ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 21, 1996 TAG: 9602210039
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: GREENSBORO, N.C.
SOURCE: Associated Press
NORTH CAROLINA and Clemson men's basketball coaches meet with ACC commissioner, avoid fines.
Neither Clemson coach Rick Barnes nor North Carolina coach Dean Smith will be disciplined for the latest incident in their year-old feud, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced Tuesday.
Both coaches met with ACC Commissioner Gene Corrigan at his home in Greensboro on Tuesday. Also attending the two-hour meeting were Clemson Athletic Director Bobby Robinson, North Carolina Athletic Director John Swofford and ACC coordinator of basketball officials Fred Barakat.
``I regret that our series has reached this stage,'' Smith said in a statement released through the ACC office. ``And as coaches we bear responsibility and accountability for the conduct of our programs.''
Smith said he understands Barnes' frustrations and that talking to an opposing player is not in the best interests of the game.
``It won't happen again,'' Smith said.
Talking to Clemson players is just how the feud between the two coaches began last year - and flared up again this season.
The Tar Heels complained last season that the Tigers were too physical for their taste. Then, in the first round of the 1995 ACC tournament, Smith was especially upset with Iker Iturbe over a foul on Jerry Stackhouse and called the Tiger forward's name several times.
Barnes sought out the game referees to ask Smith to refrain, and their now-famous, in-your-face confrontation ensued. The league fined the two coaches $2,500 apiece for that battle.
Most recently, Barnes was upset after Smith acknowledged talking to Clemson guard Bill Harder during their game in Clemson last week.
Smith, who accused Harder of grabbing the jerseys of North Carolina players on defense, said he spoke to Harder as the player walked within a few feet of the UNC bench after an official's whistle halted play.
``I said to Harder, `Move your feet; you're a better defensive player than that,''' Smith said after the game.
But the next day, Harder disputed Smith's account and said Smith called him, ``a dirty player.'' Smith denied saying that
``We needed to have this meeting,'' Barnes said. ``The public attention concerning Coach Smith and I is totally out of hand and is distracting from a very competitive basketball series.
``I respect Coach Smith, and it was important for me to hear what he had to say. As for my part, there will be no more public confrontations between our programs. This chapter in Clemson basketball history is closed.''
LENGTH: Medium: 55 linesby CNB