Spring Break
Capel leak likely used for own leverage
FLETCHER PAGE
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: Sports
|
It's not going to happen. But there is more coaching buzz to get Georgia fans through these lean times.
On Sunday, FoxSports.com's Jeff Goodman reported that Georgia is prepared to offer Oklahoma head coach Jeff Capel $2 million to take over the Bulldogs. Fans should rejoice, even if Capel never sets foot in Stegeman Coliseum.
If you have the luxury of ordering off the menu, you need to get what you want. And this offer proves Evans is hungry.
Names have flown around, such as Knight, Virginia Commonwealth's Anthony Grant and Xavier's Sean Miller. But Capel is intriguing because he's been successful despite his youth and inexperience at a major university until the Sooners hired him.
Capel is one of the coaching profession's up-and-comers, a winner at every level. As a player at Duke, Capel was a four-year starter, totaling 1,601 points and 433 assists.
Capel's on-court traits and successes translated over in his first head coaching stint at Virginia Commonwealth. The Rams won 79 games during Capel's four-year tenure, making the NCAA Tournament in 2004 for the first time in almost a decade.
Capel moved to Oklahoma in 2006 inheriting a program mired in controversy after the Jim Harrick-esque Kelvin Sampson left the Sooners for his now, and not surprisingly, former job at Indiana. In his third year in Norman, Capel has the Sooners playing for a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament while ranked No. 4 in the latest rankings.
However, there are plenty of reasons why this story could have leaked and why Capel will end up staying in Norman or going elsewhere. The $2 million provides more leverage than Rosie O'Donnell on a see-saw. Oklahoma will have the chance to match it, and it now knows what it will take to keep its rising star. Also, higher prestige jobs, such as the potential opening at Arizona could lure Capel, too.
Let's be honest here. If it comes down to similar contract dollars from Oklahoma, Arizona and Georgia, where do you think Capel is inking? Somewhere west of Georgia would be my guess. But at least Evans has the Bulldogs in the mix, if this potential offer is true.
If Georgia offers and misses on Capel, it will be a downer. But Georgia's offer has to have him thinking. Regardless of Capel's final destination, Evans has the Bulldogs' coaching search providing hope and generating excitement through aspiring to grab a legitimate cornerstone figure.
- Fletcher Page is a sportswriter for The Red & Black
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Jeff Capel Ain't Coming
posted 3/05/09 @ 12:42 PM EST
Dear god, please quit with the wannabe Rick Reilly articles.
Bill
posted 3/05/09 @ 12:45 PM EST
It's extremely doubtful that Capel leaked this. If this was leaked after the season, then, yes, maybe. No coach with a top 5 team would leak a potential distraction like this in the middle of their season. (Continued…)
Jeff
posted 3/05/09 @ 1:33 PM EST
I would think you are right, Bill. Although this would provide leverage for Capel financially...to me a move doesn't make sense. I wouldn't think the decision would even hinder on money. (Continued…)
Post a Comment