More on Roy vs the fan
Dec 14, 2009
Memo to fans of opposing teams: Be careful how you cheer at Smith Center.
One Presbyterian fan found that out the hard way, but getting into a shouting match with Roy Williams didn’t help his cause.
Moments after yelling something along the lines of “miss it Deon,” during a free throw attempt by UNC’s Deon Thompson, the perhaps over-zealous Blue Hose fan found himself being escorted from the building.
Here’s what happened, according to UNC sports information director Steve Kirshner: Williams heard the heckling coming from behind the Carolina bench -- a section of tickets that are doled out with extreme caution by UNC -- and wanted to know if the fan was even supposed to be there.
Williams exchanged words with the fan before motioning for security to check on him.
Kirshner says the security personnel found the man intoxicated and sitting in the wrong seat.
“I just don’t think anybody should yell anything negative things toward our players if they come in on our tickets to watch our game,” Williams said.
And that may be the real issue at hand, as far as Williams is concerned. The fan in question was sitting in the section directly behind the Carolina bench. Many of those seats are distributed directly from the basketball office to friends and family of the team.
So when Williams heard someone sitting in or near an area he essentially controls heckling one of his players, he was furious.
But while that may be understandable, it’s still bad PR for UNC. Ejecting a fan for heckling a player – and if he really only said “miss it,” that’s pretty mild stuff – will only enhance the “wine and cheese” image many already have of UNC crowds.
There have been many instances in the past in which fans have been ejected from games. But generally those came at the request of the officials. John Clougherty, the ACC’s coordinator of officials, says referee do have the authority to remove spectators that have been deemed disruptive to the game at hand.
But this request came from a coach, not an official.
Imagine if Deon Thompson had actually missed his free throw.
