To the editor:

Folks around Lawrence have always thought of Roy Williams as one of us. He was our neighbor. He raised his kids here. He sacked groceries to raise money for local charities. That’s just to mention a few of his off-the-court activities, all of them equally commendable, but none more important to me personally than his summer basketball program. It was something my son looked forward to all year long, since it provided all ages and levels of players the opportunity to sharpen their skills and play in Allen Fieldhouse.

On steamy hot summer nights, coach Williams would come to watch the games. When he came into that fieldhouse it was electric. Everyone performed better just believing that Roy Williams could actually be there to watch them play.

Now it’s my turn to cheer for coach and wish him the very best. To hear folks of this or the surrounding community turn against him is really beneath all of us. It’s time to let the man go home in peace and show him the kind of class Midwesterners are usually famous for. In wishing him well, realize that any student athlete who cannot do likewise has forgotten that playing basketball is a privilege — not an entitlement.

Any basketball player who was fortunate enough to play under coach Williams will be able to tell his grandchildren one day that they played for one of the greatest basketball coaches KU has ever had. End of story.

Barbara Schaetzel,

Lawrence