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UNC's By Mike Chibbaro Gamecock Staff Writer USC Head Basketball Coacl Frank McGuire issued a preparec statement on Tuesday in response to the rumors that have indicatec he would not coach the 1979-8< Gamecock basketball team. In th< J u 1 - dutiniicu^ mtuuuc octiu lit; wuuiv like to remain on as caoch this season and then discuss his futun after the season. Although McGuire could no vary from his prepared statement he did indicate that numerou; close friends of his have offere< him their opinions on the matter. "I nave received calls iron many of my friends from all ove the country, and they just can' believe the timing of these ac tions," McGuire said from hi , Trustees hon i t vtv/i my rumors By Jean Ralston Gamecock Staff Writer A majority of the USC Board Trustees denied knowledge of ai plans to fire Head Basketbii Coach Frank McGuire at th Friday's board meeting. In reaction to the statemei made by the basketball teai supporting McGuire, William : Rrockington said, "An ultimatu doesn't force anyone's hand. T1 basketball team isn't doir anything but hurting themselve They are making people mo antagonistic tov ards McGuir and he doesn't need th.it " Markley Dennis, chairman of tl board, said that no definite acti< has been taken, but the board w in a state of negotiation wi McGuire. "IT IS I NFOim NATK that tl basketball team has taken th action, but they are reacting something that hasn't happenc yet." Dennis said. "I think the board certain should be concerned with how tl 1 ba^k^tball team and studen feel."he added. Hugh Well chairman ol the Intercollegia Athletic Committee, said he did n know the state of the negotatioi hntwr?f?n ripnni?s :inH Mffwiiir "but I assume I will find o Friday." "The timing all along h, been unfortunate." he said. "I believe everyone on campi has input into this," said .James > Cothran, vice chairman of tl board, "however, in the fin analysis the decision on McGuirc status will be made only by t board." T. Luke Benson said he knew no discussion on the McGuire ca planned for Friday 's meeting, "b after we've heard so much I sure we'll have to respond to it." JERRY BEASLEY said a decision he made on the boa would be made on the basis of wh is best for the entire universil "Student opinion is important, b there arp manv fartnrs invnlv thai must be considered," Beasl said. "It is nice of the players to ta up for McGuire, but we see reason for them to quit," Ch Gray, university spokesman, sa "There is no truth to the rum that McGuire will be fired." "I don't know anything in t world about the rumor th McGuire will be fired," Hugh Wilcox, said. "I don't know h< ^ that rumor would have gott started, but I have my suspicions Wilcox would not comment fi ther. "I would like to know how t basketball team was incited make such a statement," Fram ton W. Toole Jr., said. "There nothing as far as I'm concerned.' r GKOKGK CUKKY. secretary the board, said if McGuire w fired Friday "it would be t greatest shock of my life." Smith up Columbia home. "Everybody thai has contacted me seems to agre? i that who ever it is that's after m? i must realize that we have a gooc i chance to have an excellent seasor 1 this year. ) i "ALL OF THE WRITERS an< 1 people I've talked to have aske< 5 me why they would come out witl ? such an action so close to the star of the season," McGuire added, t "I feel very honored by th< , support that the players hav< s given me, and they know that i stand behind them 100 percen also," McGuire commented. n r "WE APPEAR TO BE headec t toward a real good year, and al the coaches and players have beer s looKing lorwara 10 tne start oi th( season,"McGuire said. "We an ahead in our recruiting, and the future looks bright. REG , ML:A* IV EVERY Mi WEDNESI S FRIDAY Ig s. re e. I \ v ?d \ \ c ie \ ts \ s' \ ot u| ^ - i is m tfajj ?