UW fans got under Bennett’s skin
PULLMAN – Dick Bennett found himself dealing with questions he didn’t expect to get about an inappropriate gesture he made during the team’s loss at Washington on Sunday, apparently in response to something said in the student section.
“I made a mistake. I just made a gesture. I apologized for it and that was it,” Bennett said Tuesday. “I didn’t think the situation was that bad. It was a little thing and I was surprised it’s gotten this much publicity or as much talk as it has. I shouldn’t have done the little thing that I did. I did apologize right after, and as far as I was concerned that was it.”
Still, the issue seemed to have raised enough red flags to warrant a statement issued by Washington State University athletics director Jim Sterk:
“Sportsmanship by fans, players and coaches is an issue administrators across the country are addressing. Coach Bennett and I talked about the incident at Washington and coach was very apologetic. He said the response was not indicative of what he stood for and hoped it would not be a poor reflection on WSU and his team. Competition is very stressful for coaches and athletes, and as administrators we address these issues often. We will continue working toward solutions that do not put coaches and players in a reactionary mode.”
Sterk went on in the statement to praise the University of Washington, which ejected one fan and warned others after the incident.
The strongest reaction from the incident came from Oregon coach Ernie Kent, who seized the opportunity to criticize Washington for putting its students directly behind the benches, as opposed to the opposite side of the court or behind a baseline.
“A big problem that’s waiting up there is the fact they have those students directly behind the benches,” Kent said, making sure to note that he was not directly criticizing the fans themselves, only their placement. “If Washington sat right in front of our Pit Crew, I think there would be fights in there.
“When that verbal stuff is right in your ear five rows behind you, that is a problem and an embarrassment to the Pac-10 Conference, I think waiting to happen. I don’t understand it … and I think the Pac-10 needs to step up and say something about it.”
For his part, Bennett said he had no problem with the fans being so close to the bench. The problem for him had more to do with his team’s lackluster play than anything specific said in the crowd.
You’re in good hands…
Ever since Bennett arrived at WSU in 2003, questions have lingered about how long the coach would stay on board. Asked if he felt good enough to continue for another season or two, Bennett spoke optimistically.
He also said his timing would have something to do with turning over the team to his son, associate head coach Tony Bennett. There is no contractual language in place that the one Bennett will replace the other, but it would register as a surprise if that didn’t happen.
“I feel good,” the current head coach said. “I would never, quite frankly, leave a program in bad shape. I’ve never done that. And I would never do that, especially if it was going to be given to my son. I’ve left programs in great shape for guys I didn’t even know, and I’m not going to walk out on a program that’s in bad shape for my own son. Not only would I lose a son, I’d lose a wife.”
Gill’s future unclear
For the first time, Bennett said he is concerned about losing senior forward Shami Gill for the season. Gill has missed the last four games with a recurring back problem, and won’t play this week for certain.
“He’s where he has been. There’s been no improvement in that back,” Bennett said. “I’m worried. Shami would play no matter what. I know that he’s in the ultimate kind of pain.”