I can’t sign off tonight without commenting on the whole Matt Doherty/Roy Williams fiasco. Carolina wails like a damsel in distress when Guthridge retires. Tar Heel fans turn their eyes to Williams, who says “no, thanks.” Doherty comes to UNC’s rescue and soon gets canned.
Now Carolina fans are once again drooling over Williams, but this time things are different. UNC has shown the value they place on loyalty by dumping Doherty. Williams would be blind not to see the mess the Carolina athletic department is in. Would you want to work for Dick Baddour?
Now, granted, I’m an N.C. State fan, but I’ll freely admit it’s a lot more fun beating UNC when they’re competitive. So I want them to succeed… to a point. 🙂 Even so, I was always a fan of Doherty. I thought he was a great coach. His evident passion for the game contrasted immensely with Wolfpack coach Herb Sendek’s methodical, almost cold, coaching style. How I wished some of that emotion would rub off Doherty and infect Herb.
Yet the fat cats who rule Carolina (see FSU player Sam Cassell’s famous “wine and cheese” quote) decided Doherty was too wet-behind-the-ears for their liking. They wanted a coach with 30 years experience. No way do they have the patience to rebuild a program.
Roy Williams has nothing to prove, having brought the Kansas Jayhawks to the pinnacle of success. If he came to Carolina, he’d be right where Doherty was – forever in the shadow of Dean Smith.
Dear Carolina fans: Dean has left the Dome. It’s high time you stopped yearning for the glory days and focused on the future of your basketball program.
Please. You’re making even State fans feel sorry for you.