*B e. MB |B| L^w^iy ATW; ut 9 ^H^HHHHHHHHIHH LIS aga^&il In- ['> ''' al *' s he ^^^WBHBSSfifflBESiKiSSIsd ()f 8Sl5.;x^ WH" ,;l||jP| ^Ml B? B Bi BP) i ut numaCMj y RSTvwfcvli^HMfl Ut WHHHHB ed no lip id. ^BMMBay?flHriiraiiUiiJi'l'illiii'1 'Hfrftrnri he :>w en i. jr iimirffTOtmrmi w s r~i< >set with A t "I've arranged to have two of - our games on regional television s with NBC, and we play Kentucky, 1 Marquette and Notre Dame this 1 j 'Coach McGuire is 1 one of the greatest t coaches in the country if not the e greatest coach, and 1 now they want to get rid of him.' j Dean Smith i ; year so I can't help but look fori ward to the season," he added. ; One colleague who has expressed concern over the McGuire 1UIREI ONG NDAY. DAY rQ A A?' ?S-?" \ < tf rty *"$' \" v*~ , <0? -vv \ *?<H?i$*'' ^-T>V c' ^ .*? *><>s^ *?$<*> ?<<?v ?< ?,>' ' ,^.<1# <P .< > \ . _ 9* ?t* vA \' Ml* Mrilm <5?%^v x# ,, : ||k (*V ^o? c,?0 Itfastglk HbhihBl ^e? V^$.t ?t ^t< * '".V a?v ^ rfj ^ff^511 BhB MB MI?J ^ ^? _'.... N 31TB JSCs tr -wee icGuire t situation is University of Nortl Carolina Head Basketball Coacl Dean Smith. Smith admitted h< was surprised at the timing of th( rumors concerning McGuire'j status at USC. "Personally, I am dumbfoundec about the situation," Smith said. "] cannnot believe that they woulc bring forth such an action when th< team is in me neari ui lis season. "COACH McGUIRE is one of the greatest coaches in the country, ii not the greatest coach, and nov they want to get rid of him. It jusi doesn't make sense," Smitl commented. Smith, who is a member of th< Board of Directors of the Nationa Coaches Association said he woulc do all he could to help McGuire "This is certainly no way to treat? man who has brought so mucl fame and recognition to Soutl D A / \ rXV X* ^c<c?*^ cjQ1 **^fv$yv **^?c <**V <>S *v?<$ $ <W v ?* *? ?V-Ji ^ N>^ * \ \r A< VX^\ K |V .V* *CV v? V\?5^^^fc?ra2:\^SiS *< <?*v JSm&^m*>>K ^0< . vc*<l<*,!'c'0*^ wo\? :V' / ^ ,t?? ,A//* / ! ? , V? ^YxfvVt <C?* ?A*Vv<1 ^ cV>i *NX.s^^ \?s*a *K \ / . ^V..^ >kV J?^ j\? ?^6o\?X* v? _,? V^\< 6 .^.l"^/ ,x? .ftX^ .<f^A \ |9k ?">v' i-o^v*" v. < v^r^V'S ? *> ,,<*>"^$<*?'-"> g:>^, ?<*vV * *V> * MHBk <tf^ .v **^ \ V*^ -?*v?^^ -*****& \ ?>* ?* vv* . *??* t * k \ VWV \ coc 3kiy newspj situation \ Carolina," Smith said. "Coach McGuire is one of the most famous coaches in the country, and I cannot understand why they would want to fire him," j smith said. ' When a university I has a famous history or English j professor, they don't fire him. , Those guys can keep their jobs for as long as they want." j Smith went on to explain that it f was McGuire who was solely / responsible for the success of t USC's basketball program. "Do i you think that players like Roche (.Tnhn^ anH Owpnu (Tnml wnnlri 3 have come to Carolina had it not 1 been for Coach McGuire?" Smith 1 questioned. "It was Coach McGuire that brought basketball a to South Carolina, and it was he i that attracted the best players i from all over the nation. V v \ \ v^\^VN\ \ "*$<>\ A JV< \ \ ?* 0^ v\* . <x0wt< -vv v\ \ > :' \ !*? ,^\ \ ,?** v vVVv \ \ " v: V ?\ \ .^n<\ \ <+J&* X \ < t?<" \ ik P^k^fzA \ tUm s wA \ pi^ xvy/lV A pfem \ vcW v,VV?v^ \<V*\ x *$*> +*\ \ tlilM^^A. v? <c * $ +*>** A ^?<v ^ *\ ^S^mSSm. ^S^. c0'^ evT''*>*',.<<<v>t>.^v!^. ^^N*'A UHk V Vco^V^VV* mB. \V^?<? * ~V\ -Br -/^AA\ \ v,,^ 0>*w K^Oar^MA ? \ "^ >.^?. ? ;*?? o\ * / ^ *5 :\ ,?<?>, ^IX =ipen