The final word for the night

Here's the final version of Grippi's story, which will run in tomorrow's S-R. Most interesting is that Tony apparently changed his mind sometime between yesterday morning and this afternoon.

Also interesting to note is that Grippi took out the item where Bennett was on Virginia's campus last week, and he softened some of the wording on the budget concerns. But there are a few comments from Sterk, who clearly still doesn't really know why Tony made the decision he did.

(Grady here: rather than make a whole 'nother post, let me link you to Bud Withers' article, with some intriguing quotes from Dick Bennett and Mychal Thompson. Long story short: Dick found out the same way you and I all did, and Mychal is advising Klay to stick around.)

about 1 year ago Jeff Nusser 11 comments 2 recs |

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The picture attached to that article is interesting

Bennett giving a thumbs up to “fans?”

by MLips on Mar 30, 2009 10:56 PM PDT reply actions

Wrong finger Tony...

by GoCougs on Mar 30, 2009 10:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Interesting note in Withers' story

Sterk isn’t considering the assistants.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Mar 30, 2009 11:03 PM PDT reply actions

This meansa lot.

Klay Thompson was speaking similarly with his dad. Then Mychal Thompson, whom Bennett had called with the news, brought him back to reality.

“Klay’s fine. He’s calmed down after the initial shock,” Thompson said. "I told him, you’re not going to go anywhere. Why would you go and sit out a year [in transferring]? You’ve got a nice nucleus with Marcus Capers and DeAngelo Casto.

"I said, ‘Do you like Pullman?’ He likes it. ‘Do you like your teammates?’ He loves his teammates.

by J.J. FeKl on Mar 30, 2009 11:05 PM PDT reply actions

Let's Roll

Klay, Marcus and DeAngelo and the Team: Coug fans are here for you!
Go Cougs!

by PDXCoug on Mar 30, 2009 11:08 PM PDT reply actions

The quotes from klay's dad make difference

My biggest fear all day was losing Tony meant losing some of the new guys. If we keep Klay, DeAngelo, Marcus, and at least 3 of the 4 recruits, then we are better off then when the Bennetts got here. And that is the key.

by 02Coug on Mar 30, 2009 11:13 PM PDT reply actions

I find it interesting that

Bennett does not plan on taking any of his assistants with him. Also, Sterk has ruled out hiring Tony’s assistants. It looks like the assistants are all in limbo, especially if the new coach wants to have his own staff.

by peaty411s on Mar 30, 2009 11:26 PM PDT reply actions

Starting to see the light

Time to move on. The players understand so we obviously should as well. I think Nuss said it somewhere about “what does this say about us”? Well, it blows to lose someone who made you feel good about being a Cougar but that is the life of a coach. For better or worse they are always looking for the right place. The budget scare played a part, I’m sure his family played a part, and maybe it was simply the right time.

Will he regret it? Maybe part of him but he made his decision. The Bennett’s left the WSU program a lot better than when they were hired. That’s really all we can ask. Now we need the Administration to make the right decision on the next coach. The talent is on the roster for a good coach to come in and succeed. I think a good decision was already made to not make an internal hire. I like Woodley but I don’t think any of the assistants are the guy to continue this thing.

Time to move on.

by BornCoug on Mar 31, 2009 2:38 AM PDT reply actions

Hang in there everyone....

This is going to turn out just fine. I truly beiieve that. Sterk will find us another great coach for these kids. Tony didn’t leave the cupboard bare. There’s plenty there to attract a top quality guy.

Go Cougs!!!

by SW WA Coug on Mar 31, 2009 7:31 AM PDT reply actions

Andy Katz has an article up about the situation

the only thing that I have no seen elsewhere is that sunday night both Tony and his wife had a sleepless night which contributed to changing his mind. Regardless, I’m beginning to get over it, and I completely agree with the cougcenter tweet from this morning. During some of my sleepless night, I was looking at the resumes of the top candidates. Ken Bone seems like a good hire. I need someone else more familiar with him to talk about his system and such, but I like the results he has gotten.

by peaty411s on Mar 31, 2009 8:29 AM PDT reply actions