To the editor:

As a lifelong Kansan and perennial supporter of Kansas University basketball, it amazes me how a conservative state such as ours, which prides itself on “family values,” can have a sizable populace that wished such a fine man and outstanding coach as Roy Williams ill will in his bid for a NCAA championship.

Roy Williams accepted the offer to coach at KU and did an outstanding job continuing the school’s winning tradition. As in any job, there are no guarantees for the future. He simply did the job expected of him and did it well as long as it was feasible to do so.

Returning home as he did to his family roots in North Carolina simply demonstrated his strong sense of family ties. Fortunately for Roy, he also was rewarded in his endeavor for a NCAA championship.

Many factors enter into supporting a favored team, but to vilify North Carolina simply because Roy Williams was coach is not only sour grapes but hypocritical as well. The fact that a number of former players coached by him during his tenure at KU supported him in his championship bid seems sufficient in establishing the character of the man.

Tim Newacheck,

Ottawa