April 4, 2007

Before You Call This Crazy....

(In the interest of full disclosure, this site was started and is being maintained by a Florida Gator who does not want Billy Donovan to leave Gainesville. Therefore, I have decided to propose a new candidate for the job of University of Kentucky Men's Head Basketball Coach)

... Why Not Her??? Why Not Now???

On the day after her 7th (yeah, S-E-V-E-N-T-H) NCAA Championship, fans of the game and of the woman ask the same question that was asked after her last NCAA Championship (which came at the end of a historic 3-peat)... 'where is there to go from here?' Can anyone really see Pat Summit sitting on the sidelines coaching a WNBA team with less than 2,000 people in the stands? There is certainly no other Women's NCAA coaching position that would pose any threat to the Tennessee boosters (unlike the Florida/Kentucky debate with Billy D). NBA... I don't think the egos could stand it. But why not NCAA Men's ('Men' is used very loosely here) hoops? If that is possible, why should such a proven entity need to work her way up from the bottom like so many others? If the jump were to be made, it should be made with a leap all the way to the top of the mountain.

Now, there have been thoughts of Summitt coaching NCAA men's teams in the past, but never with a job opening such as this. She has stated no intention to coach men and little, if any, desire to do so either. However, every occupation at some point has a ceiling. In the job of "Women's Head Basketball Coach", Pat has roared through it like Charlie in the Great Glass Elevator. But she is still young and probably has some of her most brilliant coaching left in her. If you are content at the top, Pat, that is great and I hope you are happy for the rest of your career. Forgive me for saying that it would be contrary to the a-typical 'coach' mentality that is always being drilled into the heads of fans.

With the Billy Donovan talk, much centers around 'ego'. Talking heads say that the minds of coaches like him or Pitino, or others are focused on being the BMOC (BWOC in this case). Money and glitz are nice, but we are led to believe that the glamour is the real key. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of glamour when you are the Queen. And you are, Coach, undoubtedly the Queen of College Basketball. If you are anything like the male counterparts that are described to us fans, you must, at least sometimes, imagine what it would be like to be King for a season, no?

NCAA hoops is at it's best when its played with X's & O's, and almost every sports talk personality on the radio today (again, the day after her 7th NCAA Championship) are in agreement that Pat Summitt is one of the best X's & O's coaches in the history of basketball, at any level. There is no doubt that she could do it. But success, unfortunately, would not be based on how well she draws up plays or designs defensive schemes. Success in this scenario would be wholly dependent on a group of 18-22 year old boys... I mean men... being willing to take orders and learn from a woman... just after having moved away from 'Mom'.

I, for one, think the right kids are out there. I think that a good recruiter is a good recruiter and could sell themselves and their programs to any player or parent. Once the kids are on board, some may not be able to handle it, but others will relish the opportunity... and therein lies success.

So, call this whole thing crazy if you want. Post your comments and rip me apart. For being crazy, for being a Gator, for whatever. But I still believe that if she can be had, there would be no better move for Kentucky (including Billy D... imagine the pressure coming off of back-to-back's?) than hiring Pat Summitt as their next coach.

(I hope coach Rupp doesn't get dizzy from all the rolling over)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

sounds good to me.. get back to pure bball.. maybe she can teach them to shoot lights out like most girls at that level do. if all starters shot at leat 80% from the line, you win all close games. as we have learned from bill d., women have a big say in the house.. what mom wouldn't want her lookin after her boy? all the raciest stuff you hear about kentucky bball, being the first major d1 team to have a woman would go real far.