Perhaps the final score (69-50) of Arizona’s victory over Fresno State escaped your attention.
It wasn’t on the Bulldogs; they are not a slow-tempo team. It was on Arizona.
Sunday’s game was a relative crawl compared the the normal way of UA basketball. It was a grind, which is the way Kevin O’Neill chooses to play.
Last year, Arizona’s pre-conference scores were as follows:
101-79.
102-87.
93-90.
86-57.
89-75.
And so on.
This team, O’Neill’s first at Arizona, will not score 100 points in a game. Unless it plays a four-overtime game against someone like Oregon.
There is a positive exchange at work here. O’Neill has eliminated speed and early offense. He has replaced those elements with defense, patience and better shot selection.
This UA team is shooting .504 afield. That’s off the charts against a schedule that has included Kansas, Illinois, Virginia and Texas A&M.
So far, Jerryd Bayless is shooting .495 afield and Jordan Hill is at .639. It is such a promising trend. It is much different from the last two seasons when Marcus Williams and Co., fired up hurried shots from everywhere.
Winning in the 60s is the new way of basketball in the Pac-10, introduced by UCLA and Wazzu.
Subtly, under O’Neill, Arizona has joined the crowd.
“This team, O’Neill’s first at Arizona, will not score 100 points in a game.”
I wonder what Hansen (and Robert) is going to say when Olson returns to coach next year. This foreshadowing is unfair to Lute.
— AZCoachB 12/17/2007 09:57 AM #
so….no free pizzas huh?
— kp 12/17/2007 11:41 AM #
I don’t see UA in the UCLA & Wazzu category. UA still seems to score a lot in transition and doesn’t look that comfortable in a set offense. They still seem to take the first available shot. I haven’t seen them obsess about the shot clock like Wazzu.
— cat kong 12/17/2007 02:50 PM #
#1, unfortunately, we won’t see Lute coach the UA basketball team again. I really thought we would have another five years with Lute, thought he might coach into his late 70’s. I really think he would have if not for the problem he’s facing.
He brought O’Neill to the UA because he knew if he did have to leave, he didn’t want Jim Livengood to botch his replacement, plain and simple. Lute knows Livengood’s limitations, foremost of which is evaluating coaching talent, and was not going to let him hire a basketball version of John Mackovic.
Make no mistake, Lute again did what was best for UA basketball. Let’s wish Lute well, we’re going to miss him.
Let’s also hope Jim Livengood will consider retiring…
— Bronson 12/18/2007 12:20 AM #
“The intent of this is to really give us a plan,” Livengood said. “Our plan is for Lute to comeback next year, but if in fact, he chooses not to, this is that plan. … It’s going to help recruiting big time, and it’s meant for our current team as well, so that there is a perceived structure in place.”
So nothing has changed.
— AZCoachB 12/18/2007 09:44 AM #
Dude,
Give me some love!!!! I told y’all last summer that Lute was done and I got nothing but crap from all of you Lute Lemmings on this board.
AZCoachB, you are in some serious denial. Lute ain’t coming back. That’s why Livengood announced the plan because he full well expects Lute not to come back. That’s all I’ve been saying for the last few months, that some of you need to be able to read between the lines. All your comments about how O’neill was just an interim coach and that Lute was going to coach for another five years was based on nothing but pure fantasy. The guy is 73 and the job is a grind. He is fortunate to have lasted this long!
And, by the way, props to Lute for pulling this one off. He picked O’neill to succeed him and it looks like it is going to work out for the best. I have no doubt that Lute full well intended to bow out this season regardless of his marital problems. How else do you explain throwing Roz under the bus in such a mysterious fashion and then the signing of O’neill to a 375K contract? AZCoach, use your head for crying out loud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Robert 12/18/2007 10:41 AM #
Robert –
Reading between the lines implies that there is some conclusion that can be reached. Lute still says he is coming back and I take his word over yours. The Rosborough/O’Neill situation and Lute’s divorce are separate issues. The conclusion you have drawn might occur but your logic is non-sequitur and thus, I don’t give you any credit. You must be in the same group of people that believes that Al Gore invented the internet.
— AZCoachB 12/18/2007 10:58 AM #
Coach- The character of “Robert” was created to incite controversy. That’s the only explanation for “his” bizarre series of comments.
