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Bennett leaving WSU for Virginia

Posted by Vince

March 30, 2009 3:08 p.m. • 129 comments

COUGARS • UPDATED: 10:20 P.M.

Just finished talking with some of the players and it’s true. Tony Bennett is leaving Washington State University to become the head basketball coach at the University of Virginia. The players are shocked, the administration is shocked, the assistant coaches are shocked. We will have more soon. You can read the news here. UPDATE: We have updated our story with the latest version all night (you can find it on the link above). We’ll have more on Bennett’s decision and the search for his replacement in the morning. Until then …

129 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

dgibbons on March 30 at 3:10 p.m.
This doesn’t seem like a good move for Bennett. When do we hear why?
mscoug on March 30 at 3:20 p.m.
Terrible move. I do not get it. LSU or Marquette would’ve made more sense after last year.
bson25 on March 30 at 3:25 p.m.
Really, really bad move for Tony. Not getting a very positive welcome from most Virginia fans. He is jumping into the top league in college basketball on a year by year basis, that is only getting better. If Virginia struggles, which is more than likely, they will be calling for Tony’s head.
Nuss on March 30 at 3:28 p.m.
Who cares what kind of a move it is for Tony? He screwed us, and you’re worried about whether it’s good for him?

Screw him, and screw every lie he told us about Pullman being special and a place where he wanted SEVEN YEARS to build a program that could be competitive year in and year out.

I’m worried about what this says about us — namely, if we can ever, EVER, keep a coach we want to keep. We paid him more money than any coach in our history, and we still can’t keep him.
Leo_Z on March 30 at 3:33 p.m.
How’s he gonna raise his kids here if he’s in Virginia?
Rambler on March 30 at 3:35 p.m.
There has got to be more to this story. Now, he will always be known as a guy looking. Who wants that. How can the people of Virginia have much faith in what he says about commitment.

I believed him - his idea of commitment and wanting to do things the right way and build a program (not jump ship after a couple of years). He is a great person and a fine family man.

That being said, this year was not a coaching clinic by any stretch in terms of game planning and adjustments.

I hope the initial reports of Bone from PSU taking over are true.

Best of Luck Coach Bennett and thanks for run. Go Cougs.
Bretterson on March 30 at 3:38 p.m.
Nice move, Tony. Leverage other offers to get a raise and extension last year, then bolt after taking our cash. Great display of class after all the talk about having high character and morals.

Can’t wait to see who Sterk pulls out of the woodwork to replace Bennett. Maybe there’s a Division II coach available to make Wulff not feel so alone about being totally over his head in the Pac-10.
Jon on March 30 at 3:41 p.m.
What in the name of Mike Price is going on? Stay away from the strip clubs, Tony.

Can we lure Dick Bennett out of retirement, again?
avboden on March 30 at 3:43 p.m.
lived off his dad’s team, promised 7 years, promised recruit’s mothers that he would stay. Now he leaves for

wait

Virginia?!?!

screw you coach TB, i have no respect for you after a move like this.

BTW this is a final four team in a few years, but you won’t be here to see it
ECoug01 on March 30 at 3:44 p.m.
Tony has A-rodded us..

I am so pissed. Don’t tell us how much you love pullman, want to build a program, raise kids and have no desire to leave, sign an extension for 1 million bucks in pullman (which is equivalent to 2 mill in seattle at least) and then drop us a year later. If you are going to hit the road do it last year when I was prepared you would probably use WSU as a stepping stone to bigger schools. No more WSU legend in the works, no more hall of fame.

Someone tell him to call Mike Price! I know what his advice will be. Thats why guys like price and walden are true cougs..

Virgina? I could understand for a big time school but come on.

He will be killed in the ACC.

I will say thank you for the great job with the program. Won’t take that away from you but will not love you like we could have.
rufus on March 30 at 3:47 p.m.
we could well lose some of the freshman players - with this move … the team is young w/ his players - who he left behind.
notthefacts on March 30 at 3:50 p.m.
He left WSU for WSU of the ACC. More money and higher expectations there. It won’t be easy and I bet it is a luke warm reception this news is getting back there. I mean they were 4-12 in league. Check out these names: North Carolina, Duke, Wake Forest, Maryland, Florida St, Boston College, Clemson, Virginia Tech, NC Sate, Miami, & Georgia Tech. That’s not the Pac-10 he is lining up against. Plus the sheer amount of other schools in that area you are recruiting against: Georgetown, West Virginia, VCU, George Mason, the mid majors and Big East teams. Weird move to me. The fact that his coaches and the admin supposedly didn’t know is bush league if true. Now the big questions? Who get’s the job and when do we expect the home and home with the Cavaliers?

