It is rare that tutors make headlines in college athletics, but that is exactly what happened this week when Jack Halperin left the University of North Carolina after 23 years and cited his reasons in a fiery open letter to basketball coach Roy Williams.
“Roy, after 23 years as an academic tutor, and after going through thedevastating football scandal, I am resigning in protest of yourdisgraceful decision to allow P.J. Hairston to remain on the team,”Halperin’s letter, published in the Daily Tar Heel, read. “If I were arrested driving with no license,illegal drugs and a gun in a felon’s car, my employment at thisuniversity would end immediately. Hairston’s [Daily Tar Heel] headlinequote was, ‘I will play this season.’ Since when does the criminaldecide his fate?”
Hairston averaged 14.6 points per game last season, but was arrested in July for the circumstances Halperin described, as well as reckless driving. While the guard has been suspended, Williams has made it clear that there is “no question” that he will play this season.