I notice that this year his script is written with a southern accent, ie:”y’all”
Just more stuff to piss off other posters.
— vegasallen 12/18/2007 12:40 PM #
If Lute wasn’t coming back, why wouldn’t he have just retired? O’Neill would have still been the clear choice as the successor in that scenario. Lute wouldn’t string the university out like that. I don’t think Lute needed one more year of salary to complete his portfolio.
— cat kong 12/18/2007 01:15 PM #
AzCoachB:
Why don’t you ask Roz what Lute’s word is worth. I am sure that he will have some choice comments about this subject. What about Tony McAndrews? Perhaps you should talk to him. You are extremely naive.
You question my reasoning? How stupid are you? Seriously? You coach? Who in their right mind would listen to you? You must live in some type of plastic bubble or something because that was one strange set of events that went down after last season’s collapse and you didn’t even stop to consider that something might be slightly our of whack! Would someone please tell me how how in the heck most people (who are not UA fans) can figure this one out and you and many others on this blog can’t? Dude, wake up!
Cat Kong,
How much is Lute going to collect for this year from the UofA? Don’t be so sure of yourself. That’s alot of cash, no matter how much he already has. Don’t put atheletes, coaches, and celebrities on some type of pedestal. Yeah, they may love the game, but they want to be paid. Notice, Lute hasn’t waived his right to the salary.
Oh, and by the way, if Lute was going to come back, how come Livengood made the announcement now instead of waiting for Lute to make his retirement official?
My prediction- Lute is going to collect the paycheck, and then some time after the season is over he is going to say, “Well, you know, I really meant to come back and I thought that I would be able to come back, but upon further reflection, I’ve decided that I no longer have the drive to coach and I feel at this time in my life that I want to spend more time with my family. I am leaving the team in good hands….......”
And if ‘yall (that’s for you, Vegas) think that I am in your face now about me being right, just wait until this happens. You won’t be able to write on this blog again out of pure shame.
Greg,
You guys at the Star better start earning your paychecks. Seems to me that there is a whole bunch going on that you are not reporting. No way garbage goes down like this in any other major college program without some investigative reporting.
— Robert 12/18/2007 02:18 PM #
Robert –
What is it exactly that you think Lute promised Roz and then reneged on? Do you think Lute ever said “I vow for you always to be my assistant coach, in good times and bad…?” Yes, your logic is beyond questionable. It is based on non-sequitur, false cause, and many more fallacious arguments.
Example:
1. If Robert is holding a fruit, he is holding food.
2. Robert is holding food.
3. Therefore, Robert is holding fruit.
We all know you’re probably holding the PB&J sandwich that your mom packed you for lunch.
And yeah, I do coach and many people listen to me… that must really bother someone like you whose only voice is through blog comments.
— AZCoachB 12/18/2007 03:36 PM #
Bobert,
Sorry bud. Can’t get on board with Lute milking UA for another year’s salary. Can’t believe he’d want to endure the media frenzy and local rumor mill. Bet Lute didn’t spend any of last year’s paycheck.
Livengood already spoke to the timing of his announcement. He said it was, in part, for recruiting. Makes sense to me.
I would never be shamed off this blog. I’d just change my screen name to Thrasher McFadden. Oops. Now I’ll have to think up another one.
You said something to AZCoachB about non UA fans being a little quicker on the uptake. Sir, identify yourself. Are you an imposter? Do you root for another college basketball team, but feel the need to impose your bitterness here? Are you a Lute hater?
— cat kong 12/18/2007 04:03 PM #
Bottom Line:
Lute’s word > John Doe’s word > average 3rd grader’s word > dirt > Robert’s word > ASU Fan’s word.
At least Robert isn’t at the bottom.
— AZCoachB 12/18/2007 04:29 PM #
AZCoachB,
Do you know Lute personally? If so, how? Back it up. Identify yourself. Otherwise, you can’t say that his word is gold. True, that is the public perception of him, but do you know for a fact that it is true?
