[blwall1416]

This is about someone who apparently thinks he owns the world of college basketball and all that happens in it. If you can't handle a heckler, maybe you should take up figure skating, Roy.

But you're right....it doesn't happen all the time.

But Calhoun wasn’t satisfied to just verbally abuse his players. Moments later, his wrath spilled into the stands.

A fan behind the UConn bench hollered out some benign comment about grabbing a rebound, and Calhoun spun around to a crowd of men, women and children, and screamed, “Shut the **** up!”

The fan got the point, but just to be sure, Calhoun bellowed it again. UConn players on the bench looked at each other in stunned disbelief.

Sitting ten feet behind the UConn bench, I was stunned, too.

To say Calhoun is controlling is like saying the economy is struggling a little bit right now. In a New York Times interview he said, “I like to control the players’ environment. I like to control the atmosphere.”

[uncafan]

someone who apparently thinks he owns the world of college basketball and all that happens in it.

If this attitude among coaches of any sport comes as a shock to you, you're very naïve.

See: Leavitt at USF and what he told a player recently.

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/ ... er/1058816

The Dad (who was apparently the source of the original report) is now saying that the report is incorrect and that coach leavitt didn't hit his son, just got in his face to motivate him.

Its football...not basketball, completely different. We're not talking about Mangino threatening to send people back to the ghetto, or that they'd be in jail the rest of their lives... Coaches get in players faces, it happens...always has. If anything it was worse 20 years ago -- and know they have to be more PC about stuff.

[LUconn]

Did he kick him out?

[blwall1416]

Did he kick him out?

He kicked him out as much as Roy kicked out the Presby kid.

It was in reference to having a thick skin & not paying attention to fans.....just coach your team sort of thing.

[ALUmnus]

Yes I'm very naive and far from being a "realist". Sheesh. And it's removing this guy that I personally have a problem with, not a coach yelling at someone.

[LUconn]

as long as you've quoted Calhoun swearing and having thin skin, here's a Coors light version of a couple pressers

I won't embed it and I'll give you a Calhoun language warning

[blwall1416]

And it's removing this guy that I personally have a problem with, not a coach yelling at someone.

And had Roy removed the guy, you should have a problem with it, as would I. However, since Roy didn't have him removed, you should be cool with it...since all Roy did was yell at someone.

[blwall1416]

as long as you've quoted Calhoun swearing and having thin skin, here's a Coors light version of a couple pressers

That was well done....& pretty funny.

[JK37]

someone who apparently thinks he owns the world of college basketball and all that happens in it.

If this attitude among coaches of any sport comes as a shock to you, you're very naïve.

See: Leavitt at USF and what he told a player recently.

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/ ... er/1058816

The Dad (who was apparently the source of the original report) is now saying that the report is incorrect and that coach leavitt didn't hit his son, just got in his face to motivate him.

Its football...not basketball, completely different. We're not talking about Mangino threatening to send people back to the ghetto, or that they'd be in jail the rest of their lives... Coaches get in players faces, it happens...always has. If anything it was worse 20 years ago -- and know they have to be more PC about stuff.

I was alluding more to the words of Leavitt when the kid came into his office to speak about the situation two days later. He told the kid, "Before you say anything, know that I am the most powerful man in this building."

That's the same building housing the offices of all USF athletics senior staff members. I'm just saying, coaches all-too-often possess a god-complex - they think they are over everything, and that they can do anyone else's job better than that person can or is doing it. [Don't even get me starte don the long list of people and groups - including fans themselves - who empower and enable such behavior.]

But, Roy didn't try to do the usher's job for them .. he believed the individual in question to be in or near his seats, and he simply pointed it out and let it be handled by the people whose job it is to handle it. Furthermore, he said he was defending his kids = +1 for recruiting (as if he needed the point!).

[horrez]

I was alluding more to the words of Leavitt when the kid came into his office to speak about the situation two days later. He told the kid, "Before you say anything, know that I am the most powerful man in this building."

I think I'm going to try this the next time someone comes into my office to talk to me.

[blwall1416]

He told the kid, "Before you say anything, know that I am the most powerful man in this building."

I think I'm going to try this the next time someone comes into my office to talk to me.

Note: Do not try this with your wife. She will either a.) laugh or b.) go Mrs. Woods on you.

