Roy Williams Has A “Sense of Relief”!

From a new article today by Dana O’Neil of ESPN:

The school is accused of five major violations, including lack of institutional control, but the basketball coach’s name appears just once in the 59-page document, and he is not included in any part of the actual allegations.

“I’ve said I felt very comfortable for a very long time because we’ve been investigated by 73 people and all 12 disciples of the Lord, it feels like, and every one of them has said Roy Williams didn’t know anything about this; he didn’t do anything,” Williams said Tuesday during an interview with ESPN.com and Yahoo! Sports. “So there was a sense of relief, but it’s what I expected. It wasn’t a big relief, because it’s what I thought was going to be there.

“But how can you say it’s a relief when there are five allegations against your university, very serious things? How can it be a lot of relief?”

Good for Roy!

One of the more interesting quotes from the article was in regards to possibly vacating the 2005 national title:

Five members of the 2005 national championship team were listed as African and Afro-American studies majors, taking classes that have since been revealed to be fraudulent.

Some have speculated that could mean the championship will be vacated, but Williams argued that despite the paper classes, his players were, in fact, eligible.

“Even if you give a guy four Fs in that spring semester, he’s still eligible,” he said. “We didn’t have ineligible players. They took courses that the university offered.”

Essentially, we have Roy throwing “the university” under the bus for offering the now infamous “paper classes”. Roy would have us believe that these classes would have somehow existed at a university with the reputation of UNC if there were no athletes at all. You know…it is quite common for people at top rated universities to risk their entire careers to create “paper classes” so non-athletes can slide through college.

One of the central figures of the scandal, Jan Boxill, has quite an impressive list of accomplishments in her career(see here). AfAM Department Head Julius Nyang’oro was forced to resign and was charged with fraud over his part in the scandal.

Why would these two, and others, destroy everything they have worked for their entire lives if the “paper classes” weren’t about athletic eligibility? What was their motivation if it wasn’t to keep athletes eligible?

Today’s comments from Roy triggered my memory of an earlier article by Dan Kane from 11/14:

>During the season that the UNC men’s basketball team made its run to the 2005 NCAA championship, its players accounted for 35 enrollments in classes that didn’t meet and yielded easy, high grades awarded by the architect of the university’s academic scandal.

The classes, some advertised as lectures but that never met and others listed as independent studies, were supervised by Deborah Crowder, a manager in African and Afro-American studies who a report from former U.S. Justice Department official Kenneth Wainstein says graded required end-of-semester work leniently as part of a “paper class” scheme to keep athletes eligible. Crowder was not a professor and admitted to investigators that she assigned grades without reading the papers.

Of the 35 bogus class enrollments, nine came during the fall semester of 2004, when eligibility for the spring was determined. Twenty-six were during the spring semester, when the season climaxed with a victory over Illinois in St. Louis.

One of the basketball players, Rashad McCants, had previously told ESPN he took nothing but paper classes in the spring 2005 semester. His transcript showed he was in three independent studies plus one lecture class that had no instruction. He received straight A-minuses, making the dean’s list.

Obviously Roy’s mention in today’a article of giving a player 4 Fs in the Spring semester was in reference to Rashad McCants taking 4 bogus classes and making the Dean’s List during the Spring of 2005 during the national title run. I wonder why Roy made no mention of the 9 paper classes his basketball players took in the Fall of 2004 or the 22 other bogus classes taken by basketball players in the Spring of 2005? Would these players have been eligible if they had been given 9 Fs the previous Fall?

Roy…speak up please.

Maybe Roy didn’t mention these other 31 paper classes his 2005 title team took because he has learned to keep his comments to a minimum due to his many conflicting statements in the past. An 11/14 article by Dane Kane highlights his prior conflicting statements:

Williams’ changing story

The N&O’s reporting revealed the scandal in 2011, but Williams, for a long time, provided little detail as to what he knew about the classes. Numerous times he said he was proud of the academic experience his players received.

