More details leaking out
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 30, 2009 7:56 PM PDT
in Cougar Basketball
55 comments
UPDATED 3/31, 8:46 A.M.
Grippi has updated his story at the S-R with these details -- and they are rich:
Though Bennett wassituation told The Spokesman-Review that recent WSU budget cuts played a part in his decision.The school had decided to forgo charter flights for the basketball team next season, had raised a red flag concerning the cost of phone bills and had eliminated a planned trip to the Final Four for Bennett and his staff.
Bennett offered late in the season to rework his contract, which called for a salary of more that $1 million this season, including bonuses, and was just paid a $100,000 retention bonus on March 15.
Bennett’s n’t talking, respecting UVA’s wishes, sources close to the contract calls for a $400,000 buyout to Washington State if he left prior to April 30, 2009.
And it gets better:
Virginia asked for permission to speak with Bennett last Friday, according to Sterk.
But, according to a WSU source, Bennett visited the Virginia campus early last week and toured the facilities.Back in Pullman in mid-week, he told a reporter he had spent the time out of town recruiting before talking about next season.“It’s (going to be) the school of hard knocks,” he said then of a team that will have just one returning senior. “You’re going to be thrown in the fire and you’re not going to have the upperclassmen bail you out so to speak. …
“It really will be a year, (where you ask) will they be able to hang together and hang tough?”
Way to go, coach -- way to show those impressionable young men that when the going gets tough, the tough get going ... right out of town. I guess they will have no choice but to hang together and hang tough, while you are enjoying your new digs.
I've now lost just about every ounce of respect I had for the man. I honestly never, ever thought I'd be able to say that. This is a sad, sad day for me.
EDIT, 3/31 8:46 A.M.: Grippi has retracted the report that Bennett was in Virginia last week. My comment of losing respect for Bennett was based largely off of that, so I'll have to ask for Tony's forgiveness on that one. Normally, Vince doesn't go public with something until he's absolutely positive it's true, so I went with it as well. You can read his full explanation about what happened here.
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Interesting stuff
class act for taking the retention bonus and bolting, but my question is, when it says Bennett offered to rework his deal, was this for more money or to save the school money. That is unclear.
by peaty411s on Mar 30, 2009 8:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
With the word "offer" it appears he would have been doing something ordinarily not of his own will...
Therefore, he may have agreed to lower some of his incentives…
by cfred on Mar 30, 2009 8:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or possibly backload the contract a bit to free up some money in the short term
With the expectation that things will be better financially in a year or two
http://www.spartyandfriends.com/
by thecassino on Mar 30, 2009 8:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can't wait for his Press Conference on Wednesday
Just to see what kind of BS he dishes out. I bet the phrases “Toughest decision of my life” and “Pullman is a great city” are used at least once. I’m really starting to hate Tony more and more every story I read. I would stop reading stories, but I kind of want to hate him, in some sick and twisted (Read: Totally Justified) way.
by GoCougs on Mar 30, 2009 8:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
It's like a car wreck
Maybe he will change his mind … that’s what I keep thinking. I’m stupid though.
by HitKing69 on Mar 30, 2009 8:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Let's hope he doesn't sign anything until tomorrow
I just don’t understand when Tony got beat with the stupid stick.
Maybe he’s missing his NBA days in Charlotte… maybe he’s sick of this God awful winter in Pullman…
Maybe, most likely, he is in the world of coaching where reality takes a back seat to money and facilities.
by Grady. on Mar 30, 2009 8:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Budget concers are complete b.s.
Virginia universities were bracing for a 15% budget cut across the board, prior to the federal stimulus.
But even then, budget concerns have to be just as much an issue there as they are here.
