A year ago around this time, the search for Ken Hatfield's successor at Rice had culminated with the hiring of Todd Graham, the DC from Tulsa. He lasted one year after getting Rice to their first bowl game in 45 years as they finished one game above .500 at 7-6. Coaches come and go all the time, especially at this time of year, when fans are being disappointed on almost an hourly basis somewhere around the college football landscape.
What makes this move sting is the timing. Graham signs an extension on Tuesday and literally hours later he's talking to Tulsa about their head coaching position. That just reeks.
He came to Rice and won. Plain and simple (although it was for just one year). But the manner in which he cleaned house upon arrival, both on field coaches and many longtime athletic department personnel. And he continued to talk about the joys of being at Rice and the progress they were just scratching the surface on. Ultimately those were just words, not beliefs. It was merely a stinkin' pile of you-know-what. Did I mention that national signing day is 25 days from today and Rice has no head coach!! Tulsa welcomed Graham today with wide open arms and checkbook.
Let's see who Rice hires and how he does on February 7th and see exactly the predicament that Graham left the program in. Then look forward to 2007 Graham brings his Hurricanes to Rice Stadium. Maybe he go Steve Francis on us and say he's returning to the building that he built brick-by-brick.
Side note - check this unlikely link out on Major Applewhite. Some real forward thinkers here.
Surf's Up - Your Daily Link Dump
- If you are a fan of National Lampoon's Vacation and the subsequent sequels, in other words are you still breathing, here's an interesting where are they now?
- You do know that you can vote Hot NBA cheerleaders to the All-Star Game in Vegas, right?
See them, Vote for them.
- Spoof from the Onion on Best Trick Plays in Sports History.
- Wanna see more of Danica Patrick? And I don't mean racing. Might want to watch the Super Bowl, well the GoDaddy ads, anyway.
- I'm sure you're just about sick of all the Becks and Posh talk with reports of his $250 million contract so here's Ali G interviewing the Power Duo.
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- more coming, updated throughout the day
----- WEX
1 comment:
Wex, to make matters worse, Graham got a couple of cheap shots in at Rice's expense. In the Tulsa newspaper he said:
"The place that I was at is not there from a commitment standpoint and a pay standpoint."
Really? President Leebron showed an amazing commitment to the program. Gave TG a contact extension and raise after one 7-6 season. Let him clean house to bring in "his" people.
IMO there was no reason for him to be badmouthing Rice after he left. He had nothing to gain from it. His actions simply prove that he is the biggest slimeball in all of sports.
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