for your former team? I mean, you can't expect the guy to just drop all feelings about Kansas just because he coaches at UNC now. I don't see what the big deal was.

[jayhawk4life785]

Roy was great and all..but Bill Self is a one of a kind recruiter. Roy put KU on a new level, but Bill Self has taken the Jayhawks to a level that really no other program can compare to this day in age

[syzygy10111]

2 words- 84-66.

[aclark0219]

I AM A VERY DEDICATED KU FAN, BUT I LOVE ROY!!!! HE WAS A GREAT COACH AND I THINK ANYONE ELSE IN HIS POSITION WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING. I THINK HE IS AWESOME FOR CHEERING ON KU!!!!

[duke19861]

GO DUKE!!

[polarbearjew]

@duke19861 lol and God- uke

[polarbearjew]

@duke19861 didn't we beat Roy Williams in the ncaa's on year?

[TheManWitTheFacts]

@qukarlz Im pretty sure that when Roy said "I don't give a shit about NC" and "Ihave no intrest in the job in NC" and then taking the job at NC anyways, is kind of a betrayal

[stutwostep]

Roy Williams will finish his career at UNC, but even that won't change the fact that he'll always be remembered as a Jayhawk in the minds of KU fans.

I think he knows that too.

[mluna785]

Roy showed a lot of class by staying to watch the National Championship game sporting a Jayhawk on his sweater. There should be more coaches like him, but we have Bill Self so you don't see me complaining.

[Bizz41]

a lot of KU fans don't realize that Roy made our program what it is today....before Larry Brown won the National Title in '88 our program was considered the equivelent of K-State! Bill Self is the man...but it wouldn't be where it is without Roy and I know he is a cry baby and some call him a traitor, but he is still and will always be the shit!

[fartonme7]

All is forgiven now that he won his second championship. I liked Roy when he was here. Still do. Good coach.

[TheManWitTheFacts]

Thats true, but then he betrayed us by saying he had no inrtest in UNC whatsoever, and then becoming coach there anyway. I guess it was a blessing in disguise though.

[fol2005]

@Bizz41

What? Phog Allen? Wilt Chamberlain? Countless All-Americans?

You know there are 5 national title banners hanging in the Phog and not one belongs to Roy. Phog Allen made KU what it is today.

[jackitup52]

@Bizz41

Yeah, we went through some problems with Owens, and when roy first started, but you gotta realize, that no coach, except for naismith, and as ironic as it is had a losing record, we have the third most wins in NCAA history, More confernence Championships than any time in history. K-State was GOOD then, they were making final fours, we have 12 final fours, i think roy went to three, maybe four. i might be miss counting. I love Roy, did when he left.

[jackitup52]

@Bizz41

we are still the jayhawks becuase of what Phog did, without Phog and Dean smith, KU would have never given the young assistant a chance.

[stevo0665]

Roy Williams didn't make Kansas what it is today. There was a lot of history that came way before Ol' Roy. He did do a great job while he was here though but he refused to recruit certain parts of the country because he didn't believe players from the east coast would come to Lawrence. And while four final fours are great he didn't win it all. I would put Roy's and Self's tenure on equal footing right now in terms of overall achievements. You are right tho...Self is THE MAN!!!

[heetki]

@stevo0665 LOL what history, you have NO history. Thanks to ROY you won your last title. All the recruits he brought in won it the year he left. BILL SELF get your own team.. LOL.. ROY IS DA MAN. UNC SCRILLA BABY..

[stevo0665]

@heetki Yeah...you're kind of stupid. You do know that KU won in 2008 right? Self's first season was 2004. The Seniors on that team were Self's first or second classes. Jeremy Case was still there because he was a terribly overrated Roy recruit who redshirted along the way and STILL never got on the floor, because Self recruited over him! And Roy was the one who won with Matt Doherty's players in 2005. Dumbass,

[heetki]

@stevo0665 yeah? and whats your excuse for Roy winning in 2009? its always some excuse why Roy won this & that. The man is an awesome coach & a class act.

When he was at KU, no one complained, but he leaves for another school & whamm he's this & that, rotten guy, he sucks, he's a bad coach. Ungreatful fans is what I call your kind..