[uncafan]

I was alluding more to the words of Leavitt when the kid came into his office to speak about the situation two days later. He told the kid, "Before you say anything, know that I am the most powerful man in this building."

I think I'm going to try this the next time someone comes into my office to talk to me.

ditto

[uncafan]

did just want to further comment on the USF thing real quick. Obviously I don't know all the details but one of my siblings works for the Athletic Dept @ USF and usually has a pretty good feel for what is going on in that building.

My understanding is that the reporter who broke this story has had several run-ins with him and they have a history of bad blood...And he's made it clear he doesn't care for Leavitt at all. Again, if he struck a player in the manner that has been alleged something has to be done... But the more reports I hear the more it sounds like he probably just got in the kids face and maybe grabbed him by the shoulder pads, and if that is the case its really too bad that this one guy's apparent vendetta could do this.... But i guess we'll have to wait and see....

[JK37]

did just want to further comment on the USF thing real quick. Obviously I don't know all the details but one of my siblings works for the Athletic Dept @ USF and usually has a pretty good feel for what is going on in that building.

My understanding is that the reporter who broke this story has had several run-ins with him and they have a history of bad blood...And he's made it clear he doesn't care for Leavitt at all. Again, if he struck a player in the manner that has been alleged something has to be done... But the more reports I hear the more it sounds like he probably just got in the kids face and maybe grabbed him by the shoulder pads, and if that is the case its really too bad that this one guy's apparent vendetta could do this.... But i guess we'll have to wait and see....

Funny how many news reporters have such vendettas. Lang, ever had a spat with a coach?

[Sly Fox]

I can't speak for Chris, but some coaches are so difficult that it is nearly impossible not to have it influence your perspective. Coach Rocco's head coach at Texas comes to mind.

[UNCA Alum]

As a resident of North Carolina (and admittedly a Duke fan), it's pretty clear that Roy Williams is a d-----. I can also readily admit that Coach K is a bona fide jerk. Two things are clear:

a) They both can coach basketball
b) Their fan bases will quickly abandon both common sense and reality in attempts to defend them


There is absolutely nothing a Carolina fan can say right now that would make it okay for Roy Williams to do what he did. They were beating PRESBYTERIAN by FORTY POINTS with SIX MINUTES left and the guy simply yelled at Deon Thompson to miss a free throw. It'd be one thing if he was cussing him out. It'd be another if he was drunk and making a move on Wanda. None of those were the case. It was simply a guy from PC having a good time and joking around. Did it really matter if Deon made the free throw?

It's just funny that the media likes to portray Coach K as the jerk with the power hungry win at all costs my way or the highway mentality while Roy is this gosh darnit aww shucks good ol' boy that just wants to Coach the Taaaar Heels and maybe drink a few Mountain Dews. Turns out that Roy is the one that is a little hypersensitive and authoritarian.

All hail Fuhrer Williams!

[blwall1416]

All hail Fuhrer Williams!

You should take notice of what your dook fans posted on their message board.

It's become very common in our society to compare people we dislike to Hitler.

That's not going to be permitted here.

I know there's a picture of Roy-Will circulating that makes just such a conflation, but please do not bring it to our boards.

By extension, please do not compare Roy-Will--or anyone else--to other incorrigible stalwarts like Stalin, Pinochet, etc.

There's plenty Roy-Will does to criticize. So do that with more than just a hyperbolic and absurd comparison. Be better than that. That doesn't seem unreasonable.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Roy got into it with a fan. It happens. We've shown on this thread other coaches that have done it. Roy's own son was removed from the Smith Center when he went over the line at Coach K a couple of years ago.

[JK37]

Roy is the one that is a little hypersensitive and authoritarian.

ALL coaches are this.

For hopefully the last time, and has been recalled on here many times: Roy signaled the bench and section ushers w/ concerns about a foreign fan in the wrong seats. Had said fan been doing nothing, nothing would have been necessary. But Roy, as he's stated, defended his players when the need came to his attention. He did NOT engage the fan. He did NOT make assumtions as to the fan enebriation. He did NOT say the fan should be removed. He simply made those near him whose job it is to monitor and, when necessary, control the fans aware of the individual, and then he let them do their job.

Everyone seems to be ignoring the fact that the Presby fan did NOT have a ticket, and shouldn't be there. Roy simply noticed (because the fan's comment caught his attention), and he informed the nearest usher. His attention immediately went back to the came.