Coaches:
Sanchez-current WSU Asst.?
Giacoletti-GU asst. former EWU Head Coach?
Leon Rice-GU Asst.?
Paul Graham-ex Cougar coach (j/k)
Ken Bone- Portland State Head Coach?
Dan Monson-former GU and current Long Beach St. coach?
Dan on March 30 at 3:52 p.m.
What was all that talk about being so grateful to WSU about taking a chance on him as head coach? I thought Tony had integrity, guess I was wrong. I figured he would eventually leave, like when the freshmen class graduated and I was fine with that. But this, this is betrayal. Way to use WSU as a stepping stone. I hope he loses every game at Virginia and realizes how good he had it at WSU. Oh, and take those empty words of character and integrity with you. Way to ride on the coatails of your father.
mgcoug2 on March 30 at 4:01 p.m.
My concern isn’t that he left but that Sterk will go cheap and the program will flounder like it did after Sampson left. Hopefully we can hire a very good coach and not one of the assistants on the staff, who I like as assistants but do not think they are Pac10 ready Head Coaches. Any thoughts on a list Vince, all I hear is ex-Husky assistant Bone
Beiron on March 30 at 4:01 p.m.
Wow I’m really surprised. Seems like his stock would have been higher last year or 2 years from now. At this particular time in a year when expectations were basically met but not exceeded it seems like a really weird to leave if it is just money. I think this year made last years half time adjustments look like a fluke. I was really disappointed this year with the adjustments.
D on March 30 at 4:05 p.m.
Bye Tony. Bring on the new Coach!! Please Not Munson I have seen him speak as a guest speaker at two different occassions and both times he absolutely dogged the Cougs. The last time he was just leaving Gonzaga and still was classless in speaking about our Cougs. We need to show him we never forget. Go Cougs!
ricechex on March 30 at 4:07 p.m.
I know it’s a coincidence that this news came out on the same day the State Senate reveals their budget, but I can’t but wonder if there’s a correlation. Everyone knew higher ed was going to take a big hit, and the Senate ticketed WSU for a %17 cut. You have to wonder if TB figured he wouldn’t get all the upgrades and budget increases he wanted. Not excusing it, but could’ve entered his mind.
will90 on March 30 at 4:08 p.m.
Sampson is available.
notthefacts on March 30 at 4:09 p.m.
Tony’s 5 Pillar’s:

Humility- prove it. Hold a press conference at WSU and take ?’s.
Passion- what Cougar fans HAD for you.
Servanthood- explain how you put yourself above your players.
Thankfulness- explain rhetoric about WSU giving you a chance.
Unity- short for singular unit; the one finger you just gave WSU.
ECoug01 on March 30 at 4:13 p.m.
I want to take one of Tonys assitants. He knows the Bennett system and has seen it work in the pac 10.

They know the recruits and current players and would give them some reason to stay. It wouldn’t be a completely different guy coming in. I don’t want some coach with a run and gun UNC philosophy we saw how that worked with Graham. We can’t compete that way.

Plus taking an assitant that has been with tony and his dad would be fun. Make Tony break in a new one.
Bretterson on March 30 at 4:14 p.m.
Out of curiosity, I did a search based on ricechex’s theory, and it looks like all public universities in Virginia will have a 15% budget cut for 2009-2010. Wonder what that means salary-wise for Bennett.
ECoug01 on March 30 at 4:17 p.m.
not the facts… Very nice.
MVTravis on March 30 at 4:17 p.m.
“My family loves the community. Why do you have to move on?”. “I’m where I’m supposed to be. I love being a Coug. And hopefully we’ll keep things going in the right direction.” -Tony Bennett

Quoted about 1 year ago. And here I thought Tony was actually different than others in sports out there, that he would mean what he says, instead of creeping out the door once a ‘greener side’ was found.

