UNC thanks Withers for season

CHAPEL HILL -- On the day North Carolina supporters welcomed new football coach Larry Fedora, they also thanked interim coach Everett Withers for his contributions to the program.

While attending a news conference for Fedora at the Concourse Club in the Loudermilk Center on Friday, UNC administrators, Rams Club members and players expressed appreciation for the job Withers did in guiding the Tar Heels to a 7-5 overall record this season. He will coach the team in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 26 after taking over on July 28 following the university's firing of coach Butch Davis.

"He stepped in a difficult situation," Rams Club executive director John Montgomery said. "He did everything he could have done the right way. Everett represented the university, the athletic program in a first class manner."

Withers, 48, became the first African-American head football coach in UNC's history. It was his first head coaching job.

He maintained his reputation as a player's coach. And many of them lobbied for him to remain in charge of the program.

"Everyone wanted coach Everett to retain the job because it's familiar and we know that territory if you will," North Carolina sophomore offensive lineman James Hurst said. "It's difficult to establish new relationships, but it's part of the job that comes with it."

UNC first-year athletics director Bubba Cunningham selected Fedora from an initial list of 75 coaching candidates that included Withers - previously a defensive coordinator for the Tar Heels.

"I have nothing but respect for Everett," Cunningham said. "A difference was, I really felt like at this point in our history we needed a sitting head coach. And he's the only coordinator that I talked to."

Fans speak out

There were fans who disagreed with Cunningham's perspective.

"I think they should have kept him," said Roy Carey, an Apex resident and Tar Heels fan. "He should have been given a shot."

Carey, who gave his opinion outside of a Cafe Carolina near campus, added, "I think he's a good coach and that the team would follow him. There's always adjustments when you have a new coach."

Then there were those who believed the school needed a change after dealing with an embarrassing scandal, which led to numerous player suspensions and brought on a NCAA investigation.

"The university had to hire an athletic director who had the experience and then the athletic director had to hire a football coach," said Moyer Smith, a former UNC assistant coach. "I think that process had to play out. That's telling everybody, we're still damn serious about having a great football team here."

Former UNC free safety Deunta Williams said players around the program respected Withers. He empathized with current players because he and his teammates experienced a coaching change when John Bunting was fired in 2006.

He said current players are likely uncertain about job security and relating to a new staff.

"We decided to take that and move into a positive direction," Williams said. "We all decided that we had to pull together. Everybody knew it was going to happen. ... We had to make a decision together to make the best out of everything."

Williams said he's rooting for Withers to stick around, saying, "I hope he does. He adds a dimension to the defense."

Asked about Withers' status, Cunningham said the coach will be considered for an assistant position on Fedora's staff. "I think Everett has some other opportunities as well," he said. "But those are really the best questions for him."

Ken Mack, a former UNC player and Rams Club director of major gifts, said Withers had a lot of supporters among the fan base.

"We admire what he was able to accomplish under very difficult circumstances," Mack said. "Everett held together a situation that could have just exploded on us. He did a great job holding us together. It's disappointing that such a good guy is going to have to leave this community, but that's part of what you sign up for in the profession."