UT COACH ACCEPTED U.VA., OFFER 34 YEARS AGO ... CHANGED MIND
Talking to recently-retired Old Dominion U., basketball coach
JEFF JONES the other day prompted the memory man to
recall one of those golden days of yesteryear ...when Virginia
athletic director JIM COPELAND thought he had a
replacement for TERRY HOLLAND, who was leaving after a
long, distinguished career to become AD at his alma mater
Davidson … Among the candidates (that included William &
Mary’s BRUCE PARKILL) was RICK BARNES, then in
charge of Big East Conference Providence after building an
early reputation for excellence at George Mason … The year
was 1990, and Barnes had taken a heretofore moribund Friars’
program to consecutive NCAA tournaments. Copeland liked
what he saw, made the Hickory, N.C., native an offer, and
Barnes accepted … but, before making it official, they flew to
Rhode Island so Barnes could do the right thing and tell his
bosses what he had decided to do … then he and Copeland
would go to Storrs, Conn., so Barnes could meet incoming
U.Va., president JOHN CASTEEN, then employed by the
University of Connecticut … Copeland waited at the airport for
Barnes … and waited … and waited. Finally, Barnes called to
say he changed his mind … or rather he had it changed for him
by DAVE GAVITT, former Providence coach in his 12th (and
final) year as first Big East commissioner … who persuaded
Barnes to stay … by telling him if he left then, the program
would not recover … At least that was the story relayed to
Copeland, who wasn’t happy about it … Barnes remained
Friars’ coach four more seasons, six in all, before leaving for
Clemson (1994-98) then University of Texas (1998-2015) and
Tennessee (2015-present). He won his 800th game earlier this
season against Texas A&M … Meanwhile, it was back to the
drawing board for Copeland, who originally chose Barnes over
Stanford coach MIKE MONTGOMERY. Given another
chance to come to Hooville, Montgomery turned it down. In 32
years as a college coach at Montana (8), Stanford (18) and
California (6), he would have 31 winning seasons … Copeland
then offered the job to CLEM HASKINS, University of
Minnesota coach. He also rejected it … and remained there for
13 years until being the coach of record in a scandal involving
academic fraud that ended his coaching career … Finally,
Copeland turned to Jones, who had been on Holland’s staff for
eight years after being a four-year starter at guard during the
RALPH SAMPSON years. In eight seasons with Jones in
charge, the Cavaliers won an NIT and had four years winning
20 or more games … including 25-9 in 1994-95 when they
finished tied for first (12-4) in the ACC and reached the
NCAA’s Elite 8 … losing to eventual national champion
Michigan.
Gotta love it … when JOHN CALIPARI (Kentucky) and
WILL WADE (McNeese State) are sent home in the NCAA
tournament’s first round … Believe it or not … Calipari is
wearing out his welcome in the Blue Grass but there is no rush
to fire him. Because? His contract calls for a going-away gift of
$33.38 million … only $27M if he’s turned loose after 2024-25
… Bad officiating was on display in the Northwestern/Florida
Atlantic game … luckily, it came near the end of overtime with
the Big 10 Wildcats holding a large lead. First, a Florida
Atlantic defender wrapped his arms around the shoulders of a
Northwestern player driving the lane. No harm, no foul. The
ball went out of bounds, and the officials checked the replay …
to see who touched the ball last … Florida Atlantic’s Owls got
possession … and on the throw in, a Wildcat defender clearly
knocked the ball out of bounds … but, possibly – OK, probably
-- making up for the previous non-call, the ball went to
Northwestern, which won 77-65 … Speaking of …. ahh,
curious officiating … Auburn lost a starter with three minutes
gone to a flagrant foul2 for elbowing … then bowed to
underdog Yale. Auburn coach BRUCE PEARL was quoted
later that it was a good call but … check it out on YouTube.
Yes, he throws an elbow as they’re running down court well
behind the play. Still, he makes only incidental – if any --
contact, and the object of the shot wasn’t hurt. In fact, the trail
official might have let it go had the Yale player not suddenly
acted like he was injured, then pointed to the aggressor. Looks
like a bad foul? Yes. Worthy of being ejected? Not hardly ...We
put Duke in our Final Four only because we refused to go with
higher seeds like Houston and Marquette because of our lack of
respect for their coaches … Therefore, you can imagine our
surprise when the Blue Devils showed up in a large number of
F4 selections. Some even nominated Duke to win it all … The
rest of our F4 … Iowa State, North Carolina and Gonzaga …
with UNC beating Zags for the championship.
Another entry in the world (of sports) has gone mad … was
provided last week by KAYDIN PROCTOR, an offensive
tackle who left Alabama for Iowa then, after a few months,
rejoined the transfer portal … with the intention of returning to
Tuscaloosa ...To repeat: college athletics have become more
professional than the NFL and NBA. Everyone is a free agent
… and there is no salary cap … Former Notre Dame QB
DREW PYNE left for Arizona State, started two games (273
yards passing, two touchdowns, three interceptions, 0-2), then
announced he would return to South bend, not to play football
but obtain a degree and get on with his life … only to sign with
Missouri … which has a multi-year starter returning. That’s
OK, Pyne said, he’ll still have two years eligibility remaining.
Finally … a pro football item:
New Orleans Saints signed free agent CHASE YOUNG to a
one-year, $13 million contract … knowing the former Ohio
State/Washington Commanders/San Francisco 49ers defensive
end … sorry, edge rusher … was damaged goods. He’ll
undergo a neck procedure that is expected to keep him sidelined
until late summer … Injuries … as well as an attitude problem
… kept Young from living up to a strong rookie campaign in
D.C., and coach RON RIVERA (since fired) gave him to the
Super Bowl-bound 49ers Oct. 31 for a third-round draft choice.
Until next time …
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