The quote from Capers makes me sick. He had to recruit those kids and their parents with the idea that he would be here. Thanks Tony Bennett for the blow to the gut and bringing me back to sports reality where all that really matters is the might dollar. I guess its my fault thinking you might actually be different.
Bretterson on March 30 at 4:19 p.m.
Sterk mentioned Tony’s “integrity, experience, and values” in his statement. We’re really still giving him credit for that? Really?
RobE on March 30 at 4:23 p.m.
OK, enough! Tony did an excellent job for us, now let’s quit dragging him through the mud like he used us. In all honesty, we got a bonus season out of him and got buy out money from it, that we wouldn’t have gotten when he easily could have gone after last year.

I’m surprised he picked this job. I think last year’s offers, and even the potential of a Kentucky, Arizona, Memphis, etc., would have made better sense than Virginia.

I’m not mad, and I don’t think less of him, but Capers comments really remind you that in the end, this is a business and it’s a business to everyone.

Now, let’s move forward…Can Oregon fire Ernie Kent already so we can hire him, or better yet, could Elson call the guy he got hired at Mizzou and bring him farther west?

Go Cougs!
RobH on March 30 at 4:24 p.m.
Has anyone ever left a job for more money? Has anyone ever left a job for a ton of more money? If you haven’t, I understand your confusion on this.

In addition to the money, think about the half full arena one year after a sweet sixteen appearance.

WSU’s fans need to step up, or this cycle will continue. Without the fans, you have a smaller budget, and this will continue.
Bretterson on March 30 at 4:24 p.m.
Flightaware.com shows a chartered Cessna Citation jet scheduled to leave Pullman/Moscow for Charlottesville, VA at 6:00pm this evening. Just a heads-up if anyone wants to go show Tony a hard time…
ECoug01 on March 30 at 4:33 p.m.
Just say NO NO and NO to ernie kent.

Tony didnt use us? I don’t mind if you want to move on and use this job as a career builder but as many others have quoted don’t make statements about your love for pullman and being where you want to be and building a program, etc.. Just say “i am still the coach of the cougs and have signed an extentsion.” Don’t fill us with love and hope to spit in our faces a year later.. To that i say screw you tony.
AG on March 30 at 4:40 p.m.
mscoug, you didn’t believe me last year, but Tony would have taken the LSU job if they had offered it to him. They didn’t. He wanted the Georgia job, but they didn’t offer it to him. My question is what happened to the recruiting? With a couple runs to the NCAA tourney, they should have had better players. He’s not that great if he can’t recruit.
Beiron on March 30 at 4:42 p.m.
28 comments in 1:30 has to be some kind of record. Still seems strange to give up the next 2 years to go back in time 4 years. 2 years from now he could have moved to a school that was stacked with talent for probably a larger pay raise than needing to beg supporters for 3 years to turn a program around.
Honestly, though at 1,000,000 per year if I could figure out a way to keep my job for 4-5 years I could probably survive from then on even if I never worked again. He’s probably just shortening that time to 2-3 years. I still suspect that he could have gotten more money last year but we will know soon.
Beiron on March 30 at 4:46 p.m.
Great points AG. Just because someones name is mentioned as a candidate that doesn’t mean its not just a feeler to see how the alumni with money will react. Many of the schools that mentioned his name have such a different basketball philosophy that the alumni may have rejected him.

Especially, places where they want to see 100+ point games and their alumni would almost certainly not appreciate a team that puts defense first. (Especially think Oregon and Arizona from PAC-10)
will90 on March 30 at 5:20 p.m.
People need to stop blaming fans or lack thereof for Tony’s departure. It is extemely difficult to fill Beasely in Pullman. It’s a 12,000 seat arena in the middle of the Palouse. It’s simple: There just aren’t enough people who live in the Palouse region. You can’t rely on Spokane fans to fill that place on weeknights. It’s not very convenient to drive 75 miles in the dead of winter when you have to work the next day or have kids. I can commit to a few games a year but there is no way I can be at every game. Heck, I’m not even sure GU could fill a 12,000 seat arena. Are there enough people in Spokane who would willingly pay money to watch WCC basketball? Maybe 8,000, but I doubt GU could draw 12,000 for every home game while playing in that joke of a league.

