Sexton: "I want to play, first and foremost"

North Carolina

Sexton: "I want to play, first and foremost"

By Greg Barnes, InsideCarolina.com

Jan 14, 2009

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Chapel Hill, N.C. — Red-shirt junior quarterback Cameron Sexton spoke to reporters on Wednesday after announcing his intentions to graduate in May and transfer to another school for his final season of college eligibility.

Can you take us through the how and the why that you came to this decision?
“Well, this decision was based over a period of time. There was a lot of discussion with my family and some of my past coaches to make sure I made the right one, but we finally came to the point that I just want to compete and I want to play, first and foremost. I felt like in order for me to do that and in order to give myself the best opportunity to do that, that we felt that it was best for me to go ahead and graduate in May and then go play somewhere else next year.”

Did the decision to start T.J. Yates against N.C. State play a role into this decision?
“To say it didn’t factor in – that wouldn’t be correct. But that was just a small piece of a much bigger puzzle. That wasn’t the deciding factor, by any means, no.”

Did the coaches tell you that you wouldn’t be able to compete for the starting position? Did it come down to that?
“No, it did not come down to that. They said there would be competition for the starting position but I felt like, based on the way things have gone, that maybe it was still best for me to go and compete somewhere else.”

Do you have any regrets in staying at UNC as long as you did?
“Absolutely not. No regrets whatsoever.”

Is it correct that you hosted a high-profile recruit on an official visit last weekend?
“Yes.”

Given that you were considering leaving the program, what was your thought process in doing that?
“First and foremost, no matter what has happened to me throughout my career, that doesn’t reflect on my love for the University of North Carolina. I love this place. I love my teammates. There would be no way that I would do anything to hurt this university and this football program.

“I did the best I could hosting the kid this weekend, and I showed him the best time that I could and I told him everything that was great about this university and this football program because I feel like there are a lot of great things that are going on here. Do I agree with every decision that got made, based on my career? No. But that’s life. That’s the way things go. I understand that. But I would never do anything to hurt Carolina.”

How satisfying is it for you to know that you played such a big role in this team’s success this year?
“It was great. This year was probably the best year of my life, so far. Being able to go out and finally achieve some of the things that I set out to achieve and to play well – especially to be able to play well at home a couple of times in front of our fans. All of the hard work paid off this year. We enjoyed a lot of success together as a team. This year was really special to me and a lot of those moments I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.”

Do you have any idea what schools you may consider transferring to?
“None, whatsoever. I’ve not started that process yet.”

What will your degree be in?
“Communications.”

What will be the process in finding another school?
“The NCAA states that I’d have to give up two years of eligibility to go down and play Div I-AA football, so in my case, I’ll have to go and play Division II. That process will be – basically, I’ll start researching the schools and my high school coach will be working on that, as well as my family. Coach [Butch] Davis and coach [John] Shoop have made it very clear that they want to be a big part of this process to help me find the right school.

“So basically, I’m open to any options, whatsoever. I want to go play at a place that I feel is going to help me continue to hone my skills and get better as football player to achieve my goals of moving on in football past the collegiate level.”

Is this a bittersweet moment?
“I feel great about it, but because I’m moving on to another chapter of my life, it’s absolutely bittersweet. I love Carolina and I would love to be here. I really do love this place – I just can’t say it enough. So it is absolutely very difficult to go, but I know this something that I have to do. It’s going to be good for me.”

What was Coach Davis’ reaction when you did tell him the news?
“He wanted to make sure that I understood that he wanted me to come back and that they wanted me to be here. He also was very understanding of the situation, and was understanding of my decision. One thing I was really happy with was how much he wanted to be involved in my next decision, and he made it very clear that he wanted me – for the rest of my life – to be involved with the University of North Carolina’s football program, so I really appreciated that.”

Most Recent Comments

RE: Sexton:

To: Cholt5. You and I are in total agreement. Coach Davis had just as much spit in his face to not let him continue to play. He saved Butch Davis's winning record this season. After what he did to Cam Sexton, I told people all around Moore County that I had no respect for Coach Davis and never will again.

What I hate most is that he affected a young person's life in the way he did his business. I still ask the question why did he put all of the confidence in TJ and not the person that took them to the wins?

I truly think that Cam will become highly successful in all of his future endeavors. Whether it is on the field or in his chosen career goals; he will be a winner.

RE: Sexton:

I once had a relative with ties to UNC athletics who said several people were not overjoyed with the NFL approach that Butch Davis took to the football program and who said Cam Sexton was an outstanding young man who worked his tail off to improve and was waiting his turn to get an opportunity to play quarterback for the Tar Heels.

I watched with interest the first few UNC football shows after Cam Sexton pulled UNC's fat out of the fire in several games. The head coach, even after outstanding performances by Sexton in early games won those contests, did not even mention Cam's name during the 30-minute TV show for at least three games. I thought that was extremely odd, but it fit with what my friend had told me.

To bench Sexton after the Maryland game -- a game the Tar Heels played in a monsoon and would have won had not a field goal been missed -- was inexcuseable on the part of the UNC coaching staff. That T.J. Yates, who had not had any significant playing time, could not pull off a win against NC State and played poorly, should have been no surprise. At the end of the Car Repair Bowl in Charlotte, T.J. also wasn't able to pull out a win.

But I guess it was a surprise to the coaching staff whom, I would guess, preaches loyalty to the team but loyalty doesn't trickle down to the players.

I hope Cam Sexton has an outstanding career wherever he goes and also hope he gets a chance to meet Coach Davis across the playing field at some time in the future, whether as a player or coach.

RE: Sexton:

I have kept up with Cam over the past several years. I used to be an administrator at Scotland High School before he played. He saved the season for UNC when TJ got hurt. He was a third string QB at the time. He helped them win several games, and I was totally ticked when Yates came back to start. I think that Coach Davis should have played Cam--even when Yates became healthy. If he stuttered, then put Yates in.

I kept telling myself that he should give him the opportunity to continue, but that was not the case. I hope that Cam can be successful in a Div II school. Someone will be lucky to have him.