The stimulus gives UVA $10 million which should be used for restoring classes, staff, etc. But who knows – maybe it freed up some money for them to get a coach their fans don’t even want.
by Grady. on Mar 30, 2009 8:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
your blog asks to be nice and civil, so I will abide by your rules out of respect. Having attended college 45 minutes from Charlottesville and lived in Raleigh for several years, as well as traveling for business to Pullman for the past 3 years, I can tell you that the Cougs cannot come close to offering the perks of coaching in the ACC, whether it is the caliber of players, competitive fire of the fan base or overall ability to grow a program. Cav fans are notoriously apathetic and I will not get into a pissing match over that, but Charlottesville as a recruiting hub compared to Pullman, I’m sorry Coug nation, it isn’t close. I think this is a stepping stone for Bennett as well, but come on, don’t hate the guy for taking a better opportunity for better money – that’s just immature and unreasonable fan allegiance. Wazzu cut back on funding and basically said, “We are not going to make basketball a priority or pay you top dollar in this economic climate” – why blame the coach for leaving for greener pastures? If someone offered you more money and a better opportunity to do something you are good at, would you turn it down out of blind loyalty to a company that said they were not going to back you up like they had promised in the past? (chartered flights, etc). As Denny Green said, “They are who we thought they were” – the Cougs are a second-tier sports school. Get used to disappointment. Let the hate and venom spew forth now towards my reasonable and honest assessment of the situation. It sounds like a jilted lover.
by Oyofmidworld on Mar 30, 2009 8:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
don’t hate the guy for taking a better opportunity for better money
If it were simply that, I don’t think that there would be anywhere near the anger that there is.
You clearly have no grasp of the actual circumstances surrounding Tony Bennett’s departure or WSU athletics in general.
http://www.spartyandfriends.com/
by thecassino on Mar 30, 2009 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Don’t come in here, on a day like today, and expect that people are going to be understanding of the fact that you clearly have no interest in trying to grasp the complexity of this situation. Give us all a break and go back wherever it is that you came from.
Oh, and I’m glad that East Coast education came in so handy for you with that well-written, 300-word paragraph.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 30, 2009 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
oyofmidworld- whatever that means
You do not know what you are talking about, and judging by your post, you do not know why we are all upset. Don’t pretend you do.
How many times has Virginia placed above 7th in the conference since 2001? Once. If he is using a school as a stepping stone why Virginia, why not Indiana? We don’t pretend to be an ultimate destination for a coach, but what Tony did was deceive the fan base into thinking Pullman was actually special to him. He lied. We were his stepping stone. He had us believe he was an honest, admirable guy in a business gone money hungry. He fooled us.
by peaty411s on Mar 30, 2009 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think its that Virginia is good
It’s like he said they have potential to be good and an easier road than in Pullman. They’re in a better location recruiting wise and even with cuts they have a lot of cash, enough so that cuts probably won’t affect their basketball program to the severity they would WSU. Virginia is really a school that has no excuse to be as bad as they are with the resources they have. And I imagine he wouldn’t want to go to a place like Indiana because they’re fan base is insane and he’d likely get fired if they didnt get to the sweet 16 in 2 years or something ridiculous. Virginia has low expectations/lack of history with the type of resources that come with big expectations.
by Gina on Mar 30, 2009 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
ah, the classic straw man argument.
by Oyofmidworld on Mar 30, 2009 9:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Oyofmidworld, take you garbage and shove it! Enjoy your
award winning lacrosse program.
For the rest of you Cougs, particularly you Nuss, c’mon. Really are we that surprised? We knew once that these 4 graduated that there really wasn’t much holding TB except maybe the small town for his kids.
Really this reaction is discouraging as Coug fans. Hey the guy gave us a good run he owes us nothing more and we owe him nothing more.
by ptowncoug3012 on Mar 30, 2009 9:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
thanks oyofmidworld....
…for that heart felt post. any you guys listen to Collin Coherd? he’s got the VA guys pegged. bottom feeders year in year out yet think they are great. you guys can have bennett and your 1 season he takes you to the second round before hopping ship for his dream job. then head back to your dismal football and basketball programs. of course you spend a ton more money on them than we do, so it must hurt even more when your finish in the bottom half of your conference more times than not.
by donkeyjon12 on Mar 30, 2009 9:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
you guys are either naive, ignorant, blithely loyal, or some disastrous combination of all three if you think college basketball coaches aren’t cut from the same cloth – opportunism
by Oyofmidworld on Mar 30, 2009 9:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
why did you join SB nation today?
to come bash us? lol
by peaty411s on Mar 30, 2009 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
exactly
we were dating a chic that was a little to hot for us and knew at some point she was going to leave us…..we just didn’t know she’d cheat on and dump us for the manager of a wendy’s.
by donkeyjon12 on Mar 30, 2009 9:08 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
“tell you that the Cougs cannot come close to offering the perks of coaching in the ACC, whether it is the caliber of players, competitive fire of the fan base or overall ability to grow a program. Cav fans are notoriously apathetic and I will not get into a pissing match over that, but Charlottesville as a recruiting hub compared to Pullman,”
Cavs fans are notoriously apathetic. Ringing endorsement for where I want to coach.
