University of North Carolina Athletics
Baddour And Chancellor Moeser's Opening Remarks
November 20, 2000 | Football
Nov. 20, 2000
UNC Athletic Director Dick Baddour:
"I have completed a review of the football program and the decision has
been made not to retain Carl Torbush as the head football coach at the
University of North Carolina. This decision is not based on a single
game or solely on a single season but rather of evaluation over a
three-year period and the potential for the future.
"As instructed by the chancellor, I made an evaluation as I do of every program and informed him of that evaluation and my recommendation that Carl not be retained. The chancellor concurred in that recommendation.
"It seems that the current state of the program seems to rest on a game by game, year-by-year, season-by-season situation. And that is not an atmosphere for success or for potential for success.
"I believed that we faced a crossroads at this time with regard to the football program. I believed that we could make a decision to retain Carl and continue this game-by-game, year-by-year situation or we could decide that it was time for new direction and for potential for success in the future. And that was the recommendation I made to the chancellor, and that1s the one he agreed with.
"I do want to say a few words about Coach Torbush and his staff. He is an outstanding individual who has represented this University with class and dignity for many years. Carl has never complained. He has never asked anyone to do anything he wouldn't do. He's never complained on this campus or about the officials. He never made excuses. He's always stood up proudly for this University, and the University is grateful for that.
"I know that those words might sound hollow to him or his staff, but I think it's important that the public understands our appreciation of him."
UNC Chancellor James Moeser:
"I simply want to echo the remarks made by Dick Baddour, and again to
express my sincere appreciation to Carl Torbush for his service to the
department of athletics and to Carolina, as well as for his devotion
to his players and to his fellow coaches.
"Although I've only been at Carolina for a short period of time, I have seen for myself Carl's professionalism and his personal integrity on display. He has made many positive contributions to this program during his tenure here at Chapel Hill. These factors made our decision that we are announcing today all the more tough.
The athletic department, as you know, has a practice of assessing the progress of individual team programs after the conclusion of each season. Dick Baddour has shared with me his evaluation of the football program, and I have concurred that the time is right to make a leadership change, and in doing so is in the best long-term interest of the football program, of the athletic department and of the University.
"At this University we strive for excellence in everything that we do in both academics and athletics. Ultimately, this decision is about our striving to be the best that we can be now and in the future.
UNC Tight End Alge Crumpler:
"He definitely influenced a lot of guys on this team, and I hope that
we can continue that relationship beyond this setback.
"I haven't had a chance to really talk with many of the younger guys. What I want to do is, hopefully, pull everyone together because, obviously, I've been here before. I think I1ve been here too many times before. I've played under three different offensive systems. But the direction is to move forward. As long as I can get the guys to understand that, they don't me to be negative about anything because they have a future to continue here at this University, and I just want them to move on. My time here is done. I'll graduate, I1ll move on, and I'll continue to support this University and this football team with all I can do.
(on Coach Torbush's emotions when he told the players): "He was the same guy that he's always been since the day that I met him. That's the thing that we tell (the media) all the time. He's a stand-up guy. He's always been the same guy."