Roy rightly stated that such comments should never come from directly behind the UnC bench.

I'm not even a UNC fan!

[UNCA Alum]

If he didn't have a ticket, how did he get down there? And how could Roy have known that he didn't have a ticket?

There was five minutes left in a blowout against a provisional D1 team. The guy jokingly told a player to miss a free throw. There was no ill intent. He didn't call for Thompson's head. Roy overreacted. I don't see why Carolina fans can't just admit that. (I know it's not the Carolina way to admit when you do something wrong, but geez louise.)

And I could care less what Duke fans said about comparing Roy to Hitler. Obviously I know that there are differences and it was said facetiously. I would say that Carolina fans need to learn how to take a joke and not overreact to everything, but obviously they are just following their Supreme Leader.

(He just compared Roy Williams to Kim Jong-Il!! OMG!!!)

For being supposed liberals, Carolina fans freak out about free speech more than anybody I know.

[horrez]

He did NOT engage the fan.

Did you see the video of it? He yells at the guy to "shut up" and then says "yeah, I'm talking to you" then has this little 'what you gonna do' look... then he motions for an usher (or security or hitman... I couldn't see the person).

Bottom line, poor Roy doesn't think anyone who comes to UNC to watch a game should yell at his players. Hey, don't get me wrong, I think this is a great idea. Maybe Coach Peele can get the Winthrop ushers to keep opposing fans from yelling at our players....

[LUconn]

He did have a ticket. They never asked for it.

[uncafan]

He did have a ticket. They never asked for it.

I will say--now having seen video, he was a Jerk. And from my perspective his reaction is 100% because after he told the fan to 'shut up' the kid obviously said something back (inaudible on video) and you can see that Roy just gets ticked and clearly tells the security guy "get that guy outta here."

It was in the heat of the moment, yes, but completely uncalled for. Not only ENGAGING the fan but then kicking him out. What's the #1 rule in athletics when it comes to fans? Don't respond, it only makes the situation worse. Coaches drill it into their athletes (or the ones in high profile sports)...If they say something inappropriate, don't turn around, don't talk back, don't go into the stands.

That video makes Roy look like a complete punk...sorry...no matter if the kid had a ticket or was in 'his seats.' But we all make mistakes, I think Roy owned he'd take it back...water under the bridge, just can't happen again.

[JK37]

I was wrong. I retract my previous statements about what Roy did. My facts were incorrect.

However, given the clarifications, I still belive Roy was justified to an extent with wishing to have the fan removed. I understand that in the heat of the moment, he went to bat for his team and one of his players.

However, I repeat that I'm not a UNC fan. For why I continue to defend Roy Williams, I'll leave you to your own assumptions.

[UNCA Alum]

I understand that in the heat of the moment, he went to bat for his team and one of his players.

What heat was there? They were winning by 30+ with like five minutes left in a game against a team that can't even play in the NCAA Tournament. Went to bat for his team? I guarantee you that 99.99% of the stuff that they hear from opposing fans is worse than "Hey Deon, miss a free throw!"

It's not like the guy made fun of Deon's mom or said he was going to injure him. 6'9" 240lb Deon wasn't exactly shaking in his boots up there at the free throw line, wondering who was going to step in and defend him against that intimidating Blue Hose fan that told him to miss a free throw.

The Oklahoma State football coach? That's going to bat for your players. Roy Williams? Not so much.

[JK37]

I understand that in the heat of the moment, he went to bat for his team and one of his players.

What heat was there? They were winning by 30+ with like five minutes left in a game against a team that can't even play in the NCAA Tournament. Went to bat for his team? I guarantee you that 99.99% of the stuff that they hear from opposing fans is worse than "Hey Deon, miss a free throw!"

It's not like the guy made fun of Deon's mom or said he was going to injure him. 6'9" 240lb Deon wasn't exactly shaking in his boots up there at the free throw line, wondering who was going to step in and defend him against that intimidating Blue Hose fan that told him to miss a free throw.

The Oklahoma State football coach? That's going to bat for your players. Roy Williams? Not so much.

I'm no reason to defend his players. I can't completely explain it, but its the whole "us-against-the-world" mentality of so many coaches & programs, combined with the fact the comment came FROM DIRECTLY BEHIND THEIR BENCH. I feel this latter point cannot be understated. The comment came from the one place a coach just wouldn't expect it. And he defended his player. I commend him.