I know it’s hard to understand if your not a Coug, but we’re not mad that he took more money if he did. We’re mad that he chose now to do it. We’re mad that he chose this time. We’re mad that he kept telling our kids that he was here for the long haul, not for a flash in the pan. We’re mad that we fell for his bill of goods. Is that our fault, yes. But we will not apologize for wanting the best for our university, and believing that we have something special to offer. We know noncougs don’t see it, so don’t try.
by 02Coug on Mar 30, 2009 9:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
and for the record
I did not attend THE University of Virginia – I hate the wahoos more than the rest of you – they are elitist jerks whose sports programs are terrible and disgusting in their apathy – Tiki Barber is a proud UVa grad if that givers you any idea.
I had a larger point that it’s clear Bennett is a college basketball coach and loyalty doesn’t put his kids through college or pay his mortgage
by Oyofmidworld on Mar 30, 2009 9:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Boy, that $1 million a year he was making at WSU must make it tough to put your kids through school and pay your mortgage
I’ll say it again: Know what you’re talking about before you come in here. Especially today.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 30, 2009 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
really....put his kids through college and pay the mortgage
In this economy, if Bennett is worried he can’t pay his mortgage in Pullman or put his kids through college for a million a year, then he’s got bigger problems then we think.
by 02Coug on Mar 30, 2009 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Took care of that guy
That is not going to happen in here today.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 30, 2009 9:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
fellas, I am on your side. ACC Basketball vs. PAC 10 outside of UW and UCLA…….
I hate UVa too – I am just saying that being shocked over a college coach leaving for another opportunity is not shocking – see: Calipari, John
by Oyofmidworld on Mar 30, 2009 9:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
And it's not about being shocked by a coach leaving for opportunity
It’s about a coach lying to us. I know we shouldn’t expect to believe a coach — see the post I just put up — but we really did believe Bennett. He was a hero in Pullman, and essentially had a lifetime contract. Nobody put a gun to his head and forced him to say all the things he said about Pullman being a great place, about not needing to move on, about wanting a seven-year commitment from the AD. But he did.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 30, 2009 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
you should just look up what he has said
over the past few years. Then you might understand
by peaty411s on Mar 30, 2009 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
great, but why hop on here and post?
keep it to yourself pal…..
by donkeyjon12 on Mar 30, 2009 9:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I was under the impression this was a free market designed to stimulate talk and discourse as well as talking points, perhaps I was wrong
by Oyofmidworld on Mar 30, 2009 9:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
It is
Just try to understand both sides. Coming in here and stirring the pot on a day like today is not a way to get a rational reaction. There’s a lot more to this than a coach just bolting for greener pastures. The administration gave him everything he asked for, and more. And this is what happened.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 30, 2009 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
As a teacher....
I always tell my students…what is your source? Why are you saying that?
We ask each other those same questions here, and when someone joins to try and get a reaction they aren’t greeted kindly. You don’t know the full situation, you don’t seem to have followed the Cougs as closely as others.
by 02Coug on Mar 30, 2009 9:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol
I was under the impression this was a free market designed to stimulate talk and discourse as well as talking points,
so when we tell you that you’re wrong, it’s not stimulating talk?
fact is, you DON’T know what you’re talking about….i don’t think anyone here has said uva wasn’t a better paying gig than wsu. that’s not what ANYBODY is pissed about.
the fact that you can’t read why people are upset and then just telling everyone how great a recruiting ground virginia is….further proof you don’t get it.
we can have civil discourse….except you’re getting schooled at that….
by BigWood on Mar 30, 2009 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've now posted my catharsis
You can read it on the main page. In the morning, I’ll be officially ready to move on.
