Emotional Ray Tanner talks candidly about his final meeting with Will Muschamp as South Carolina’s coach
By Keith Farner
Published:
As a former coach himself, South Carolina Athletics Director Ray Tanner has a clear understanding of the dynamics around job security. Add in his personal relationship with former South Carolina coach Will Muschamp, and it made for a difficult evening.
Tanner said at a Monday morning press conference that it was just after 6 p.m. on Sunday that he shared the news with Muschamp that he would no longer lead the football program.
Tanner said the decision ultimately came down to wins and losses and not the culture in the program or Muschamp’s character. Tanner said along with the the evening conversation, he and Muschamp also exchanged texts later Sunday night.
Tanner opened his comments on Monday morning and thanked Muschamp for his contributions to the program. Tanner also praised the culture Muschamp developed.
“The next head coach will certainly a good situation as far as that’s concerned,” Tanner said. “Over the years I developed a great relationship personally with Coach Muschamp even more difficult. … As difficult as the conversation was the class and dignity that he stands for was on display. I’m grateful for that.”
“It wasn’t an easy conversation, you always hear, life is personal, it is,” Tanner said as he became emotional. “Despite the circumstances you have to deal with the position that you’re in. It was very honest and candid between us, it’s about more than football. When you get down to it, the decision was made because of wins. It wasn’t because of his character or the culture, it was about the bottom line and that makes it hard, makes it very, very difficult. We had a great conversation. I can only imagine how he might have been feeling, but I know what he said and we embraced at the end of the conversation, he wished me well, I wished him well, he said I’ll be here for you. … It’s a great relationship, it’s a very healthy relationship, I wish the circumstances were different, but we’re both grown men and we have to deal with the reality that we’re in.”
Tanner said he and Muschamp and President Bob Caslen joined them in a meeting with the players.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
