Should KU have a Roy Williams Day?

Slayer2384 wrote: Have it on a Saturday and align it with a recruiting weekend. Let it serve as a recruiting tool. Let Paul Pierce, Mr. Collison, and others be there.

I was not happy with how he left, but always understood why, reserving my animus for Dean Smith, who should have had more character.

I agree with honoring Roy. He took the program Larry left and continued to build it into the powerhouse it became under his leadership.

I also think I prefer Slayer’s ideas.

NotO, I do appreciate your position. Totally understand it. But (you knew it was coming) I think there are other things to consider.

Bottom Line Up Front -- welcoming him back and honoring him for his 15 years at KANSAS really has no down side at this point in the relationship, and could have potential benefits for KANSAS.

Details

First, a question -- and I do not have the answer to it.

How many of Roy's players - those that left after the 2002-03 season or earlier, so never played for Bill -- have made it a point to be part of the program over the Self years? Other than for things like jerseys in the rafters or some other honor for them?

Scot Pollard is the one guy that leaps out for me as a regular, and it's been a while for him since he left Lawrence (last I read he was in Indianapolis -- see this interview from Feb 2020 ).

With it now being 19 years into the Self tenure, maybe players from Roy's 15 years wouldn't make a big impression on today's recruits. But if we want to impress our recruits with the real history of the program (we do always say it is a factor, sometimes more, sometimes less), having representation from those years would be important. Former KU stars and NBA players (all these had at least 3 years in the NBA) Jacque, Kirk, Nick, Paul Pierce, Raef, Drew Gooden, Greg Ostertag -- all would add some presence for the otherwise obvious player representation gap between the Brown era and the Self era.

Second, it is my experience that forgiveness heals the forgiver as much if not more than the forgiven. And I for one would be happy to see Roy representing KU in Lawrence again. I don't think he'll ever again say KANSAS is the best play to play college basketball after he returned to his alma mater instead of staying at KU, but his welcomed presence here could be considered a positive thing and highlight the program for those who don't normally look west of the Mississippi. I think back to Wilt finally returning, and how powerful that event was for all who saw it televised or were actually there for it.

Third, let's face it -- if just one of his four KU FF teams -- or his 1996-97 juggernaut -- had managed to win it all, we really would not be having this discussion, Yes, we would have still been ticked off that he left the way he did, but say KU had hit its free throws -- and/or its 3pt shots -- in 2003. He would have left after winning an NC (something we had endured before and survived), we would not have cried foul at The Traitor Smith for distracting Roy and the guys (no matter how real or negligible, many felt Smith's tampering was a detriment to KU's performance), and all in all we would be even happier with KU's lot in life today that we are already.

Bottom Line is that welcoming him back and honoring him for his 15 years at KANSAS really has no down side at this point in the relationship, and could have potential benefits for KANSAS. So do it!

NotOstertag wrote: I'm 100% in favor of inviting the players back.

You think the program doesn't do that already?
If someone hasn't been inviting them, they need to start.

You have to remember that except for the guys he walked out on, for the most part his players loved him (and even some or maybe all of those he abandoned eventually mellowed). For those who loved the man, honoring Roy would be an enticement for them to return to participate in that celebration, especially if they felt put off by the way KU fans got on his case for years afterwards for leaving as he did. And if those players *were* unhappy before, seeing Roy honored might alleviate that unhappiness. Being treated well by the current staff & fans would possibly help in getting them to return for future game/events. It would give them another good memory to lure them back, especially if they felt out of sorts coming back with Roy out of the picture and not high on a lot of fans' lists.

I just do not see a downside, only a big potential upside.

I like it!

Both the 6 Decades of KANSAS coaches and the team anniversary celebrations.

Do the former ASAP while we still have everyone with us.