“Our track record is pretty doggone good,” Williams told a Charlotte radio station on Aug. 15, 2012. “And our track record has been pretty doggone good for 15 years at Kansas, nine years at North Carolina. And we know how much we emphasize the academic side in the basketball office. We know what our guys are majoring in. We know – every day we’re in touch with those kids. So it’s something, again, that I’m very proud of.”

Four months later, at a press conference, an N&O reporter asked Williams why his players had stopped taking AFAM paper classes by the start of the fall 2009 semester. Was it because Crowder had retired, or did someone in the program notice something wrong?

Williams responded: “You say we either did something, or we didn’t do something. Maybe guys, girls, just decided not to take certain classes.”

The athletic department later adopted that same position, with spokesman Steve Kirschner saying in a statement on Nov. 16, 2012: “Different players have different interests.”

When Wainstein’s report came out, it included new information from Williams that provided a possible explanation why his players weren’t enrolling in AFAM classes.

He told Wainstein’s investigators that shortly after he arrived at UNC, he was concerned that so many of his athletes were majoring in AFAM; the 2005 team alone had 10 of 15 players with that major. He said he told one of his assistant coaches, Joe Holladay, to make sure they weren’t being steered to the major.

The report also said Williams knew McCants took “three or four” independent study courses in the spring 2005 semester. McCants took three that were listed as an independent study. The fourth was identified as AFAM 65, Topics in Afro-American Studies. That, too, was a paper class. In the Wainstein report, Williams said he told Holladay to emphasize that his players should be in lecture classes instead of independent study.

After the Wainstein report came out, Williams said in two news conferences that he was concerned about his players clustering in a major. Records show they continued to cluster in another popular major, Communications, while many others were listed as undeclared.

Kirschner said in an email that Williams would not be made available for an interview. Kirschner stood by his November 2012 statement.

So first he knows about players’ majors, then Roy makes comments suggesting he wasn’t worried about clustering. Then in the Wainstein report it claims Roy was worried about clustering in Afro-American Studies, but he failed to concern himself with the later clustering in Communications. Makes sense right?

But don’t worry, Roy now has a sense of relief!

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Home Forums Roy Williams Has A “Sense of Relief”!

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  • #87479
    pakfanistan
    Participant

    UNx are gonna get a new age wallop. Across the board.

    I don’t want new age.

    I want biblical, Plague and pestilence type stuff.

    Sodom and Gomorrah pillars of salt, divine retribution type stuff.

    Four horsemen, apocalyptic type stuff.

    #87480
    TheCOWDOG
    Moderator

    I hear ya Paki.This is what I was thinkin’

    #87483
    ncsu1987
    Participant

    ^Ok, now that’s not fair.

    #literalspitloller

    Two things, CD:
    1)I wish I had your confidence
    2)I hope with every fiber of my being that you’re right

    #87484
    TheCOWDOG
    Moderator

    I’m right, ’87.

    …but it’s taken a long time for the Elders to convince me.

    #87485
    pakfanistan
    Participant

    I hear ya Paki.This is what I was thinkin’

    I’ll take it.

    I’m right, ’87.

    Pls.

    #87493
    redwolf87
    Participant

    I don’t think the Roy stuff bothers me as much (considering we always figured the howitzers would come out against any basketball penalties) as the football staff either brazenly lying to recruits/new commits about the extent of upcoming penalties, or showing their hand that they are privy to information they shouldn’t be from the NCAA.

    Telling recruits that they have their “word” that no further penalties are forthcoming seems like a awfully high stakes gamble to me, unless Swoffie’s fixed it somehow. Which is entirely possible.

    #87514
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    ^ Agreed on both counts.

    Hoping recruits/parents are wise enough to at least suspect the shady car salesman-esque pitch either way. The ones who aren’t either dyed in the wool sheep already, or just too stupid to be darwinian victims here or somewhere else anyway (yeah I know…what’s the difference?), will probably be alright.