Hey, at the end of the season last year, Lute said everyone’s job was safe and then Roz was demoted. I listen to what people say and then watch what they do, and it is clear the Lute threw Roz under the bus. I would also bet that Lute went into the living room of every single recruit and told them that he intended to coach through the end of his contract. And then, suddenly, his LOA is announced shortly after the LOI’s are signed. Hmmmmmmm. Nothing funny there, I guess. How honest is that? Wake up, AZCoachB. College Basketball is big business and Lute is no rookie. He knows how this game is played. He knows that if he bails before those LOI’s are secured, it could spell doom for the program. Look at the obvious. His team his ailing. People are calling into question his health. He essentially fires Roz. He then brings in O’neill and the UA inks him to a fairly large contract for an assistant. LOI’s are signed and then shortly thereafter…........he announces his LOA. I may have been born at night, but not last night. This looks pretty well coordinated. Props to him, too. This was executed flawlessly. You know what, you lost your true calling in life. You should be a spokeshole for politicians. You could then get paid big money by defending the indefensible. Unfreakin’ real!!!!!!!!
— Robert 12/18/2007 05:20 PM #
I realize that it is fashionable, and understandable,to hate the UCLA basketball program; however, if you want to see how a real professional like Coach Ben Howland communicates to his fan base go to the LA Times Sports web site. Click on Rich Pearlmans Blog and scroll to UCLA Basketball, “Whats Bruin” and read “Basketball Media Day.” Howland lays it all out to the sportswriters and fans. Something else besides defense that Arizona Coaches might like to emulate.
— James 12/18/2007 06:10 PM #
James,
Who said anything about hating UCLA? Who care’s what’s bruin? Howland’s a spaz. Terrible shade of blue. Stay home dude.
— cat kong 12/18/2007 08:45 PM #
How pathetic, you totally missed the point.
— James 12/18/2007 10:07 PM #
Just a quick thought,
Kevin O’Neill was named the successor to Lute for recruiting reasons. Without this, the instability of the program would not look appealing to those players the program is going after. But, now the team is able to tell recruits specifically who will be coaching them after Lute leaves, which helps both the family and the recruit.
— Karter 12/19/2007 06:28 AM #
James,
Help me understand the point I missed. No one said anything about hating your powder blue bruins. No one heare is going to check out an LA Times blog to read what the spaz has to say. Love the fight chant though.
You guys had a professional. He’s retired. I Think he still lives in the area. I think he even attends UCLA games.
You said “totally.”
— cat kong 12/19/2007 09:28 AM #
Marco-The more I read, the more I’m convinced that the looney tunes character of “Robert” was created to generate posts from normal people. Now the writer(s) are back to how Roz got screwed. Could anyone imagine how bleak things would be with Roz at the helm now. Think Jay John.
If Roz got the short shaft and he’s so great, why hasn’t another program hired this gem? Hmmmmm
— vegasallen 12/19/2007 10:08 AM #
Robert –
Yes, I know Olson. I’ve had multiple conversations with him in the past few years… at coaching clinics, basketball tournaments, fundraising dinners, etc. I’m not saying we’re best friends here but I know him better than you do (clearly) and he’s a man with integrity. His word is gold to me. He’s not even close to the slimeball you’re making him out to be and it pisses me off that you make such heinous accusations. He announced his year-long LOA after he was pressured by the Tucson media to make a decision. It had nothing to do with the signing of the letters of intent. It was bad timing and he was between a rock and a hard place. None of the recruits were put-off by the situation so once again, you’re making a big deal out of nothing. We’ve already been over the Rosborough situation so there’s no need to re-visit that. Vegasallen reiterated the question I asked (and you couldn’t answer).
It’s fine to have opinions about things. It’s not fine to base your opinions on conjecture, rumors, logical fallacies and personal hatred.
P.S. How did you like that spanking my Eagles put on your Cowboys on Sunday? When you can’t beat a non-playoff team at home in December, you won’t go far in the playoffs. Romo is a choke-artist.
— AZCoachB 12/19/2007 10:41 AM #
First things first,
The Boys are in the playoffs and the Eagles are not. You have a head coach that puts football over family and now can’t seem to run either. So, talk all you want. Personally, I blame Yoko Romo (aka Jessica Simpson) for that disgraceful effort.
As for Rosborough, he did lose his job. He is now behind a desk having been put out to pasture. Lute said everyone’s job was secure, and then Roz was demoted. Looks like a lie, sounds like a lie, smells like a lie, hmmmmmm.
That y’all deny that this is a lie strains the bounds of credulity. The spin is, hey, what’ the big deal? He’s still getting paid, isn’t he? I suppose, using your line of reasoning, it would have been acceptable to send Roz down to Campbell farms to shovel horse manure. After all, he would still have a job and he would still be getting paid. Face it, your boy told a whopper and there is nothing that you can do to cover it up.