[stevo0665]

@heetki What comment were you reading in the first place? I said nothing bad about Roy Williams. I like the guy a lot and think he's a class coach. What I SAID is that KU had a history before he got there. What history? Well, we were the team UNC beat in triple overtime for a NC in the 50's, and we won our own with Wilt too. KU won the national championship the YEAR BEFORE Roy was hired at KU...you do know that right? Roy didn't MAKE KU as much as KU MADE Roy.

[begley9]

@heetki You are retarded. 0 of the players of the national championship team were from Roy. No history? HA.. Know where Dean Smith played? Kansas. Adolph Rupp? Kansas. Their coach, Phog Allen, won 3 national championships at kansas (1953 had Dean Smith on it). Also, our first coach was the inventor of the game. We have more winning seasons than any other program. More conference championships (53) than any other program. Top 5 in nearly every statistic you can find. Shall I go on dumbass?

[jlf6999]

@heetki Wow where do I start. You should really do your research before you post a comment. It is amazing that you managed to get every fact you put in that statement wrong.

[psychofish4444]

how long has it been and you people are still debating??? move on already

[KUJayhawksLuver]

He just wishes he was still a Jayhawk

[wantwit]

Undue? You're rich bitch.  Get the fuck over it.

[Cowboy2455]

GO JAY HAWKS!

[kufanboy15]

roy is a cry baby!

[sublimeluva]

Congratulations to the Tar Heels coming from a Jayhawk fan, but oooooh boy are we gonna kill it next year.....Cole and Sherron coming back, and we picked up the Henry brothers. Nothing but TROUBLE for any team facing my Hawks next year. ROCK CHALK.

[SFFOOL76]

KU is gonna be nasty. I thought the 2008-2009 was a great coaching job by Bill Self, I mean you lose 75% scoring or more of your championship team and the next year you have a dominant sweet 16 run and play tough against the eventual runner up. As much as i'm preaching in good ways, at this point (I hope i'm wrong) the Henry Brothers are trouble makers.

[johnk770]

Roy Williams is class.

[jamintube]

I had a lot of anger about Roy's departure. I still think he should have just left the first time instead of lying to all of the KU fans and saying he was going to stay "as long as KU would have him". I understand Al Bohl was a horrid AD, but let's not forget that Hemmenway fired him and Roy still left. No matter, poetically KU defeated the Heels in the Final Four en route to the Championship and Roy cheered for us. Lighten up UNC fans. Hes a good coach and he's yours as long as you'll have him

[sfoot22]

I also was hugely disappointed when he left. I couldn't find it in my heart to root for him, even after all the KU highlights he gave me. Then after beating UNC, I felt vindicated. After that, seeing Coach Roy with the Jayhawk on, like Jayhawk147, all was forgiven. I now feel a little immature for my disappointment. NC is HOME for the man, after all. Thanks for the memories Coach, I enjoyed the journey.

[nbtk7m3]

I like the fact that a majority of UNC folks did not have a problem with Roy sitting with the KU section during the national title game. Coach Williams gave a lot to KU when he was here and has given a lot to UNC as a coach. I am thankful that he is a bigger man than a lot of KU and UNC people when it came to his leaving. I would have loved for him to stay, but for his family leaving was the best for him. Coach Willimas, thanks for helping the healing by staying in San Antonio and good luck.

[Traditionrichjayhawk]

I too was livid at how Roy Williams left but I'm over that now. Bill Self is the man in charge right now, and I'm happy he is. As for Dvd, if you think Kansas is gonna go another 20 years without winning a championship, you are right dumber than than I thought.

[theno1kufan]

he still hasnt won a championship with his own players

[3rdCoastpimpin]

Yes he has...I told you guys that if he could take multiple teams to the title game he could win it all...Thats a pretty dumb thing to say ...especially after he changed the attitudes of the 2005 team and won it...Eat crow!!

