Let the gnashing of teeth begin over the Tampa Tri

[hightechbull]

Today's current Satan from the Tampa Tribune....  Martin Fennelly   [smiley=FIREdevil.gif]

http://www.tbo.com/sports/bulls/MGBG9XJSRZE.html

UMess Can't Run With The Big Boys

By MARTIN FENNELLY

Published: Mar 27, 2007

They couldn't lure a guy from the Big South to the Big East.

Welcome to the Big Mess.

What else is new with South Florida men's basketball?

Winthrop coach Gregg Marshall has joined the club and just said no.

The coach search continues. Rumors and intrigue will fly at the Final Four in Atlanta. Kentucky, Michigan and Arkansas have openings.

South Florida has a black hole.

USF athletic director Doug "Don't Call Me Lee Roy" Woolard might prowl Atlanta hotels in search of human blood, looking for the next Billy Donovan as the next Billy Donovans block his phone calls.

At least Florida is playing UCLA in the national semifinals. Woolard can use it to make one final run at John Wooden.

"No, Coach, you're 96 years young!"

Winthrop Coach Picks, Rolls

If you doubted USF basketball was a small-time operation in a big-time conference, here's proof.

The Bulls got played by a guy from Winthrop.

To review:

South Alabama's John Pelphrey interviewed, but wasn't interested. VCU's Anthony Grant didn't interview. UMass' Travis Ford didn't want any part of UMess. Stan Heath, fired by Arkansas, is interested.

Gregg Marshall? He simply used USF to sweeten his new deal at Winthrop. Yes, Winthrop.

Marshall and his wife actually toured the USF campus, but reportedly sensed something amiss. Seems every time Marshall asked to see the men's practice facility, Woolard clapped his hands and asked, "Who wants ice cream?"

The USF that held off Kansas State and Alabama football to keep Jim Leavitt can't dunk on Winthrop. How bad is that?

And it's not as if Woolard had any time - only another endless season of bad Robert McCullum basketball - to plot this search, to be ready to turn to top young assistants around the country, to know who they were and where they were, in case what is happening happened.

That's where leadership comes in.

Woolard at least had the right idea with Marshall, with more money, by tempting a winner at a "smaller" school to run with the big boys.

Only USF isn't a big boy.

Marshall actually accepted the head-coaching job at College of Charleston last year before changing his mind and returning, in tears, to Winthrop. USF didn't even get that far. There's no crying in USF coaching searches - yet.

Perception says this job is a career killer.

Has it ever seemed more real?

In fairness, this search might still be better than the legendary coaching search of 2003, when USF was so in over its head it was almost magical. The search was ordered by then-USF athletic director Lee Roy Selmon after Seth Greenberg left. It came up with McCullum.

One day, Lee Roy's self-described "point man" for that search was outside the coaches' hotel at the Final Four.

Point Man spotted a tall guy, silver hair.

He was stumped.

"He looks familiar," Point Man told a reporter.

It was Lute Olson.

He Just Didn't Need USF

The search goes on.

As for the Gregg that got away, Marshall has taken Winthrop to seven of the last nine NCAA Tournaments. He's a talent, just what USF needed, and a salesman, also just what USF really needed.

But he just doesn't need USF.

The search goes on.

Maybe Bulls brass can get some advice in Atlanta from Billy Donovan.

Short guy, dark hair.

Some people complain about Brett;  he never called USF "UMess".

The comments on this story should be interesting

[Jamie]

F the Tribune.

[Matt]

these are the same type of articles that martin always writes.  about anything...bucs, bolts, drays, bulls. anything.

he just likes to talk trash.  plus he looks like al from tool time.

[Matt]

although that "who wants ice cream" line is great

[Brad]

Brett has described USF in a lot of deragatory ways over recent years - think back to the Spring game two years ago.

As far as gopherboy (Fennelly), also known as Mr. Irrelevant, I predicted about two weeks ago he was due to come out of his hole and bash USF.  He loves to strike when he senses weakness.

Can't even read his stuff, its not even funny, just juvenile styled piling on.  

[Brad]

he just likes to talk trash.  plus he looks like al from tool time.

Al's not 4 foot, 3 inches nor does he look like a golf-course rodent.

[crambone]

grrrrrr

[Bull Matrix]

Didnt even read the article because it looks like a waste of my time.

[Guest Sprtsfn627]

Nobody's More Tampa  :

(Go drive on Fletcher by 275 if you don't know what I'm talking about)

[surfer]

What did Martin say in that column that isn't true?  Is it "good" news that Marshall turned the job down? Or that Pelphrey doesn't want it? Or that Travis Ford doesn't? :-?