He was also on with Barriero today, basically saying word for word (literally) the same drivel he told Reusse. He did talk a bit about being Chris Farley's high school football coach, which was interesting, and which I didn't know.
So it was drivel but you listened to it twice? Wow!
Didn't listen to Reusse. Nothing earth-shattering, but certainly not drivel unless you know it all because of your vast administrative background. I thought Barriero did a pretty good job asking questions showing he's still a journalist, and I thought Maturi did a pretty good job answering what he wanted to answer showing he's an administrator.
Barriero started out on the fluff Farley stuff buttering up Maturi. Then he went on to praise the Kill hiring. Maybe just me, but when Barriero starts on Kill, I wonder, "Okay, I know you killed Barriero, and are pretending to be him, but why are you so positive?"
Lot of time spent on Tubby. There is no buyout any more; the extension has been in the works for over a year; and lawyers seem to be the reason it hasn't been done. Didn't get specific, but said there are all sorts of little issues that can hang these things up. Said Tubby has told him repeatedly he's happy here and is planning on coaching here next year. Barriero did try to get at why Tubby always leaves the wording a bit vague. Maturi didn't have a real good answer but pointed out a question on Tubby's show was worded, "Do you expect to be back next year?" Tubby answered, "Yes, I expect to be back." Barriero asked directly what Tubby was promised about a practice facility. He was told they had just finished the funding on a new football stadium. The baseball stadium and the practice facility would be attended to next. They have been working on both, but donors had been generous on the football stadium and the economy had gone bad since then. They were continuing to work on both, but it's slow. If Barriero was better informed, he might have asked why there has been no big drive on the practice facility, but he didn't. Maturi said a couple of times that he would be surprised if Tubby didn't come back, but he wouldn't be shocked. That's simply how it is in this day and age.
Barriero asked about Lucia then. Maturi said that Lucia hasn't forgotten how to coach. He alluded to other issues which I assume was Lucia's illness. Said Lucia does a lot of things right. Academics and compliance were specifically mentioned. Barriero should have pressed him on players leaving early and the knock that they don't improve. Maturi was happy to let that slip.
Unlike the Pope, I do care about women's basketball. He said Borton's team improved this year; they played hard; and she has a good recruiting class coming in. Those were all reasons he still has faith in her, and, since I do care and follow the team, I can't argue any of those things he said weren't true. Maturi used some of the same language with both Borton and Lucia. He still has faith, but winning is the bottom line, and those issues are being addressed for next year. Obviously, "How are they being addressed?" should have been asked but wasn't.
Finally, Barriero asked Maturi about his own status. Maturi repeated what already had been told. He was offered an extension but felt that the new president should have the option of picking his own director. They'll visit that in the near future. Just so howda can sleep tonight, Maturi very pointedly said he's 66 and something like he's been doing this for a long time.
Have no idea what Barriero said after Maturi was gone. Not sure I could do what these guys do. Rip someone constantly and then pretend it didn't happen or be ripped constantly and then pretend it didn't happen.