[theno1kufan]

i tip my hat to unc good year you guys were the best team and good luck next year(unfortunately you guys will need it because we will be STACKED)

[3rdCoastpimpin]

Were going to be stacked too...We have the #1 recruiting class now that Calapari left memphis...Our team will be like the KU team was this year...Full of talent but just too damn young and inexperienced..

[Domini478]

Kentucky doesn't have the #1 class because Xavier Henry is not going to Kentucky, he's going to Kansas. Demarcus is going to Kentucky, UNC got the #1 class, clown

[3rdCoastpimpin]

I know that you stupid sack of shit...Im a Tar Heel...Calaparis class is up for grabs...

[Domini478]

Bitch, you is stupid as fuck. so stfu

[3rdCoastpimpin]

How am i the stupid one???You called me a clown for saying we would have the #1 class...Next time you need to look at my profile or read my previous comments so you would know who the hell im talking about you dumb fuck!!

[theno1kufan]

yup pretty much we have everybody coming back and a top 5 recruiting class coming in(not counting if we get henry or stephenson) i wouldnt be suprised if we go undefeated

[3rdCoastpimpin]

haha...You wont go undefeated thats for sure...nobody will ever do that again..

[theno1kufan]

i know i know but think about it logically who is going to challenge us? you guys will be rebuilding, puke is soft, big least will be down, michigan st will be good but we'll be ready for them next year, ucla still sucks, memphis will never be the same, ou lost both griffin's, texas will be good but young, etc. who's left?

[3rdCoastpimpin]

Yea i know,but your asking for a little too much....Its hard enough just going undefeated in conference play...Its also too early to know whos all leaving...Were still waiting to see if Lawson and Ellington are leaving or not...I think if they leave John Wall will come to UNC...We just wont have an extra scholarship if Lawson and Ellington return..

[theno1kufan]

we'll see... lawson and ellington are definintely gone, wall isnt even listing unc on his list of possible schools.... also syracuse is losing harris flynn and devendorf just fyi.... either way we will be awesome next year also aldrich and collins are expected to announce tonight that they will come back

ps we will get wall, stephenson, or henry

[3rdCoastpimpin]

Actually UNC was his favorite team growing up and Roy just started talking to him 3 or 4 days ago...Dont you think its weird that he hasnt commited to any school yet...I think hes waiting on Lawson to make a decision..Hes going to make a decision in 2 weeks ...In 2 weeks thats when Lawson and Ellington have to let the school know what their intentions are...I think hes coming to UNC if Lawson leaves.....

[Domini478]

We will be stack, too with the #1 recruiting class

[Jayhawks147]

I was pissed off when he left, and I never forgave him, until we played him and beat him. When he chose to root for KU on Monday night, he was officially forgiven by me.

[ColonelMayonnaise]

And I'm sure he was so desperately waiting specifically for your forgiveness, now he can probably sleep at night.

I'm a KU grad and life long Hawks fan. But give me a break. People like you who spent so much time wining that Roy left made us look like a second rate program. We're Kansas we can get any coach we want. I'm sure it was people like you who were wanting coach Self fired after Bucknell. Look it all worked out for both schools Roy brought UNC a title and Bill brought us one.

[Jayhawks147]

Okay, I wasn't THAT angry when Roy left, but he did promise to never leave, but then he left. Yes I was angry, but I wasn't crying or anything, and I was rooting for Self from Day 1. I didn't want him fired when we lost to Bucknell for your information, I knew he eventually would do something big for Kansas, and won the national title. I'm the biggest, most loyal KU fan you'll meet (or at least one of the biggest). If I were you don't criticize me.

[3rdCoastpimpin]

Dont you mean Roy brought us 2 titles ??2009 Champs baby!!! Maybe next year will be KUs year again...

[ColonelMayonnaise]

Congrats on the the Championship! I'm a KU grad and life long fan, but I picked UNC to win it all in my office pool. I feel good for you guys and Roy, seeing as how you had to go the whole year with that bad taste in your mouth of being bludgeoned by my Hawks in the final 4 last year. The Heels were on a mission this year to get it done. Congratulations again.

[3rdCoastpimpin]

Thanks...It looks like the Jayhawks are the favorites for 2010...

