Showing no signs of stress and seeming alert and energetic, Ricky Byrdsong said Saturday afternoon he “feels fine” and hopes “to be back very soon” coaching basketball at Northwestern.
But Byrdsong, whom the university granted a leave of absence Monday in the aftermath of his unusual behavior during last Saturday’s loss at Minnesota, doesn’t know when he will be back.
And he declined to explain why he meandered through the stands while the game was going on and why he had his assistant, Paul Swanson, doing the coaching from the bench while he played the role of an observer.
“I don’t want to talk at this particular time out of respect for the wishes of the university,” Byrdsong said. “At the appropriate time, everybody’s concerns and questions will be addressed.
“I hope to be back very soon, but, obviously, the university will be a part of that decision.”
“I have no comment,” said Northwestern’s new athletic director, Rick Taylor, when told of Byrdsong’s words. “If that’s what you say he said, then that’s what he must have said. I have no comment whatsoever.”
Faculty member Bob Duncan, who heads Northwestern’s Committee on Athletics and Recreation, said: “There’s no timetable (on the length of the leave of absence). It’ll be the decision of the university as a whole, the athletic director working with the the president of the university (Arnold Weber).
“Ricky is a great guy and the players love him. I know that from the kids I’m working with who are planning to go on to graduate school. But I can’t say when he will be back because at this time no one knows.”
Byrdsong was asked if he had the impression his actions at Minnesota had alienated him from the university hierarchy.
“Not at all,” he replied. “I really have been grateful for the way the president, the athletic department, my coaches and my players have supported me during this time.”
Answering questions, Byrdsong was calm and collected. Although asked repeatedly to go into the specifics of what prompted his actions at Minnesota and why he subsequently asked for the leave of absence, he politely kept refusing.
Byrdsong was asked if he had seen a doctor.
“No comment,” he answered.
How does he feel mentally? “I feel fine.”
How does he feel physically? “Fine, I feel good.”
Was his leave of absence drug- or alcohol-related?
“Absolutely no,” answered Byrdsong. “Anybody who knows me well can verify that neither drugs nor alcohol have ever been a problem in my life.”
Swanson, who has been serving as interim coach, said Friday he thought Byrdsong had been working out before their daily visits.
“Paul said that?” Byrdsong asked with a laugh, suggesting Swanson had told a white lie. “And you believed him?”
Byrdsong said he planned to watch Saturday night’s Illinois game on television and had listened to Wednesday’s 98-81 loss at Purdue on the radio.
“Paul is doing an excellent job,” said Byrdsong. “I couldn’t be more proud of him. Yes, we meet every day. Basically, I just give him encouragement.”
It was the first time since the night of the game in Minnesota that Byrdsong had spoken to a member of the media.
However, he visited the team Wednesday before its departure for Purdue and gave his players and coaches a vote of confidence, a pep talk that captain Kevin Rankin described as “a little bit inspirational.”
It appears that the university hierarchy is dictating if and when Byrdsong’s leave of absence ends.
The student newspaper, the Daily Northwestern, asked: “Should Ricky be removed?”
“The answer, for the future of men’s basketball, must be yes,” wrote columnist Mike Olshin. “Byrdsong’s actions were inexcusable and should not be tolerated.”
Columnist Teddy Greenstein disagreed: “Although his thinking was wrong, Byrdsong did it because he thought he was helping the program, despite how it looked on camera. . . . I believe he deserves a second chance.”