    EDIT – wow, my above grammar and sentence structure really sucks. Bottom line…if they ain’t stupid or already heels for life, their caveat emptor gauges will probably be working’ fine.

    #87753
    STSW
    Participant

    The highest and most trusted source in the land says this:

    manalishi
    PP HOF – SpecOps
    1502 posts this site
    Ignore this Member
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    Posted: 7/15/2015 11:33 AM
    Re: UNC Scandal: Day 1900
    A short update of sorts before obiad…

    Lawsuits –
    There are two primary reasons the ncaa HAD to find fault with unc’s past transgressions.
    One was to protect themselves (the ncaa) from some of the current lawsuits against them. (McCants/Ramsey, Haulsfield… there are some major implications tied up in there… you guys should really be paying more attention when st8dukegrad87 posts)
    The almost catch-22 scenario the ncaa found themselves in was finding a way to fault unc, but at the same time not compromising their own position in those lawsuits. With the way the NOA was ultimately worded, the ncaa accomplished that goal.
    Another reason for having to find fault in those past transgressions was due to immense pressure from certain other member institutions. (unc has vastly underestimated who its enemies are, in terms of the academic/athletic world)

    The flow of information —
    It’s well known that unc redacted a LOT of information from the supplementary documents of the NOA. Hmm… what if some of it was information that would completely nullify their current PR campaign? If/when the NOA ever becomes 100% public the school may be forced to face some very uncomfortable questions. And for those who say “we’ll never see the full NOA”… don’t be so sure.

    On the flip side of that information flow: as has proven to be the case for several years now, unc’s decision makers do not know quite as much as they think they do.
    The NCAA conducted interviews that were not included in the NOA.
    That is a fact, not conjecture.
    As much as unc (and its admin/PR) would like to think they are completely in the driver’s seat in terms of managing the entire “information” situation, the word “completely” simply does not apply.

    PR approach —
    As has been mentioned several times earlier on PP, the unc PR team outlined a specific plan of trying to sway public opinion – with one of the main results hopefully being the emotional manipulation of the COI. (there are other goals as well, which will be briefly touched on later)

    Lying to recruits —
    This is part verbal ambiguity on unc’s part, and part coordinated plan.
    “Our lawyers told us” is an easy way for the coaches to blame someone else once they actually get hit with sanctions.
    Also, for the coaches to say that their sports were not “specifically” named in the NOA is actually the truth. By definition, to be “specifically” named could be construed as being the ONLY one named. So no, men’s basketball was not “specifically” named in the NOA… it was named along with football, WBB, etc. (but oh, those redacted NOA docs…)

    Interestingly, the stamp of approval for the use of that wording/phrase by the head coaches (not being “specifically” named) supposedly came all the way from the top, by the way.

    Sanctions —
    Going back to the lawsuits – the NCAA must protect itself on several fronts. As such, unc will face sanctions – both past and present.

    The unc apologists will continue to boast and gloat for another 6-9 months, following the fallacy that is being spread through PR. When the sanctions are finally announced, reality will set in for many. (though the PR approach – the “other goals” mentioned above – supposedly has a few contingency plans to try and ease the pain)
    Those apologists who swear there will be no sanctions are either buying the PR spin (which is not entirely their fault), or they simply aren’t very intelligent (again, not entirely their fault. It’s awfully hard to change a DNA strand).
    It is what it is, and their current perception of the situation is not worth the energy to try and change.

    However… the people who hope for sanctions (on this board, and elsewhere) BUT for whatever reason keep saying “they are going to skate”… those people are extremely, disappointingly foolish.
    Pure common sense regarding the facts should be all you need. Unc is going to get hit. Past and present.

    When the final word comes down, there will inevitably still be some who cry it’s not enough. Hey, it’s the MB of PP. A lack of complaining would be totally out of character, right?
    But the goals will have been met.

