University of North Carolina Athletics
Coach Guthridge Comments On USA Today Story.
June 21, 1999 | Men's Basketball
June 9, 1999
CHAPEL HILL --- University of North Carolina head coach Bill Guthridge issued the following statement regarding the June 9 story in USA Today on freshmen ineligibility:
"I think (freshmen ineligibility) would be a great thing for college basketball. The first year of college is challenging enough for any incoming student, let alone a student-athlete playing a sport with tremendous interest and exposure. It would take them out of the limelight and give them a year to adjust socially and academically. At North Carolina, we have long been in favor of freshmen ineligibility, even though we have been fortunate to have a number of freshmen start and play a prominent role for us. That includes three freshmen starters who later became National Players of the Year -- Phil Ford, Michael Jordan and Antawn Jamison. But for the overwhelming majority of incoming students, it would certainly be in their best interests not to play. It also might stabilize the flow of young players leaving college and even high school for the NBA."