The thing is, AZCoachB, is that you and other fans put these guys on pedestals and when something happens that doesn’t quite fit into the image you’ve dreamed up, you blow up. So, it turns out, you don’t know the man at all. All you have is a few conversations with the man and a model image based on nothing but a media created persona. That’s why, when Lute did lie last spring, you automatically went into spin mode as your brain had a core meltdown and you had to come up with reasonable explanation for an otherwise ugly event.
So, what’s the spin going to be from you when Lute announces after the season that he is not coming back?
— Robert 12/19/2007 11:41 AM #
Robert,
AHA! I knew it. This all comes back to the Rosborough situation. Yet again, your opinion is based on faulty logic.
“Lute said everyone’s job was secure.”
According to who? The only person who ever said that was Rosborough who said “A few weeks ago, Lute told me my coaching job was secure.” Source here. So basically it comes down to a case of He Said/He Said and you’re taking Rosborough’s side. I’m taking Olson’s side. That’s fine but your entire case in this argument comes down to a quote from Rosborough the day after he originally refused the offer that Olson gave him and he was clearly upset. That’s pretty weak.
Olson is on record as having said “There will be an adjustment, but no one from the staff will not have a position and there will be no financial cutbacks for anybody.” Source here. So basically, what Lute said and what he did were completely accurate.
The only controversy comes when you start assuming things that have no merit. Unfortunately for you Robert, most people in the real world don’t operate like that.
You’ll probably come up with some BS excuse for your perpetually illogical argument but rest assured, you are wrong. I gave you evidence. You gave me nothing of the sort. Point, case. It’s over, buddy. It’s time to give up.
— AZCoachB 12/19/2007 12:26 PM #
The show that I saw was on the History Channel: Myths And Legends.
BTW, If there was a promise of sorts to poor coach Roz, it was kept. He still has a job at the same pay. The bonus is we have a better/tougher basketkall team. Congrats to Coach Olson for a win/win solution!!!!!!
— vegasallen 12/19/2007 01:09 PM #
Vegas,
If Roz were smart, he would take a LOA and then collect a paycheck for the rest of the year :)
AZCoachB,
Yes, I am taking Roz at his word. Why would I not? And by the way, Lute, to my knowledge did not make a statement denying that he said that.
So, at the end of the day, you are giving more credence to Lute because what? He made a puplic statement that conforms to your argument? That makes some difference? Hey, if Roger Clemens says in a public statement that he never once used steroids does that automatically make it true? If Marion Jones denies having used performance enhancing drugs, does that make it true?
Stop the hero worship and look at what is right in front of you. It’s not that hard to connect the dots here, but you are so freakin’ myopic in your love of all things Lute that in your eyes, he can do no evil.
By the way, briging in O’neill was the right thing to do, but if you expect me to believe that the firing of Roz, hiring O’neill, and LOA are mutually exclusive events, well….........
— Robert 12/19/2007 02:26 PM #
Robert,
Don’t be such a drama queen. Roz didn’t get thrown under the bus. Hes still getting paid, hes working a cake job fundraising. I’d switch jobs with him in a heartbeat (along with many others). You can’t clearly look at the end result of anything. But in this post I will focus on the Roz situation.
At first glance, it did look like he got fired. Hes still collecting his paycheck, so thats NOT TRUE.
At second glance, you could say he got demoted. In all reality, it could be better described as a position transfer. Hes still involved in the athletic department. If you are correct about Lute wanting to retire this year, he would have either been on the street/retired, or in a simular position that hes currently in. So regardless of the past few months, hes in the same place.
Finally, was he usurped by KO?Could he really have been the interim head coach? Everyone with a memory that can reach all the way back to Y2K can remember how well the team played when Lute left when Bobbi passed. I don’t think he ever had a chance of replacing Lute.
So how exactly was he betrayed? Get real, I don’t feel bad for Roz. The UofA is taking care of him for all of his years of dedication and hard work. He stated in his last interview that he likes his job. He also likes having time with his wife, and having personal time during the season.
Cry your tears for someone who needs it.
— chi_cat 12/19/2007 04:00 PM #
chi_cat
You, too, have a career ahead of you in politics, or at least in the practice of law :) If the general is called home from the front and placed behind a desk to ride out the rest of his days until retirement, it’s a demotion.