[ColonelMayonnaise]

I'm hoping, but honestly if we don't get a consistent scorer to compliment Aldrich and Collins there's not a chance in hell. We had Mich. St. beat this year but Aldrich and Collins got worn out and the rest of the team was standing around like a bunch of grade schoolers who accidentally stumbled into a game with the big boys. We'll see though. Right now it's on to football season for me.

[RMEGG]

I loved seeing Coach Roy cheering for the Hawks Lawrence was his home for 15 great years.I was never mad at him for leaving it did hurt but was never mad at him.I was mad at Dean Smith as a Jayhawk born and raised to show total disrespect to his Alma Mater by flying that ugly ass tar heel blue jet into Lawrence and taking our coach right after we lost the National title game was classless.

[erictanner32]

How do you even begin to think thats ok to say? Coach Smith is all class, and has never been anything but. You are an idiot.

[RMEGG]

You are an idiot sir!

[Jhawk4eva14]

Bill Self right now (depending on what Roy does this year) is a better coach then Roy Williams. And even if he does win it this year (the 2008-09 season) KU is would still be considered Self's school, for the fact that Self was able to win a title here (in 5 years); where as Roy (in 15 years) wasn't able to win one here!

[rushnut1958]

I've bled crimson and blue for 30+ years. Roy signed my 100 Years Of Kansas Basketball book. I was frustrated when he left, but my god, look what that man did for Kansas. UNC, Roy brought you back in a BIG way. Missing the NCAA to National Champs. He is a great coach, we were lucky to have him, and so are you. Don't blame him for still caring about us in Lawrence. We're a pretty good bunch! P.S. Looking at your commits for 2009 and 2010. Wow! Think you'll be OK.

[RobbieStats]

I don't blame him. We are lucky to have him!

[14691]

UNC got a coaching upgrade, as did Kansas. Everybody wins as far as I'm concerned.

[heetki]

@rushnut1958 KU fans are just like DUKE THE PUKE fans.They are very ungreatful & Brash. Roy is a class act, I liked him when he was at KU & was hoping UNC would get him & it we did, THANK GOD.. GO UNC DIE DUKE THE PUKE..

[rushnut1958]

@heetki As a KU fan, please explain what makes me or my comment about Coach Williams ungrateful and brash.

[heetki]

@rushnut1958 I never commented on your post bud, i'm only referring to the KU fans that have a negative aspect towards a coach that was committed to KU as much as he is to UNC today.

When he said F*** UNC at the time, he was pissed he lost the game & here comes a darn reporter in your face asking you about unc, when your emotions are getting the best of you. people are so quick to judge others as if we are perfect. We are not & we are prone to mistakes or bad comments anytime in life.

[erictanner32]

its absurd to think that coach williams is some how less loyal b/c someone handed him a sticker on the way to his seat. its like your wife seeing her high school b/f at a reunion...they will smile and talk but when its over, shes coming home to you. nobody that knows unc b-ball should have a problem. in fact, they should have all been jayhawks fans on that monday night and should feel that ku winning is the next best thing to the heels.

[dvdprkr]

its good for roy to get a chance, even though i never needed an explanation. I felt pretty awful after that game, but I didn't find anything wrong with that sticker. We had lost, and as Roy pointed out, he did the same thing for UNC in '93. Roy's Boys will take it all in '09! I wish Kansas success in winning their next championship in another 20 years.

[Patrzykont]

I am a KU fan and I am one of the one's who was absolutely livid with Coach Williams for leaving the way he did. I wanted KU to beat Carolina in the Final Four not only to advance but to beat Williams. But I have to admit that the man has handled the situation with class since leaving KU and it took a lot of stones for him to sit there with the KU sticker on his shirt. But come on man, you make a ton of money, buy a shirt next time.

:-)

[dlc55555]

I am glad you posted this. Too bad that no a days, people have to defend themselves for displaying true sportsmanship... We are just talking about a game (of course, KU & NC live and breathe basketball.) It is good to see coaches like Roy Williams who still demonstrate class and sportsmanship. "Rock Chalk" from this Jayhawker and "Go Tar Heels" (another great team with a great coach too!). Keep up the good work Roy!