Two options with Pac-10 experience: Steve Lavin & Todd Bozeman.
coreyb on March 30 at 5:31 p.m.
How about all the students that bought the Tony Stayed tied to WSU t-shirts write liar on them and dump them in his yard. He needs something to pack up all his stuff with.
TommyCoug on March 30 at 5:36 p.m.
As I said on the other blog…”I feel like a used up druged up whore!”

There is nothing we can do about it…we all have been lied and sold a bill of BS again! And it may be what will always happen at Wazzu. We just don’t have a legacy of continuing outstanding college sports teams year in and year out.

Now, that being said…to those that think we should shut up…the least we get to do is express our displeasure…and that is OK and what we are doing. I would suggest in a fairly positive and plentiful way. That’s good for the individual and all of us to know that the feelings are pretty much in concert with one another. Still, after it is all said and done…again, there’s nothing that can be done about it!

However, if there is a jet at Moscow/Pullman International awaiting Tony B…and even if there isn’t…this item with the University of Virginia didn’t just happen over the weekend or on a phone call. This situation has to have been in the works for a long…long time…don’t let anyone kid you that it was spure of the moment…a complete surprise!

If you have watched this guys (Tony Bennett) “controlled” offense and defense on the court…and I know that most of you have…Tony B. calculates, controls and doesn’t deviate from what he knows, he is analytical and follows his plan…therefore, he was very “inspective” of this or any other job he would have considered.

We don’t have the facts…but, I am willing to bet that those are the facts. If Tony Bennett says otherwise…I suggest that he lied to us again!!

It isn’t so much what he did…it’s the way he did it to us!!

Still…thankyou and your dad for what you did do for Cougar basketball…wish you were still at WSU…good luck at Virginia.

So, when this is all aired and over and done with and we have all had our say…let’s move on.

GO COUGS…
Jobu on March 30 at 6:00 p.m.
It’s very bad to steal Jobu’s rum. Very bad.
Grady on March 30 at 6:06 p.m.
What’s tragic is that in four years when Tony is fired at UVA for not living up to expectations, both him and WSU will have lost out.

Ridiculous.
Xcaptain on March 30 at 6:16 p.m.
Thank you Bennett’s for bringing dignity and respectability back to Cougar basketball. Hopefully when the dust settles, you’ll be remembered and appreciated for what you’ve all done for us fans. It’s been a great ride (even if it’s been just 3 years). Let’s be honest Coug fans… we all knew this was coming. I heard through the grape vine a while ago that when he took this job, his dad promised Sterk that Tony would guarantee 3 years. When he didn’t bail for Marquette (the perfect set up for his dream job in Madison) last year, I figured this would be it. I’m surprised at the job he took, but hey… it’s their life. Let’s face it, TB is a young guy, a hot coaching prospect, with ZERO ties to the region or school. He honored his commitment and best of luck to him, his wife, and their kids.
You should think of Tony as that hot girl in high school that broke up with you for a college guy. Instead of creepily wishing she’d get an STD from him, just remember how cool you felt at the prom. He’s moved on and so must we. Personally, I like Ben Johnson if he doesn’t follow Tony. He’s been in the system since Dick joined, he knows the kids, he’s the most defense-minded of the assistants, and has an eye for recruiting (going to Queensland to pluck a kid named Baynes).
Edog on March 30 at 6:24 p.m.
Exactly Grady. He walked away from a lot of money and job security for as long as he wanted to stay. Its really disappointing, and not just as a fan of the cougs, but as a fan of sports. You believe in the “good guys’ who seem not to have stars in their eyes. I thought Tony was one. He made promises to a lot of kids and families that he would stay and they made huge life decisions to spend 4 or 5 years learning from a particular person based on thos promises. It happens everywhere I guess. But It definitely makes you lose faith in coaches and their promises. I know he had an opportunity to make more money, but it was at the expense of his word meaning anything. And its not like he wasn’t set for a good long while with what he was already making. Sign of the times I guess. Damn…
kaddy on March 30 at 6:27 p.m.
It’s natural to feel disappointment, betrayal, outrage - but please tell me that no one showed up to the airport with the intention to give Tony a “piece of their mind.” We show our true character in times like this…so let’s stay classy, Cougs.
Bretterson on March 30 at 6:31 p.m.
CaptainX says “he honored his commitment.” Except for the whole contract thing, yep, he sure did.
Edog on March 30 at 6:47 p.m.
How about Woodley?
MikeSequim on March 30 at 6:54 p.m.
Let’s move on. He’s gone! How about the new candidates? Randy Bennett, Ray Giacoletti, Ken Bone, Cameron Dollar maybe Bill Grier? I don’t know, but I’d rather look forward. What’s done is done.