Of course, what else would you expect Roz to say about his new job? I’m sure he wants to collect the paycheck, and if he mouths off about how the job blows, that may be put into jeapordy.
— Robert 12/19/2007 05:32 PM #
“Yes, I am taking Roz at his word. Why would I not? And by the way, Lute, to my knowledge did not make a statement denying that he said that.”
“There will be an adjustment,” Olson said. “But no one from the staff will not have a position and there will be no financial cutbacks for anybody.”
Just because it’s not “to your knowledge” doesn’t mean it’s not to the rest of the world’s knowledge. I don’t know how much more cut and dry this case gets. It’s fork time. You’re done.
— AZCoachB 12/19/2007 07:12 PM #
Vegas is right, Lute needed to replace Roz, and it worked out well for the UA in all aspects, good points by all except for Marco, who is a serious loser in denial.
— Bronson 12/19/2007 07:43 PM #
Marco,
You live in a dreamworld, you deny reality, and then when someone else doesn’t agree with you, you label them a moron, when clearly you are the one working with less than a full deck. Your opinion carries so little weight.
— Bronson 12/19/2007 07:46 PM #
Who here truly knows anything about how Olson (and Livengood) handled the replacement of Roz? Who here works in McHale Center? Some see Roz as the underdog; some see Lute as the villain. People see what they want to see, need to see.
News Flash: Long time assistant basketball coach Roz Rosborough, no relation to the former Dodger and Twins catcher, came to work with whistle around his neck and a Final Four tune on his lips only to find his office bare and a note on the door remanding him to the PR cakewalk facility. We wish him the best of luck. Readers are invited to project their good cop/bad cop scenarios here.
Roz was apparently a great assistant and a good guy. But the program needed a change, obviously.
— Talisman 12/20/2007 12:13 PM #
I wonder what Hansen (and Robert) is going to say when Olson returns to coach next year. This foreshadowing is unfair to Lute.
— AZCoachB 12/17/2007 09:57 AM #
— kp 12/17/2007 11:41 AM #
— cat kong 12/17/2007 02:50 PM #
He brought O’Neill to the UA because he knew if he did have to leave, he didn’t want Jim Livengood to botch his replacement, plain and simple. Lute knows Livengood’s limitations, foremost of which is evaluating coaching talent, and was not going to let him hire a basketball version of John Mackovic.
Make no mistake, Lute again did what was best for UA basketball. Let’s wish Lute well, we’re going to miss him.
Let’s also hope Jim Livengood will consider retiring…
— Bronson 12/18/2007 12:20 AM #
So nothing has changed.
— AZCoachB 12/18/2007 09:44 AM #
Give me some love!!!! I told y’all last summer that Lute was done and I got nothing but crap from all of you Lute Lemmings on this board.
AZCoachB, you are in some serious denial. Lute ain’t coming back. That’s why Livengood announced the plan because he full well expects Lute not to come back. That’s all I’ve been saying for the last few months, that some of you need to be able to read between the lines. All your comments about how O’neill was just an interim coach and that Lute was going to coach for another five years was based on nothing but pure fantasy. The guy is 73 and the job is a grind. He is fortunate to have lasted this long!
And, by the way, props to Lute for pulling this one off. He picked O’neill to succeed him and it looks like it is going to work out for the best. I have no doubt that Lute full well intended to bow out this season regardless of his marital problems. How else do you explain throwing Roz under the bus in such a mysterious fashion and then the signing of O’neill to a 375K contract? AZCoach, use your head for crying out loud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Robert 12/18/2007 10:41 AM #
Reading between the lines implies that there is some conclusion that can be reached. Lute still says he is coming back and I take his word over yours. The Rosborough/O’Neill situation and Lute’s divorce are separate issues. The conclusion you have drawn might occur but your logic is non-sequitur and thus, I don’t give you any credit. You must be in the same group of people that believes that Al Gore invented the internet.
— AZCoachB 12/18/2007 10:58 AM #
I notice that this year his script is written with a southern accent, ie:”y’all”
Just more stuff to piss off other posters.
— vegasallen 12/18/2007 12:40 PM #
— cat kong 12/18/2007 01:15 PM #
Why don’t you ask Roz what Lute’s word is worth. I am sure that he will have some choice comments about this subject. What about Tony McAndrews? Perhaps you should talk to him. You are extremely naive.
