Sid Hartman on U hiring Pitino: "Teague hit the jackpot"

per Sid:

Basketball coach Richard Pitino also could be in line for some bonuses if the Gophers continue to make a good showing.

Said Teague: “[Pitino’s] doing a great job. He’s a special guy. He knows how to run a program. As I said before, he grew up with it and those that grew up with it — I’ve seen it in the administrative realm or the coaching realm — those that had mothers or fathers that were in college athletics and were around it, they tend to be ahead of the curve. Richard grew up on the practice court with the Celtics with his dad [Louisville coach Rick Pitino], and at Kentucky shooting baskets with his brothers on the side while his dad was coaching. He’s seen it from a great coach, and he’s been a superior addition to Gopher athletics.”

I am one of many who disagreed with the firing of Tubby Smith and bringing in a young basketball coach with a lack of experience.

But the way things turned out, Teague hit the jackpot. The bigger issue will be the university’s ability to be keep Pitino once he gets a good recruiting class and consistently wins.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/245296481.html

Go Gophers!!

Pitino is doing ok in a down Big 10 this year. We will see how he does as we go forward.

Sid: 'What # choice do you think you were, genius'?

Correct Saul. Tubby would have been awesome this year without lil Dre Malik and King!!!!

Sid: I think they made a terrible decision by firing the coach.

Sid a month later: The new coach is probably the best ever and he is a close personal friend.

Where have I heard this before? After all these years I might have Sid figured out.

Fundraising update

Teague, who came from Virginia Commonwealth to become Gophers AD in April of 2012, also was asked about the status of the $190 million fundraising project to try to improve athletic facilities around campus.

“We’re finishing our fundraising feasibility study actually in the next 10 days, and things are looking good,” he said. “We’re always getting some gifts; we haven’t gone public with any of those. But we’ll make some more announcements in the coming months. Things have been very good. I’m excited about the prospects. People are responding and our feasibility study has been very positive.”

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This is the best part of Sid's article. Get it done Norwood!

Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0 said:

This is the best part of Sid's article. Get it done Norwood!

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The Regents and President Kaler are awakening a sleeping giant in Gopher sports. Keeping Norwood is as important as keeping Pitino and Kill. Let's get this practice facility built! Support Woody on this to your max extent.

Vintage Sid.