Hang in there Coug’s

Mike, Sequim
AG on March 30 at 7:07 p.m.
If it was about the money, he would have taken the Marquette job last year, which he turned down even though they offered him a ridiculous $3 mill/yr. I just think he sees WSU as a dead end. Just look at the ACC and Big East and compare it to the Pac-10. The caliber of players alone. If he wants to ever get to the final four, it wouldn’t be through WSU.
92WAZZUGRAD on March 30 at 7:09 p.m.
I’m not high on the idea of replacing Tony with one of his assistants. They can be good coaches but they don’t have a “name”. I think it is important to have a “name” to recruit here to Wazzu. Bobby Knight may be a jerk, but he has name recognition. Anyone else out there that is a well-respected, well-known name in bball?
will90 on March 30 at 7:23 p.m.
Yeah, Steve Lavin. Cameron Dollar???? Yikes.
blotto on March 30 at 7:44 p.m.
The investment father made for the son,son’s comments after last season–—there’s more to it than $$$.
hoopslover on March 30 at 8:09 p.m.
You cougar fans are bunch of unrealistic babies. You all act like Pullman is this wonderful place to live and recruit to. Tony has an opportunity for financial security for his family, if you wouldn’t take a job for that, then you have your priorities out of whack. Loyalty doesn’t exist in the world of college athletics. If Casto was told he is a lottery pick, he’d be gone, so you can’t trust 19 year old selfish kids. You coug fans would have dumped him if they went 10-19 next year so quit acting like he’d be taken care of forever(only as long as forever includes top half of the league). Face facts. Pullman is one of the hardest places to recruit in an avg. conference and if you understand coaching it is 90% talent. He is headed to a school with loads of talent in close proximity, more resources, and in a much better basketball league. It will take time but he will recruit the kids it takes. You should be thanking him for bringing cougar basketball back from the dead. You can call it his dad’s team but everyone knows who built it. Good luck Tony. Someday the cougar faithful will appreciate you and realize they are a stepping stone job.
Bretterson on March 30 at 8:13 p.m.
“You all act like Pullman is this wonderful place to live and recruit to.”

No, Coug fans don’t say that kind of thing. But Tony did.
Nuss on March 30 at 8:15 p.m.
So, $1 million a year isn’t enough job security for a guy? Because that’s what he had in Pullman, you moron. Get some facts before you come in here and shoot your mouth off.
Edog on March 30 at 8:51 p.m.
Pullman is a great place to live hoopslover. Especially when you make a millions dollars a year. making a million bucks a year in Pullman is like making 8 mil in LA. And he had job security that he wont even come close to at Virginia. If its about the future for his family its a bonehead move. Something else is happening.
Hoopster on March 30 at 9:17 p.m.
Dude! I am dissappointed that Tony is leaving but lets be real.With all the budget cuts the administration were imposing who would want to stay there. No charters, no Final Four. I know the budget is tight at Wazzu but they will never be a big time program doing that crap. It’s tough enough as it is to be successful at Pullman. With all budget cuts I think Tony just realized that he will never be able to have the kind of program or success he wants to have. I love Wazzu but they will never have long term success in the big sports (football & basketball).
avboden on March 30 at 9:34 p.m.
Hoopster you’re an idiot

2-3 years

Xavier Thames, Klay Thompson, Marcus Capers, Brock Motim, Deangelo Casto

THAT is a final four team if i’ve ever heard of one
coug79 on March 30 at 9:54 p.m.
A very sad day. Remember George Raveling at the Pac-10 tourney this year saying the coaching days he looks back on with the best memories was when he was in Pullman? Low expectations, a grateful enthusiastic fan base in a pretty low stress environment.

