There were four jobs open this weekend that AD's were interviewing candidates for in Atlanta: Kentucky, Arkansas, Michigan and Iowa. Most people looked at this situation and figured Dana Altman was a candidate for one of those positions -- Iowa -- and I felt if they asked him, allowed him to bring along his assistants, and showed a commitment to win, he'd take the job. And the Hawkeyes did indeed talk to him on Sunday. Problem was, he'd already been talking to someone else for two days, and had reached an agreement in principal to leave Omaha.
Arkansas.
Arkansas?
Arkansas!
The Razorbacks are a better program than Iowa. They're probably the second best program, tradition-wise, in the SEC, and one of the 10 best jobs in the country. They're in the weaker SEC West away from Florida and Kentucky, the team is loaded for a deep tournament run next year, and its unquestionably a basketball-first school. Its also a job with tremendous pressure to win big. As my buddy John described it, they've won a National Championship in the last 20 years and they want to win another one.
Its a great promotion, a great job with a passionate fanbase, and I don't fault him for a minute for doing something to advance his career. I understand the food chain of coaching -- no matter where you are, there's always somewhere bigger. No matter where you are. Even a top-five job like Kansas can see their coach leave for a top-three job like North Carolina. So certainly, I understand that a top-forty job like Creighton can lose their coach to a top-ten job.
On the flip side, while I don't for a moment pretend to know what is and isn't a good fit for him personally, it seems like an uncomfortable fit. He's never been one to enjoy the press and answering criticism from fans, and now he'll have to do much more than a 3-minute postgame talk with T. Scott. He'll have to do call-in radio shows, coaches television shows and huge fundraising banquets statewide. He's a laid-back, Midwest guy who is now coaching in the South.
Winning 20 games, an occasional first-round game and nothing more will not lead to a huge raise, but a pink slip. Of course, that's the pessimistic view. The opportunity for much greater things is also there.
He mentioned in his press conference that one major difference in his mind was that at CU, you could take a chance on a few project players that in their third-or-fourth year could blossom into good players. At Arkansas, you can't do that. In other words, there won't be any Pierce Hibma's playing for Arkansas. He said that while he's had NBA talent at Creighton, it took four or five years for them to develop into that -- a luxury you can afford there. Wow.
How about this quote from Anthony Tolliver in the Omaha World-Herald? "It definitely surprised me because I thought he'd finish his career here. I thought he was more committed to Creighton than that."
Ouch. That hurts.
What about the returning players? Dane Watts told Action 3 News that with the entire coaching staff now in Arkansas, its up to him as the lone returning Senior starter to be a surrogate coach -- make sure workouts are lined up, guys are going to class, and staying out of trouble. That's a lot of responsibility for a young guy.
Could it really be that Dane Watts, Nick Bahe and Pierce Hibma -- the three seniors to be -- are now the most important players in CU history? Its up to them to keep this ship from sinking, so at least for the immediate future, they ARE the most important players.
So how the hell did this happen? I went back through everything Monday night, and here's a recap of Black Monday.
7:33 am | An Arkansas fan posts a message on the Bluejay Cafe with text of an email itinerary for the Arkansas Razorback Foundation private plane. Itinerary was Fayetteville to Atlanta, then Atlanta to...Omaha. The itinerary is valid. WTF??
8:01 am | Frantic Bluejay fans, perhaps just arriving at the office, speculate whether this is a cruel hoax, an April Fools Joke a day late, or whether DA is really flying back to Omaha aboard the Razorback Express.
8:14 am | I get a private confirmation from someone confirming my worst fears: this is no joke. Dana is the new Arkansas coach.
8:16 am | LincolnJay, one of the most respected sources of inside info on the Cafe starts the thread that marks the beginning of the end -- "Dana is going to Arkansas". The contents of that post? "This is the hardest thing I've ever had to post but I have it on good authority that this is going down today. I'm sick."
8:17 am | My heart is palpable in my throat. This is no joke.
8:41 am | FoxSports.com is the first to post an article. The headline of that article? "Altman Leaving Creighton For Arkansas". I want to break something now. Anything. I settle for throwing first my left shoe, then my right. Not yet satisfied, I then lament for perhaps the first time the fact that I do not have a third foot.
8:54 am | Word that DA is taking his assistants with him leaks. Taking his entire staff? Nice.
9:37 am | CBSSportsline is now reporting Dana Altman is the new Arkansas coach.
9:39 am | Jays fans begin fighting amongst themselves.
10:06 am | Anger and bitterness start setting in.
10:19 am | The rumor mill now has Athletic Director Bruce Rasmussen following DA to Arkansas as Director of Basketball Operations. Now the real anger starts bubbling to the surface: DA leaves with all of his coaches AND no one to hire his replacement? The year after almost all of his scoring, rebounding and assists graduate? Not the way to leave a legacy, chief.
3:04 pm | Conflicted reports: Rasmussen is now staying, but DA and his entire staff are indeed in Fayetteville and will be introduced at 5:00.
5:00 pm | With an awkward Wooo-Pig-Sooey, Dana Altman is introduced as the head coach at Arkansas. A 20 out of 10 on the unintentional comedy scale, if I hadn't thrown up in my mouth. For the next 40 minutes, I continue to throw up in my mouth as Dana talks about "our program", "our players" and "our school" -- and I realize he's not talking about Creighton.
6:45 pm | Creighton President Fr. Schlegel convenes a press conference in the Old Gym by calling it a "bittersweet day". He thanks Coach Altman for 13 great years, and announces his excitement for the next chapter in Creighton Basketball.
6:49 pm | Creighton AD Bruce Rasmussen announces the start of a nationwide search for the next coach, politically dodging the question of whether he's following to Arkansas by saying "Well, I'm not in Arkansas, am I? I plan on staying here as long as my bosses will allow me." Odd answer.
8:02 pm | The sun sets and Creighton has no coach for the first time in 13 years.
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I am left with one question at the end of the day. Was Altman really loyal to Creighton all these years, or just waiting for someone to give him what he wanted so he could move on? Remember, he turned down the Illinois job for one reason -- he wasn't allowed to bring his staff along. I'm beginning to think he would have taken any job -- ANY job -- if it was in a big-six league and he got to bring along his coaches. Pfft.
Arkansas? Great job, but it looked like an awkward fit at the presser and it seems like a rash decision -- made in two days. Tony Barone and Rick Apke regretted leaving Creighton years later. I really sincerely hope DA does not share this sentiment in ten years time. Here's to many great years in Fayetteville, Coach, and I hope we get a chance to play a home-and-home with the Razorbacks soon so you can make a return to Omaha.
Now then...Get on it, Rass. Hire us a good one. I have all the faith in the world that you will.
You bet.
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