GoHeels Exclusive: Gonzaga Notebook

By Pat James, GoHeels.com

Speaking with reporters Friday, North Carolina men's basketball coach Roy Williams spent a majority of his pre-Gonzaga press conference answering questions about the controversy surrounding the presence of the Silent Sam statue on campus.

The Confederate statue, erected in 1913, was toppled by protesters in August. Earlier this month, the UNC Board of Trustees announced a plan to construct a museum to house the statue. That plan was met with backlash, including a petition signed by more than 250 current and former Tar Heel student-athletes, before being rejected by the UNC Board of Governors on Friday.

Before that decision was announced, Williams expressed his opinions about the statue and some of his players signing the petition. Below is a full transcript of his comments, followed by two other notes from the press conference:

Question: Three of your current players signed the open letter against the current plan for Silent Sam. How do you feel about their willingness — and several of your former players, too— have you talked to them about it? How do you feel about their taking a stand on that? And as an alum, how do you feel about how the University is handling everything?

Williams: "I'm not bothered by it at all. I've talked to our guys about it and told them if they feel strongly about it, go right ahead. I think it's their individual rights and I think they should if they feel strongly about it. As always, you guys have heard me say, 'Just don't surprise me.' I know Garrison (Brooks) and K.J. (Smith) had signed it as of yesterday. So B-Rob (Brandon Robinson) might've done it later yesterday.

"It's a touchy issue, it's a hard issue and it's an easy issue. I mean, it really is. It's something we've talked about on multiple occasions. As an alum, as a graduate, as the coach, I've got to have many different views on things, but it's a very divisive thing and I hate that we have anything divisive on or campus or involved in our institution.

"The one I feel the most pain for is our chancellor (Carol Folt) because she's in a no-win situation. I think she has her own individual beliefs, but she's required by law to act or react in a certain situation. She's the one I feel the most for.

"In my mind, my own personal opinion, I wish we didn't have a situation where we were putting it back on campus. I don't know what everybody's motivations were in 1913. But right now, it's a very divisive issue. I wish it would go away, but I'm sure there are other people who feel that way, as well. I don't know what that motivation was at that time. I read those remarks at that time, and they were not very good remarks, which leads me to be stronger in the idea that I don't think we should have it. I think the chancellor's hands are a little bit tied about what to do with it. …

"As far as my players being involved, if they feel that way, I have zero problems. I'm glad they're expressing themselves and they have the right to have those feelings, just like I have the right to have the feeling that I wish it wasn't here."

Q: How did Coach (Dean) Smith's legacy and that sort of thing, did that shape the way you go about handling these sorts of things? I know some coaches try to shy away from things like this.

Williams: "Not really. I mean, Coach did the right thing. I think what I'm saying is right for me. This is America, I can say anything and anybody can say I'm wrong. But I do think there are individual rights and freedoms. I tell my guys, 'Don't surprise me with anything. Let me know and let's talk about it.' I know we've talked about it as a staff, and I think we've talked to the team about it twice, including yesterday. And the purpose of that was about the letter.

"But no, I don't think I was driven by Coach Smith's stance at that time. That was driven by my background, my mother, my high school coach and Coach Smith. You have the right to your own individual beliefs, and it's OK to say those."

Q: Do you think your players, through this, are becoming aware of the power they can wield when they want to take a stand on something?

Williams: "People talk about the power you can wield, but I'm not sure what that is. I think you have the right to state your beliefs; I don't know if any one person has any more power than anybody else. I know people talk about that all the time, but still, there's a law out there. In my own personal belief, period, I think it would be best for it not to be here. And I think some people in the decision-making business would rather it not be here, but the only people who can change that are the ones who make the laws. And I haven't spoken to those people about it."

Q: When you say you guys have talked about it, is it just to the extent of, 'I don't want to be surprised,' or do you actually go into it and kind of let them express themselves and kind of air that out?

Williams: "A little bit of both. I tell them exactly what I think. There's no way in Hades this guy sitting to my left (Associate Athletic Director for Communications Steve Kirschner) would let me say exactly what I think. But I tell them. I'm straight forward; tell the truth and you don't have to remember what you said. It's a pretty easy deal. We talk about it."

White's status
After not playing against UNC Wilmington last Wednesday because of a sore left ankle, Coby White has been cleared to play in Saturday's game against fourth-ranked Gonzaga. He ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 15.3 points in eight games.

"He'll play. He's practiced all week," Williams said. "The times we've practiced at least, he's been in there and he hasn't been limited or anything."

A tough test
According to kenpom.com, the Bulldogs lead the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency (122.1). They also rank fourth in effective field goal percentage (59.4).

With Gonzaga able to receive scoring contributions from anyone in the lineup, the Tar Heels will face their stiffest defensive challenge of the season so far.

"(They've been) very difficult for us as a staff to prepare for," Williams said. "They remind me of some of our really, really good teams. Who knows what's going to happen by the end of the year, but I think they're better than their team in '17. Now, they may not go as far or they may win the whole thing."

Players Mentioned

Brandon Robinson

Coby White

Related Videos