    And here’s the thing: if you are one of the ones who wants to complain about the final verdict (though I’d wager the vast majority will be happy), then all I can say is that I’m sorry. If you feel they should “get the death penalty! Drop a daisy cutter on them! Pull their accreditation! Give them 20 years of probation and vacate all victories back to 1980!”… well, again, I’m sorry. There is a thing called taking initiative, and there have been MULTIPLE opportunities to actually do something useful over the past five years.
    Complaining and whining about things not being fair, yet never having done anything to actually help out matters, is IMO a mixture of self-pity and worthlessness. I’m not interested in either.
    Sorry… enough of that sort of negativity. Moving on.

    One final note on their PR —
    They have literally spent millions over the past few years, paying people to help them craft certain messages, to bury the paperwork process under legal loopholes, and so forth.
    Every person they have hired (save for a few fanboy lawyers) has had money as his/her primary interest. “I’ll do my best to give you want you want; keep writing those checks.”
    But is a merc’s “best” effort truly a passionate, exemplary effort, if your heart is not in it?

    Compare that with what has been exposed against unc. The key difference: done by an (arguably) equally-capable group of skillsets, yet done for passion and an ethical cause – not for money. That’s likely been one of the differences over the past five years, with regards to results. Millions of dollars can buy work, but it can’t always buy an impassioned effort.

    Let me put things another way: For the past 24 months or so, everything has gone pretty much as planned. Whose plan?… Exactly.

    More updates —
    If there are ever other happenings… yet they are not being shared… then there are always very good reasons for not commenting publicly on them.
    Bigger hands are now molding this piece of clay.
    As always… just try and be patient.

    #87754
    Fastback68
    Participant

    ORW is the new Zen Master

    #87763
    TheCOWDOG
    Moderator

    This Manilishi guy sounds about right.

    #87768
    Greywolf
    Participant

    I have a “sense of relief” every morning before I shower and shave and I haven’t produced as much sh!t as Ole Roy has talking about his players academic excellence.

    #87873
    highstick
    Participant

    Good dog. Channeling dog.

    Despite the guy up there, what…mac and cheese?

    Ready for football, so he can troll the first questionable playcall…

    UNx are gonna get a new age wallop. Across the board.

    Sad says he?

    At least you and I are on the same page about “the whomp up the side of the head”!

    "Whomp 'em, Up, Side the Head"!

    #87874
    highstick
    Participant

    This Manilishi guy sounds about right.

    He is the one I trust the most and he’s the first to tell you to “have patience”!

    "Whomp 'em, Up, Side the Head"!

    #87886
    TheCOWDOG
    Moderator

    Silence in the air. They have either responded, or they are holding out for a week and a 1/2.

    We won’t know either way, ’cause it ain’t public record unless one requests it thru the channels.

    Regardless, Roy is still relieved. Football season, and the master coach of…?, Have taken the field. You go Hat.

    #87964
    redisgood
    Participant

    UNC self-reports new NCAA violations, delaying response to previous allegations
    Read more at http://www.wralsportsfan.com/unc-self-reports-new-ncaa-violations-delaying-response-to-previous-allegations/14831255/#G48SEVjdTw8rRIET.99

    “Cunningham said. “I want to assure everyone that Carolina is doing all it can to bring these matters to closure as quickly as possible while also strictly adhering to the NCAA’s infractions process. While we need to address these new developments, we have already completed the majority of the work necessary to respond to the NCAA’s notice. We fully believe that we will be able to bring the investigation to a conclusion in spring 2016, as previously anticipated.”

    Conveniently after basketball season is over.

    #87965
    NCSU88
    Participant

    Kick the can down the road. At some point I would hope the NCAA, or their Alumni would just say, “Enough!” and just clean house.

    #87966
    Gowolves
    Participant

    Just buying time to get through basketball season. Oh, it was a banner f*cking year at the old UNC family!

    #87973
    TheCOWDOG
    Moderator

    Oh this ties right in with Bubba’s trip to Indy, last week.

    The dime got dropped, and Unx was left with knickers around their ankles once again.

    #87974
    pakfanistan
    Participant

    Heh.

    Take 'em down.

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