Written by: SteveKaplowitz 4/19/2008 9:45 AM
Now that Tony Barbee has withdrawn his name from consideration for the UMass opening, will Miner fans start to warm up to him more? I don't know the answer to this question, but I do know that it's a great start for UTEP to capitalize on. The Athletic Department should build on this, by making Barbee attend more community functions and cooperate more with local media. This will help him get more fan support and it could only help attendance. Since nobody knows for sure what led to Barbee's decision, here's my guess on what went down. John Calipari, who Barbee played and coached for, told the UTEP head coach that he wanted to push Memphis assistant Derek Kellogg for the UMass job. Barbee and Kellogg were teammates together at UMass amd both were assistants together at Memphis. Then, Barbee landed the UTEP job while Kellogg stayed with Cal at Memphis. Kellogg is a Massachussetts native, and considers the coaching opening in Amherst a "dream job." Cal tells Barbee that he already has a good job in El Paso, and he takes the Miners back to the NCAA Tournament, he can get a much bigger job than UMass. Barbee listens to his mentor and announces he's not a candidate for the UMass job.
Now that Tony Barbee has withdrawn his name from consideration for the UMass opening, will Miner fans start to warm up to him more? I don't know the answer to this question, but I do know that it's a great start for UTEP to capitalize on. The Athletic Department should build on this, by making Barbee attend more community functions and cooperate more with local media. This will help him get more fan support and it could only help attendance.
Since nobody knows for sure what led to Barbee's decision, here's my guess on what went down. John Calipari, who Barbee played and coached for, told the UTEP head coach that he wanted to push Memphis assistant Derek Kellogg for the UMass job. Barbee and Kellogg were teammates together at UMass amd both were assistants together at Memphis. Then, Barbee landed the UTEP job while Kellogg stayed with Cal at Memphis. Kellogg is a Massachussetts native, and considers the coaching opening in Amherst a "dream job." Cal tells Barbee that he already has a good job in El Paso, and he takes the Miners back to the NCAA Tournament, he can get a much bigger job than UMass. Barbee listens to his mentor and announces he's not a candidate for the UMass job.