You question my reasoning? How stupid are you? Seriously? You coach? Who in their right mind would listen to you? You must live in some type of plastic bubble or something because that was one strange set of events that went down after last season’s collapse and you didn’t even stop to consider that something might be slightly our of whack! Would someone please tell me how how in the heck most people (who are not UA fans) can figure this one out and you and many others on this blog can’t? Dude, wake up!
Cat Kong,
How much is Lute going to collect for this year from the UofA? Don’t be so sure of yourself. That’s alot of cash, no matter how much he already has. Don’t put atheletes, coaches, and celebrities on some type of pedestal. Yeah, they may love the game, but they want to be paid. Notice, Lute hasn’t waived his right to the salary.
Oh, and by the way, if Lute was going to come back, how come Livengood made the announcement now instead of waiting for Lute to make his retirement official?
My prediction- Lute is going to collect the paycheck, and then some time after the season is over he is going to say, “Well, you know, I really meant to come back and I thought that I would be able to come back, but upon further reflection, I’ve decided that I no longer have the drive to coach and I feel at this time in my life that I want to spend more time with my family. I am leaving the team in good hands….......”
And if ‘yall (that’s for you, Vegas) think that I am in your face now about me being right, just wait until this happens. You won’t be able to write on this blog again out of pure shame.
Greg,
You guys at the Star better start earning your paychecks. Seems to me that there is a whole bunch going on that you are not reporting. No way garbage goes down like this in any other major college program without some investigative reporting.
— Robert 12/18/2007 02:18 PM #
What is it exactly that you think Lute promised Roz and then reneged on? Do you think Lute ever said “I vow for you always to be my assistant coach, in good times and bad…?” Yes, your logic is beyond questionable. It is based on non-sequitur, false cause, and many more fallacious arguments.
Example:
1. If Robert is holding a fruit, he is holding food.
2. Robert is holding food.
3. Therefore, Robert is holding fruit.
We all know you’re probably holding the PB&J sandwich that your mom packed you for lunch.
And yeah, I do coach and many people listen to me… that must really bother someone like you whose only voice is through blog comments.
— AZCoachB 12/18/2007 03:36 PM #
Sorry bud. Can’t get on board with Lute milking UA for another year’s salary. Can’t believe he’d want to endure the media frenzy and local rumor mill. Bet Lute didn’t spend any of last year’s paycheck.
Livengood already spoke to the timing of his announcement. He said it was, in part, for recruiting. Makes sense to me.
I would never be shamed off this blog. I’d just change my screen name to Thrasher McFadden. Oops. Now I’ll have to think up another one.
You said something to AZCoachB about non UA fans being a little quicker on the uptake. Sir, identify yourself. Are you an imposter? Do you root for another college basketball team, but feel the need to impose your bitterness here? Are you a Lute hater?
— cat kong 12/18/2007 04:03 PM #
Lute’s word > John Doe’s word > average 3rd grader’s word > dirt > Robert’s word > ASU Fan’s word.
At least Robert isn’t at the bottom.
— AZCoachB 12/18/2007 04:29 PM #
Do you know Lute personally? If so, how? Back it up. Identify yourself. Otherwise, you can’t say that his word is gold. True, that is the public perception of him, but do you know for a fact that it is true?
Hey, at the end of the season last year, Lute said everyone’s job was safe and then Roz was demoted. I listen to what people say and then watch what they do, and it is clear the Lute threw Roz under the bus. I would also bet that Lute went into the living room of every single recruit and told them that he intended to coach through the end of his contract. And then, suddenly, his LOA is announced shortly after the LOI’s are signed. Hmmmmmmm. Nothing funny there, I guess. How honest is that? Wake up, AZCoachB. College Basketball is big business and Lute is no rookie. He knows how this game is played. He knows that if he bails before those LOI’s are secured, it could spell doom for the program. Look at the obvious. His team his ailing. People are calling into question his health. He essentially fires Roz. He then brings in O’neill and the UA inks him to a fairly large contract for an assistant. LOI’s are signed and then shortly thereafter…........he announces his LOA. I may have been born at night, but not last night. This looks pretty well coordinated. Props to him, too. This was executed flawlessly. You know what, you lost your true calling in life. You should be a spokeshole for politicians. You could then get paid big money by defending the indefensible. Unfreakin’ real!!!!!!!!
