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| | Monday, July 3 Fogler stays mum about UNC rumors | |||||
| Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. -- With his picture on TV and his name all over the Internet in connection with North Carolina coach Bill Guthridge's resignation, South Carolina's Eddie Fogler had little to say. "I'm head basketball coach of South Carolina and I'm only interested in answering questions about our program," Fogler said Friday through a school spokesman. Fogler and his family were on a beach vacation and would not return until Wednesday, South Carolina assistant athletic director Kerry Tharp said. South Carolina athletics director Mike McGee said North Carolina officials have asked to talk to Fogler, who was given a contract extension in March after his young Gamecocks went 15-17. "We certainly hope that coach Fogler remains at South Carolina," McGee said in a statement. "North Carolina is coach Fogler's alma mater and we have granted him permission to speak with UNC representatives." Guthridge's resignation touched off a high-profile search of those who played or coached with Dean Smith, who set college basketball's record for wins at North Carolina. Roy Williams, a former North Carolina assistant who is the odds-on pick to replace Guthridge, said he has not accepted the job. But "in the next 24-to-48 hours, there'll be a definite plan," he said. If Williams accepts, it's the second time in three years the 52-year-old Fogler, a tough New York City guard who helped the Tar Heels to two Final Fours from 1967-70, was not in the mix for the job at his alma mater. Fogler joined Smith's staff as an assistant in 1971 and stayed until getting the Wichita State coaching job in 1986. Fogler's persuasiveness and straight-up speaking lured some of the most famous players to wear Carolina Blue -- Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Sam Perkins, Brad Daugherty and Kenny Smith. Where Fogler breaks the North Carolina mold is with his strong opinions and candor. During the 1997-98 seasons, Fogler angered some Gamecock fans when he said he was uncomfortable playing his mentor, Smith, and the Tar Heels. Fogler said administrators who got rid of Georgia's Hugh Durham in 1995 and Alabama's David Hobbs in 1998 did it because the football programs were struggling. "It's the truth -- in my opinion," Fogler said. "It's not the truth. It's a truthful opinion." His loyalty to friend, former North Carolina assistant and Kansas coach Roy Williams was part of the reason, some speculate, that Fogler feuded with Florida's Billy Donovan in 1998-99 about overseas recruiting trips with committed and uncommitted players. This year, Fogler said he didn't want any credit for his team's improving grades as long as he didn't get the grief when players don't perform well academically. "I am just a little piece of the process," he said in January. "It's not me, I do my share." Just weeks later, Fogler was the state's first heavyweight coach to speak against the Confederate flag flying on South Carolina's Statehouse, saying it hurt the state. He was also part of an April march by flag opponents. Fogler's name and face have been on TV since the news of Guthridge's resignation broke. Fogler has been a big topic on morning sports radio shows. An Internet Gamecock fan chatroom was speculating on Fogler's replacement should he go. Fogler might not have the through-the-roof success North Carolina fans might want to see. His Gamecocks shocked college basketball by winning the Southeastern Conference regular season title in 1997 and made the NCAA tournament for two straight years. But South Carolina lost in the first round as a No. 2 seed to Coppin State in 1997 and as a No. 3 seed to Richmond the year after. South Carolina next year is expected to be one of the SEC's rapid risers with only two seniors and one of its best recruits, center Rolando Howell, in Fogler's eight seasons. Fogler also has said in the past he might not want to coach too many more years so he could spend time with his 11-year-old daughter Emma and 7-year-old son, Benjamin. This week, he was one of nine parents who spoke at a Richland School District 2 meeting that addressed raising money for school improvements. | ALSO SEE After three years, two Final Fours, Guthridge retires With Guthridge retiring, UNC quickly tabs Williams Weekly Word: Not blue in Carolina Bilas: Guthridge thrived under difficult circumstances | |||||