Here’s my off the wall theory: A year ago TB was the hottest coaching prospect in the country. One mediocre year this season, and suddenly nobody calls anymore. How many interview calls would he have received next year after a 9th place Pac-10 finish in a major re-building year? ZERO! I’m thinking he looked at the tea leaves and decided he wouldn’t risk becoming Mr. Irrelevant and decided to grab the cash while he still had some bargaining power. Otherwise it was going to be a two, probably three year wait to get a team back to the top of the Pac10. This was a purely a defensive move by a man protecting his future value by grabbing the cash now. We’ll just all have to wait and see if it turns out to be dopiest move in coaching since, ah, Mike Price. (Note to TB—learn from Mike, sign the contract before you start your first day)

Yes, I feel betrayed. But, that’s life in the big city I guess. Think UCLA is tough at home? Good luck with Duke.

Thanks for the ride, Tony.
Ned on March 30 at 10:02 p.m.
Wow, there’s some real bitterness out there! Come on Coug fans, get real. You can’t be so surprised he’s gone. Hoopster is right, WSU can never have long term success in big sports unless you get a one in a million person like Few to stick around a place like Pullman for a decade. Sorry to those who thought Tony was one in a million because he sweet talked Pullman - but what do you expect, that’s what coaches do! What is he supposed to say? Pullman is OK, I’m just biding my time.

Avboden, I’m glad your a big time fan, but you can’t seriously think that team you just listed is a Final Four team. Final Four teams have multiple NBA players and although that may be the best two recruiting classes Cougar B-ball has ever seen, it is not Final Four material.

Thanks for the good years in Pullman Tony and good luck at UVA. No need to wish ill on a coach that brought us some of the most exciting Cougar basketball we’ve seen in a long time and may not see again in a long time.
Beiron on March 30 at 10:53 p.m.
Sweet move. Collect $100,000 and then 15 days later quit leaving a team with 1 senior behind. Good luck cleaning up the mess to the next person.
Leo_Z on March 31 at 1:44 a.m.
Great thumbs up to the crowd Tony. You make me sick. Did you think they were wishing you good luck or something? I should’ve gone down with a big sign.

I bet Klay leaves and everybody else stays. Not looking forward to next basketball season quite as much anymore.

And yeah, to all you people who say be happy for what was — you are not true fans, or you would feel it in your gut too. I wouldn’t have held it against him last year, but this was wrong. The time while he was here was fun, but it was only the beginning, nothing was proven yet.

I hope TB (doesn’t that mean tuberculosis?) enjoys coaching for peanuts at some Conference USA team in a couple years. The record posted at WSU would put him in the hot seat at UVA, and that’s going to be hard to achieve without Daddy doing the hard part for him.

We seriously need to start a Palouse-Stone-Steppers Hall-of-Fame down here. Just therapy for this inferiority-complex we’re all experiencing once again.
Leo_Z on March 31 at 1:54 a.m.
Oh yeah — he prayed to God about this?!

We cannot blame this man, he is only following God’s bidding all the way to the bank.

Thank you Tony for giving me a way to laugh about this and improve the mood this news put me in.
jonses1 on March 31 at 8:32 a.m.
I’d like to invite Mike, Sequim and the other gutless wonders from GU to stay out of this forum. Instead try to figure out how to play 12 and 13 seeds from 3 time zones away every year and call yourself a ‘top 5% program’ That would be time much better spent.
MikeSequim on March 31 at 9:29 a.m.
Tony B. is a very good Coach and I wish him success. Obviously, to him or any other coach in D-1 hoops, it doesn’t matter what anybody here thinks on this blog. Most of you understand the politics of D-1 Coaching. There are certainly still some children opinionating and thats OK. Most of us Adults hope for their growth into society and their learning curve short.

Some of you are acting like it affects your lives and evidently must be “Staff” blogging under secrecy here! It’s a Coaching move for crying out loud, grow up and move on. I for one could care less about the ignorance of some here and am looking forward to Vince or whomever providing new information about where the Cougs go from here. Put down the mouse, go outside and SCREAM. Now, start talking positive again and support who we get. This School, Team and new Coach will be looking forward to great knowledgeable Coug fans doing what they can to help the growth in the program that the Bennett’s brought here. Sorry,Jim B, i’ll be here!