GO COUGS!
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 30, 2009 9:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
ya pal....
little weird you spent 20 mintues writting a 5 page essay on a coug site, acting like your from VA only to say your not when you just wanted to “chat” one night.
by donkeyjon12 on Mar 30, 2009 9:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
fair enough
I am with you man. It definitely sucks. But college basketball is a shady, shady endeavor nowadays – look at all the back room deals and the dirty recruiting that goes on. Its a shame that people do this kind of stuff but Bennett is just like Roy Williams, Coach K, Calipari, Pitino….
by Oyofmidworld on Mar 30, 2009 9:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
And that, sir, is the crux of the issue
We truly thought he was different. Shame on us.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 30, 2009 9:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bingo
I am orginally from the Charlottesville area (many years ago). Nice area. Great recruiting region. Very good school. Relatively small college town.
Tony knows that WSU would fire him if he didn’t perform (it would take a little longer than, say, UK to do this)…so he is just like all other coaches in that he knows he’s a hired hand and needs to look out for #1. I happen to think he’s going to find it easier winning at UVA vs. at WSU. We’ll see.
by westsidecougar1 on Mar 30, 2009 10:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
hey Palouse donkey, read my original post, i said I went to college 45 minutes from Charlottesville.
by Oyofmidworld on Mar 30, 2009 9:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm surprised that I'm surprised really.
Washington State sports fans have a long history of getting jilted for “Greener pastures”. The ones off the top of my head are: Every good WSU coach, The Sonics, A-Rod, Griffey, and Randy Johnson. Those are the ones I can name off the top of my head. I watched Tony and Dick over the last few years and told myself, “Tony’s different. He turned down Indiana and LSU and Cal, he’s staying for good. Tony is going to save WSU basketball.”. Then I turn on my computer and am flabbergasted. I should have expected it. I was absolutely wrong.
by GoCougs on Mar 30, 2009 9:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That's the part east coasters will never understand
When you grow up as a NW sports fan, you have a natural inferiority complex. Your constantly told no one wants to be here. You watch your stars leave. You watch your college coaches leave. Now we’ve watched the only championship Seattle had leave (I grew up a Blazer fan, so I wasn’t as sad with that one).
Why we continue to believe that anyone is different I don’t know. But I’m a semi-season ticket holder for the Sounders, and I listened to the owner promise that they weren’t going anywhere on opening night, and I believed him. And maybe that’s why I love sports. But on nights like tonight, it’s why I hate sports.
by 02Coug on Mar 30, 2009 9:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
in the last 12 months....
the mariners and seahawks both finished in last place, the supes freaking left town, cougar football had the worst team in pac-10 history, and cougar basketball returns to non-existance now that tony’s gone.
why do i even bother with sports? dare i pick up a sounders scarf?
by BigWood on Mar 30, 2009 9:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sounders RULE
undefeated season baby all the way!
by johnnycougar on Mar 30, 2009 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, Husky football had the worst team in pac10 history.
by jj_fekl on Mar 30, 2009 10:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Record wise
But stat wise… I think we take the title hands down.
by GoCougs on Mar 30, 2009 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I got a text from my dad saying "Bennett gone?"
I nearly LOL’ed. Ironically, I was playing College Hoops on XBOX360, and I was wearing my ZZU CRU shirt. I fliped on my computer and since then I have spent the last 6 hours on this website. Its like being glued to CNN durring a horrible event.
by peaty411s on Mar 30, 2009 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was thinking about it today, and the closest feeling I can come up with to today
Was the feeling I had when Junior held that press conference in Cincinnati after being traded. He smiled and said, “I’m home.” Everyone in that room laughed, and I felt like I wanted to throw up. I lost part of my youth that day. At 32, I probably lost the rest of it today.
by Jeff Nusser on Mar 30, 2009 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm about the same age you were when griffey left
All I can say is I have very similar cynical feelings.
by peaty411s on Mar 30, 2009 9:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I used to be a BIG Mariners fan.
When Junior and A-Rod left, I was crushed. Today held a very similar feeling.
by brlogan on Mar 31, 2009 6:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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