BleedGopher
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Marcus says an offer is on the table, Shooter says it is not. What is a sports editor to do?!
Shooter Now: Gophers' Tubby Smith says he has not been offered Oregon job
By Charley Walters
Updated: 03/30/2010 04:42:14 PM CDT
University of Minnesota Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith said today he has no idea where rumors have emanated that he's being considered for various coaching jobs.
"I don't know; I haven't been contacted by anybody," Smith said.
On Monday, the Pioneer Press reported that Oregon had offered Smith the job for in excess of $2 million per year, citing a person with knowledge of the situation. Smith said today he has not been offered the job.
"No, zero," Smith said emphatically. "I don't know how that got out there. It could be that we're in the process of getting an (contract) extension and stuff here."
The Pioneer Press also reported Monday that University of Minnesota president Bob Bruininks said the school is working on an extension for Smith. Minnesota also is planning a $20 million basketball practice facility to be built near Williams Arena.
"So it might be those things, I don't know," Smith said.
Smith, 58, has four years remaining on his Minnesota contract that pays him $1.8 million annually. I asked him how many more years he would like on an extension.
"I don't know; that's up to my lawyer and those people who work with me," he said. "My whole thing is that we're comfortable here, we like where we're going, we like what we've done with the program, we like the kids we've got coming back, we like the kids we've signed and we're going to sign more."
Rumors and reports have linked Smith to jobs including Oregon, Georgia Tech and Auburn.
"It was crazy," he said. "I haven't sent any signals out there that I'm ready to move."
So Smith is staying at Minnesota?
"I never say never," he said. "I've been through it before, and you never say no because if you do, it makes you look like a fool. I'm just saying today, the thing is that we're happy here."
Suppose Phil Knight, the multibillionaire Nike, Inc., chairman and Oregon grad who is an influential booster for his alma mater, were to, through Oregon, make Smith an offer he couldn't refuse? Oregon is without an athletic director.
"I'm not getting into any hypotheticals," Smith said. "That's why I said, and always say, 'at this time.'
"It's just like anything else. When I go into a recruit's home, I say, 'You know what, son, I could walk out this door and a car could hit me. So make this decision on this is where you want to go to school, where you want to get an education. Old coach Smith, anything could happen to him. So just know that's the way life is.' "
Smith said he expects to coach at Minnesota next season.
"I expect to be here next year, yeah," he said.
Still, you never know what offer could be forthcoming.
"Oh, shoot, if somebody comes in here with something crazy, something stupid ..." he said.
The Smith drama, though, could continue for at least another month. Gophers athletics director Joel Maturi said today that if Smith were to leave before April 30, he would owe Minnesota $1 million as part of his contract buyout.
After April 30, though, there is no contract buyout. Smith would be free to leave without financial penalty.
http://www.twincities.com/ci_14785555?nclick_check=1
Go Gophers!!
Shooter Now: Gophers' Tubby Smith says he has not been offered Oregon job
By Charley Walters
Updated: 03/30/2010 04:42:14 PM CDT
University of Minnesota Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith said today he has no idea where rumors have emanated that he's being considered for various coaching jobs.
"I don't know; I haven't been contacted by anybody," Smith said.
On Monday, the Pioneer Press reported that Oregon had offered Smith the job for in excess of $2 million per year, citing a person with knowledge of the situation. Smith said today he has not been offered the job.
"No, zero," Smith said emphatically. "I don't know how that got out there. It could be that we're in the process of getting an (contract) extension and stuff here."
The Pioneer Press also reported Monday that University of Minnesota president Bob Bruininks said the school is working on an extension for Smith. Minnesota also is planning a $20 million basketball practice facility to be built near Williams Arena.
"So it might be those things, I don't know," Smith said.
Smith, 58, has four years remaining on his Minnesota contract that pays him $1.8 million annually. I asked him how many more years he would like on an extension.
"I don't know; that's up to my lawyer and those people who work with me," he said. "My whole thing is that we're comfortable here, we like where we're going, we like what we've done with the program, we like the kids we've got coming back, we like the kids we've signed and we're going to sign more."
Rumors and reports have linked Smith to jobs including Oregon, Georgia Tech and Auburn.
"It was crazy," he said. "I haven't sent any signals out there that I'm ready to move."
So Smith is staying at Minnesota?
"I never say never," he said. "I've been through it before, and you never say no because if you do, it makes you look like a fool. I'm just saying today, the thing is that we're happy here."
Suppose Phil Knight, the multibillionaire Nike, Inc., chairman and Oregon grad who is an influential booster for his alma mater, were to, through Oregon, make Smith an offer he couldn't refuse? Oregon is without an athletic director.
"I'm not getting into any hypotheticals," Smith said. "That's why I said, and always say, 'at this time.'
"It's just like anything else. When I go into a recruit's home, I say, 'You know what, son, I could walk out this door and a car could hit me. So make this decision on this is where you want to go to school, where you want to get an education. Old coach Smith, anything could happen to him. So just know that's the way life is.' "
Smith said he expects to coach at Minnesota next season.
"I expect to be here next year, yeah," he said.
Still, you never know what offer could be forthcoming.
"Oh, shoot, if somebody comes in here with something crazy, something stupid ..." he said.
The Smith drama, though, could continue for at least another month. Gophers athletics director Joel Maturi said today that if Smith were to leave before April 30, he would owe Minnesota $1 million as part of his contract buyout.
After April 30, though, there is no contract buyout. Smith would be free to leave without financial penalty.
http://www.twincities.com/ci_14785555?nclick_check=1
Go Gophers!!
