The Kevin O'Neill Thing Is Too Good To Be True

by Achilles on Jun 23, 2009 4:11 PM PDT Comment 11 comments

The whole Kevin O'Neill story is going to be the gift that keeps on giving for UCLA fans.

One minute we were worried that SC would hire Ben Howland's best friend, and the next they hired one of the least liked people in the sport of basketball.

If you don't believe me, try listening to this interview Kevin O'Neill did with Dan Patrick today. Patrick basically gives up on him halfway through the interview.

But, maybe SC had no choice. This is what Gary Parrish had to say about the SC job:

To me, it sounds like the type of job you take if you are unemployed, unhappy (or unsafe) at your spot, or a low-major coach (or high-major assistant) looking for a nice salary increase. Short of that, you don't touch this. And that's why USC shouldn't spend too much more time imagining a scenario that ends with a hire that garners national attention and reinvigorates the fanbase, because this search is not going to work that way.

Anybody pretending otherwise is living in a fantasy world.

For USC's sake, I hope athletic director Mike Garrett isn't one of them.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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I totally agree

The only good thing I’ve heard about KO is that he is an excellent ‘xs and os’ coach. Which isn’t much of a compliant. It truly looks like $c* is giving up on their basketball program… well, not that they ever had one.

Victory or until next year!

by ncrpz2 on Jun 23, 2009 1:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The link to the interview didn't work for me

I think this one works though.

by gradstudentbruin on Jun 23, 2009 1:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It wasn't that bad.

The guy was desperate for a job and SC was desperate for a coach. I thought he answered Patrick’s questions the best he could. You can’t just expect him to say, “This situation sucks. I was not the top choice. We have sanctions hanging over our heads. I don’t know how we’re going to recruit. Etc.” I’m sure O’Neill understands the situation he’s in, but it’s now his job to be as positive as he can be about USC Basketball.

by Bruin Roar on Jun 23, 2009 4:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

His situation makes me think of Gomer Pyle's immortal line to his date

“Fer a fat girl, ya don’t sweat much.” That’s about the best what’s his name could come up with. (I just can’t remember the guy’s name. Well, he probably can’t remember mine either.)

by Fox 71 on Jun 23, 2009 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

But, You Know,

He could have been positive but serious about it, without being emotional, instead of being so flippant. It’s more of the same “I don’t know,” (chuckle, chortle)…“I didn’t ask that…”

If I were a Trojie BB fan, (I know, when pigs orbit the earth like satellites, but if), I would appreciate a new incoming coach that approached this like an actual job to be done, a very challenging task that was being entrusted to that person…I would actually want to hear someone who sounds determined and professional about his new role, and aware, at least, of the need for some real change.

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Jun 23, 2009 7:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but ...

Coach Howland has talked about having his dream job and being the caretaker for Coach’s program. That’s the mindset in Westwood. The new guy at just$c*, O’Tool or whatever it is, is unlikely to have the same mind set. His priorities are (1) make sure the check clears every month, (2) get the speech ready about how none of it happened on my watch, and (3) pay daily homage to the football coach, for whom I could become a living sacrifice at any moment. O’Tool had to have been absolutely desperate.

And now that the job is filled, let’s think again about the Jamie Dixon rumor. Just think about it. There is no way in the world that Dixon would have taken a job at Stinking Cesspool. Whoever started that rumor was either joking (once when I worked at TWA my department started a rumor that we were going to be acquired by Winchell’s Donuts, and it actually got a little traction) or intensely stupid or from another planet.

by Fox 71 on Jun 24, 2009 3:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Don't Doubt

that they wanted Dixon, there was just no chance they were going to get him…not now, maybe not ever. I think that they must be pretty used to getting what they want, so it was easy for them to just assume they would, indeed, be able to hire Dixon as their basketball coach. Hence, the “we’re getting Jamie Dixon” rumor.

Really, it’s like dealing with a child: You discuss having a pool put in with your husband, and your 10 year old tells all her friends, “We’re getting a swimming pool!” They all then show up at your front door with towels and floaties in hand.

Tim Floyd: “I’m going to go coach for Arizona.” (Hope he didn’t show up with a floatie…embarrassing.)

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Jun 24, 2009 7:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Timmeh should consider himself lucky that he wasn't a floatie himself

If a certain hypotheticl football coach perceived that Timmeh’s violations were getting so obvious it might draw attention to the football team, Timmeh may well have found himself with concrete floaties out beyone Catalina. I don’t mean to imply that this certain hypothetical is anything other than a humanitarian, of course.

by Fox 71 on Jun 24, 2009 7:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He'd Be

a “sinkie,” then.

;-)

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Jun 24, 2009 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

His interview=waste of time

He didn’t answer any questions.

He is buddies with Timmeh and talks to him all the time, yet has never asked him what the hell happened and why he quit so suddenly. Who’s buying that one? You wouldn’t ask your friend what happened? He could tell DP that they discussed what happened but he didn’t feel comfortable disclosing it on the air. But he says they have never discussed it. Ok. Right.

I know he’s a “legendary” recruiter and all but good luck to him recruiting when he has to look parents of recruits in the eye and answer their questions about sanctions.

SC* deserves this guy, just like they deserve the disaster Timmeh left behind.

by Barnes2JJ on Jun 24, 2009 8:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Of course he had to dodge the implied Timmeh pay-off questions. I’m more concerned with the brand of basketball he’s going to implement. over there. I hope he doesn’t go stall ball. I don’t want to watch Ben beating him in those 53-43 type games. The hire was an act of desperation on both parties.

by beachbruin on Jun 25, 2009 10:07 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs