I'm glad I still have a reason to blog (I was bummed when the season ended), but I don't like the topic.

Rumors are getting hot and heavy about Tony Bennett leaving for other jobs. One article (FoxSports.com) said Bennett was offered the Indiana job (replacing former Cougar coach Kelvin Sampson, who resigned after breaking NCAA rules). Another article (published after the first by ESPN.com's Andy Katz) said that Bennett was not offered the job and quoted Bennet as saying that he hasn't even spoken to IU (Bennett's agent confirmed that as well to the Indianapolis Star).

The strangest report comes from the San Francisco Chronicle:

"Washington State coach Tony Bennett is expecting to leave the Cougars and is one of the two candidates who have emerged as frontrunners for the Cal vacancy, according to sources close to the Washington State and Cal programs."

First off, "Tony Bennett is expecting to leave the Cougars..." Seriously? Where does someone get information like that? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. The guy hasn't been contacted for a job, but he's still planning on leaving...that's stupid. I wouldn't walk out of a job without having another one in place (that's common sense).

Secondly, "[Bennett] is one of two candidates...for the Cal vacancy..." Again, seriously? Why in the world would Tony Bennett leave Washington State for California? Here's why I don't buy it: Bennett took the Cougars to the Sweet 16 this year and has built a solid foundation for the future (this year's recruiting class is rock solid...compared by some to the class that just left). California didn't make the NCAA Tournament (finished 9th in the Pac-10 at 6-12). He'd go from the top to the bottom...that doesn't make sense. It would be a horrible career move. If he did leave for Cal...the dude would be enemy of the state #1 (as far as I'm concerned).

It would make more sense for him to leave for Indiana (tradition and money) than Cal (no reason for him to go there), but I don't expect him to go anywhere. Call me naive if you want.

I'm trying to work some of my sources to find out exactly what's going on...I'll update my findings as things change (the only thing I expect to change is nothing at all...he's not leaving).

Stay tuned...

2 Comments

Tim Lewis said:

Here's something else I just found in an article by CBSSports.com:

"According to sources, third-party representatives made Bennett aware late Friday through other third-party representatives that he can be Indiana's next coach if he wants to be Indiana's next coach. He is expected to decide in the next 24 hours and allow IU to move forward, one way or another. Furthermore, a separate source said if Bennett withdraws from consideration at Indiana he will use it to display his loyalty to Washington State before asking WSU officials for everything he needs (chartered planes, better pay for assistants, etc.) to consistently win in the Pac-10."

At this point who knows what to believe, but if this is true we might know sooner rather than later.

March 29, 2008 3:53 PM

kim-spokane said:

There's a great article on Tony and Bruce Pearl and the state of coaching in the NY Times online(March 28).

We could whip ourselves into a frenzy trying to figure out which source is "accurate"(personally, I think Jeff Goodman is a ding dong.)

I doubt seriously Tony's gonna go Dennis Erickson on us, and if he did, it would more likely be for Wisconsin, not IU, LSU or Cal. And if he stays, does the university go through this every spring, or should they just break the bank now? (I hear you can get a great deal on a Concord now that they're out of service.)

At least on Monday we can start the 162 game countdown to another Mariner "ohmygosharetheyreallygonnadoitthisyear?nope,felljustshortagain" season and look forward to some really interesting interviews with Eric Bedard.

March 29, 2008 10:34 PM

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