2008 Woodie Awards
Pelphrey's Easter surprise
Jeff's Rants
Jeff Poor
Issue date: 4/9/07 Section: Sports
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What did the Easter bunny put in my basket this year? Hmm ... a chocolate rabbit, one of those nauseating Cadbury eggs, some fake grass, oh and a head coaching vacancy at the University of South Alabama. This time I can say it and actually mean it - I don't want to say, "I told you so," but I told you so. It was inevitable, John Pelphrey, "the anointed one" was heading for greener pastures.
The aftermath of Pelphrey's departure remains to be seen, but one has to wonder if USA Athletic Director Joe Gottfried saw this coming. The timing was never right on the money for Pelphrey to decide to leave, but the constant courting of transfer players had to be an indicator Pelphrey was seeking success sooner than later and not by seeking a long-term strategy in which he would sign high school players and cultivate them throughout their four years at the University of South Alabama.
Pelphrey met with team members Sunday to tell them of his decision and it remains to be seen as to who will be staying and who will be going.
As far as recruiting, timing really isn't of the essence, with the exception of Louisville's Jonathan Huffman.
So what's next for the University of South Alabama men's basketball program? Being it is early Monday morning prior to deadline, I'm going to throw out a few names as to who could be the heir apparent to the coveted Jaguar throne.
Right, your first inclination is to think big, well, as big as being at USA will allow. There's absolutely no hope of landing a big name if you base it on the fact that John Pelphrey left South Alabama to be Arkansas' sixth-best choice as head coach.
Sure, we can try to win a big name over with charm - come to Mobile, we'll wine you and dine you at Wintzell's Oyster House and get you a membership at Magnolia Grove to swat golf balls with Dale Adams on your Tuesday afternoons.
We'll even throw in other perks like living in the shadow of University of Alabama legendary head coach Mark Gottfried.
But I digress. I get giddy with the prospects of another addition to the South Alabama family.
The aftermath of Pelphrey's departure remains to be seen, but one has to wonder if USA Athletic Director Joe Gottfried saw this coming. The timing was never right on the money for Pelphrey to decide to leave, but the constant courting of transfer players had to be an indicator Pelphrey was seeking success sooner than later and not by seeking a long-term strategy in which he would sign high school players and cultivate them throughout their four years at the University of South Alabama.
Pelphrey met with team members Sunday to tell them of his decision and it remains to be seen as to who will be staying and who will be going.
As far as recruiting, timing really isn't of the essence, with the exception of Louisville's Jonathan Huffman.
So what's next for the University of South Alabama men's basketball program? Being it is early Monday morning prior to deadline, I'm going to throw out a few names as to who could be the heir apparent to the coveted Jaguar throne.
Right, your first inclination is to think big, well, as big as being at USA will allow. There's absolutely no hope of landing a big name if you base it on the fact that John Pelphrey left South Alabama to be Arkansas' sixth-best choice as head coach.
Sure, we can try to win a big name over with charm - come to Mobile, we'll wine you and dine you at Wintzell's Oyster House and get you a membership at Magnolia Grove to swat golf balls with Dale Adams on your Tuesday afternoons.
We'll even throw in other perks like living in the shadow of University of Alabama legendary head coach Mark Gottfried.
But I digress. I get giddy with the prospects of another addition to the South Alabama family.
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