— Robert 12/18/2007 05:20 PM #
— James 12/18/2007 06:10 PM #
Who said anything about hating UCLA? Who care’s what’s bruin? Howland’s a spaz. Terrible shade of blue. Stay home dude.
— cat kong 12/18/2007 08:45 PM #
— James 12/18/2007 10:07 PM #
Kevin O’Neill was named the successor to Lute for recruiting reasons. Without this, the instability of the program would not look appealing to those players the program is going after. But, now the team is able to tell recruits specifically who will be coaching them after Lute leaves, which helps both the family and the recruit.
— Karter 12/19/2007 06:28 AM #
Help me understand the point I missed. No one said anything about hating your powder blue bruins. No one heare is going to check out an LA Times blog to read what the spaz has to say. Love the fight chant though.
You guys had a professional. He’s retired. I Think he still lives in the area. I think he even attends UCLA games.
You said “totally.”
— cat kong 12/19/2007 09:28 AM #
If Roz got the short shaft and he’s so great, why hasn’t another program hired this gem? Hmmmmm
— vegasallen 12/19/2007 10:08 AM #
Yes, I know Olson. I’ve had multiple conversations with him in the past few years… at coaching clinics, basketball tournaments, fundraising dinners, etc. I’m not saying we’re best friends here but I know him better than you do (clearly) and he’s a man with integrity. His word is gold to me. He’s not even close to the slimeball you’re making him out to be and it pisses me off that you make such heinous accusations. He announced his year-long LOA after he was pressured by the Tucson media to make a decision. It had nothing to do with the signing of the letters of intent. It was bad timing and he was between a rock and a hard place. None of the recruits were put-off by the situation so once again, you’re making a big deal out of nothing. We’ve already been over the Rosborough situation so there’s no need to re-visit that. Vegasallen reiterated the question I asked (and you couldn’t answer).
It’s fine to have opinions about things. It’s not fine to base your opinions on conjecture, rumors, logical fallacies and personal hatred.
P.S. How did you like that spanking my Eagles put on your Cowboys on Sunday? When you can’t beat a non-playoff team at home in December, you won’t go far in the playoffs. Romo is a choke-artist.
— AZCoachB 12/19/2007 10:41 AM #
The Boys are in the playoffs and the Eagles are not. You have a head coach that puts football over family and now can’t seem to run either. So, talk all you want. Personally, I blame Yoko Romo (aka Jessica Simpson) for that disgraceful effort.
As for Rosborough, he did lose his job. He is now behind a desk having been put out to pasture. Lute said everyone’s job was secure, and then Roz was demoted. Looks like a lie, sounds like a lie, smells like a lie, hmmmmmm.
That y’all deny that this is a lie strains the bounds of credulity. The spin is, hey, what’ the big deal? He’s still getting paid, isn’t he? I suppose, using your line of reasoning, it would have been acceptable to send Roz down to Campbell farms to shovel horse manure. After all, he would still have a job and he would still be getting paid. Face it, your boy told a whopper and there is nothing that you can do to cover it up.
The thing is, AZCoachB, is that you and other fans put these guys on pedestals and when something happens that doesn’t quite fit into the image you’ve dreamed up, you blow up. So, it turns out, you don’t know the man at all. All you have is a few conversations with the man and a model image based on nothing but a media created persona. That’s why, when Lute did lie last spring, you automatically went into spin mode as your brain had a core meltdown and you had to come up with reasonable explanation for an otherwise ugly event.
So, what’s the spin going to be from you when Lute announces after the season that he is not coming back?
— Robert 12/19/2007 11:41 AM #
AHA! I knew it. This all comes back to the Rosborough situation. Yet again, your opinion is based on faulty logic.
“Lute said everyone’s job was secure.”
According to who? The only person who ever said that was Rosborough who said “A few weeks ago, Lute told me my coaching job was secure.” Source here. So basically it comes down to a case of He Said/He Said and you’re taking Rosborough’s side. I’m taking Olson’s side. That’s fine but your entire case in this argument comes down to a quote from Rosborough the day after he originally refused the offer that Olson gave him and he was clearly upset. That’s pretty weak.
