WSU jilted again

So Vince Grippi and John Blanchette think that Tony Bennett has been good for Wazzu and this is a great opportunity for him. How sweet.

Horsefeathers!

The Cougs have been jilted again, but at least Kelvin Sampson shopped at Dissmore’s for seven years. Opportunity is a coach’s lifeline. It’s how they’re wired, and Cougar Nation fully understands that good today in Pullman can be gone tomorrow somewhere else.

Google Charlottesville and see one reason why Tony’s probably saying “hasta la vista.” A quaint and picturesque burb of 40,000 painted into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Charlottesville and UVA ooze history, literature and culture. It’s the home of John Grisham, Edgar Allan Poe, William Faulkner and other literaries, for crying out loud. Pullman doesn’t have a prayer in that competition.

But my problem here is not with geography, it’s with the human. All Tony’s done since he arrived with dad is to jump on a hungry horse that Dick carefully fed and nurtured to maturity, and then ride it straight into the NCAA tourney.

Yes, the horse needed some direction, but it was definitely ready. It then was mostly put out to pasture last year via graduation, and with it went the hope for repeated NCAA success. The Cougs sputtered, but somehow still got an undeserving NIT bid that got them one game.

So did Tony succeed in Pullman? Did we just lose a great coach? Who knows? His cold and turbulent method of departure certainly needs improvement. Could he possibly be only a wizard hiding behind the curtain?

Jeff Clausen

Spokane Valley