Mike, Sequim
Leo_Z on March 31 at 10:43 a.m.
What’s funny about you, Mike, is you threw a huge fit when Wulff had his EWU problem. Wulff was being open and honest and you kept crying on here like a child. Now a different coach shows he lacks integrity by going against his word and you tell us we are children for being offended by him. Is this opposite day?

Yes, you have a right to be here, but nobody is fooled by your antics. You are not a Cougar fan just because you say “Go Cougs.”
MikeSequim on March 31 at 12:52 p.m.
Leo_Z,

Wulff violated NCAA rules! Just what NCAA rules did Coach B. break? If your so ignorant about the difference, so be it. Quit acting like a “Groupie” and grow up. Being a Coug fan doesn’t mean walking in Lock-Step with some immature “Yuttes” every time “Their feelings are hurt”.

By the way Mr. Coug no it all, could you please explain to those of us OLDER COUG FANS exactly what it means in your humble opinion, how we should act? I’m waiting with bated breath for my marching orders to go to Virginia and Egg Coach B’s house.

There are some very good posters on this blog that might be able to help you out. I’m not one of them. I am a Coug Fan though.

Go Cougs!

Mike, Sequim
Hoopster on March 31 at 1:18 p.m.
Avboden…….those youngsters at Wazzu have shown tremendous promise but to think they are going to be in the Final Four may be a stretch. One of your boys that you mentioned may not even be there in a few weeks. Depending on who they bring in Thompson may leave! And he may not be the only one. Like I said before; Wazzu will never be a consistant big time player in the Pac-10 or nationally. Wazzu is a stepping stone job period!
OlyCoug on March 31 at 2:41 p.m.
Lame. Lame. Lame.

All this B.S. about “making a secure future for his family” is…well…B.S. Only an idiot can’t make a secure future with $600-$700K, or whatever his salary ended up being in Pullman.

And as far as Pullman being a good place or not—well, you lifelong city slickers might not be able to understand this, but Pullman is an ideal place to grow up. I lived there from ages eight to 20. I’ve seen Small University Town and Big City and Pullman kicks Big City’s ass. You want traffic, pollution and neighbors you never speak to…go live in Big City.

Bennett is invoking a firestorm of criticism already because he looks like the second coming of Dennis Erickson: he said all the right things and then he bailed. If he could, I’m sure he would’ve left a letter at Sterk’s door and just left town in the night.

Like I said: LAME.

His commitment to Pullman was always iffy. Long time fans knew this, despite his high minded proclamations about loyalty, character and blah-blah-blah. But the players he left behind…I feel really bad for them. The kind of lesson it teaches them—many probably from tough family situations already—is that you can’t trust anyone.

If Tony wanted a real challenge, he should’ve stayed in Pullman. That’s where it’s tough to build a successful sports program. So don’t B.S. us about “he needed a challenge.” And if you argue that it was too hard for him here, then he’s just wimped out big time.

Either way, Bennett just proved he’s little different from any other coach who’s bolted when the going got tough.

I, too, cannot help but hope he ends up like George Raveling, who is on record as saying he regretted ever leaving WSU. Bennett won’t realize what he just left behind, in terms of community and player appreciation, until it’s too late. But, apparently, that wasn’t very important to him.

Good luck, Tony. You’ll need it. Or has God got you covered there, too?
jonses1 on March 31 at 3:19 p.m.
Wow, the gu jock-sniffing Mike Squim calling someone a “groupie” ??
Pot calling kettle?! If your god, that wierdo Few had any leadership or guts at all he’d put that absurd winning percentage to the test and get into the big leagues instead of cowering behind reasons not to move on that other coaches routinely overcome.
Again, no need for you to post here, that GU message board has other sad little fellas like yourself that were certain that UNC was going down last Friday and had no idea what to say at halftime other than ‘uhh, where’s lyola when we need them?’. Guess playing in a pathetic at absolute best conference (two of the worst five teams in ALL of D-1 in the WCC) combined with eeking out wins vs. two patsys on a home court just wasnt enough to get the fellas ready was it? Not exactly.
aaront on March 31 at 7:17 p.m.
Wait, Jim B, let me get this straight: Mark Few is a coward for staying put—at a program to which he has repeatedly expressed devotion—and not “moving on” to “the big leagues”? But you’d hang Tony B. in effigy for the same thing?

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.