Olson is on record as having said “There will be an adjustment, but no one from the staff will not have a position and there will be no financial cutbacks for anybody.” Source here. So basically, what Lute said and what he did were completely accurate.
The only controversy comes when you start assuming things that have no merit. Unfortunately for you Robert, most people in the real world don’t operate like that.
You’ll probably come up with some BS excuse for your perpetually illogical argument but rest assured, you are wrong. I gave you evidence. You gave me nothing of the sort. Point, case. It’s over, buddy. It’s time to give up.
— AZCoachB 12/19/2007 12:26 PM #
BTW, If there was a promise of sorts to poor coach Roz, it was kept. He still has a job at the same pay. The bonus is we have a better/tougher basketkall team. Congrats to Coach Olson for a win/win solution!!!!!!
— vegasallen 12/19/2007 01:09 PM #
If Roz were smart, he would take a LOA and then collect a paycheck for the rest of the year :)
AZCoachB,
Yes, I am taking Roz at his word. Why would I not? And by the way, Lute, to my knowledge did not make a statement denying that he said that.
So, at the end of the day, you are giving more credence to Lute because what? He made a puplic statement that conforms to your argument? That makes some difference? Hey, if Roger Clemens says in a public statement that he never once used steroids does that automatically make it true? If Marion Jones denies having used performance enhancing drugs, does that make it true?
Stop the hero worship and look at what is right in front of you. It’s not that hard to connect the dots here, but you are so freakin’ myopic in your love of all things Lute that in your eyes, he can do no evil.
By the way, briging in O’neill was the right thing to do, but if you expect me to believe that the firing of Roz, hiring O’neill, and LOA are mutually exclusive events, well….........
— Robert 12/19/2007 02:26 PM #
Don’t be such a drama queen. Roz didn’t get thrown under the bus. Hes still getting paid, hes working a cake job fundraising. I’d switch jobs with him in a heartbeat (along with many others). You can’t clearly look at the end result of anything. But in this post I will focus on the Roz situation.
At first glance, it did look like he got fired. Hes still collecting his paycheck, so thats NOT TRUE.
At second glance, you could say he got demoted. In all reality, it could be better described as a position transfer. Hes still involved in the athletic department. If you are correct about Lute wanting to retire this year, he would have either been on the street/retired, or in a simular position that hes currently in. So regardless of the past few months, hes in the same place.
Finally, was he usurped by KO?Could he really have been the interim head coach? Everyone with a memory that can reach all the way back to Y2K can remember how well the team played when Lute left when Bobbi passed. I don’t think he ever had a chance of replacing Lute.
So how exactly was he betrayed? Get real, I don’t feel bad for Roz. The UofA is taking care of him for all of his years of dedication and hard work. He stated in his last interview that he likes his job. He also likes having time with his wife, and having personal time during the season.
Cry your tears for someone who needs it.
— chi_cat 12/19/2007 04:00 PM #
You, too, have a career ahead of you in politics, or at least in the practice of law :) If the general is called home from the front and placed behind a desk to ride out the rest of his days until retirement, it’s a demotion.
Of course, what else would you expect Roz to say about his new job? I’m sure he wants to collect the paycheck, and if he mouths off about how the job blows, that may be put into jeapordy.
— Robert 12/19/2007 05:32 PM #
“There will be an adjustment,” Olson said. “But no one from the staff will not have a position and there will be no financial cutbacks for anybody.”
Just because it’s not “to your knowledge” doesn’t mean it’s not to the rest of the world’s knowledge. I don’t know how much more cut and dry this case gets. It’s fork time. You’re done.
— AZCoachB 12/19/2007 07:12 PM #
— Bronson 12/19/2007 07:43 PM #
You live in a dreamworld, you deny reality, and then when someone else doesn’t agree with you, you label them a moron, when clearly you are the one working with less than a full deck. Your opinion carries so little weight.
— Bronson 12/19/2007 07:46 PM #
News Flash: Long time assistant basketball coach Roz Rosborough, no relation to the former Dodger and Twins catcher, came to work with whistle around his neck and a Final Four tune on his lips only to find his office bare and a note on the door remanding him to the PR cakewalk facility. We wish him the best of luck. Readers are invited to project their good cop/bad cop scenarios here.
Roz was apparently a great assistant and a good guy. But the program needed a change, obviously.
— Talisman 12/20/2007 12:13 PM #