In his press conference Monday previewing the upcoming ACC tournament, North Carolina men’s basketball coach Roy Williams talked about a variety of topics ranging from the rebounding ability of the smaller lineup to his experience as a referee.
Here’s how coach Williams recalled his time with the UNC intramural department.
“I probably know more about officiating that any other coach in the NCAA.”
Why is that?
“In ’72, I was the supervisor of officials in the intramural department at the University of North Carolina. We had 48 basketball games every night. I had 108 officials on my payroll. My junior year, I refereed every major game there was – the dental school against the law school, the Phi Delts against the Chi Phis, the Black Student Movement against the dental school and I knew what the crap I was doing.”
“So coach Smith – I used to come referee some of the varsity scrimmages when I was a senior – I was hired to work camp in summer school during my junior year because Phil Ford was coming for a visit and coach Smith said he wanted to have the best refereeing he could have for Phil.
“So every time Phil drove I called it a block on the other guy and every time he took a charge I called it a charge.”
Williams also softened his stance about the fans from his postgame comments after the Duke game. On Saturday he said he was disappointed that more fans didn’t stick around to listen to the seniors, on Monday he was complimentary of the atmosphere.
“The crowd Saturday night,” Williams said. “I should say this, when the team came out and I’m back in the locker room I thought, ‘Man, the crowd is really in to it.’ When I came out, I went and sat down on the bench I said, ‘this could be the most electric atmosphere that this arena has ever seen.’ And I really believed that and I was so proud to be involved.”
“Our crowd was really in to it, then we didn’t give them anything to cheer for. Duke’s play shut us up and it’s a shame because I really felt like that crowd was ready to blow the roof off the building.”
“I said something post game that I was a little disappointed that people didn’t stay around to hear the seniors but its 11:15 and we got our tails kicked so badly, if they hadn’t been my players I might have left too.”
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