Fresno State's new coach wants out of the WAC

[warriorfan808]

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/current/sp/ferd

Taking foul shot at WAC


"I've got to be careful because I don't want to offend WAC coaches, but, yes, I'll do everything I can to help get us into the Mountain West (Conference)."

— Steve Cleveland, new Fresno State men's basketball coach, in the Fresno Bee yesterday.



By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

You've got to love a basketball coach who, on his first day back in the Western Athletic Conference, paints a big, bold bull's-eye on his backside.

For there's nothing like talking down your upcoming competition in an introductory press conference before you've actually had so much as a winning season in the conference.

And to think some people thought the Bulldogs' coach would be boring now that Fresno State has pledged to clean up its act, again.

But along comes Cleveland, bailing out of a deteriorating (9-21) situation at Brigham Young, to plunge foot in mouth to tonsil depth in the best tradition of two of his Cougar predecessors, Frank Arnold and Roger Reid. Apparently, you can take the basketball coach out of BYU but you can't take the arrogance out of the coach.

Maybe the reported $500,000 a year deal — plus enhanced retirement benefits — went to Cleveland's head. Or, with less-than-overwhelming public perception of his hire he felt he had to say something outlandish. Either way, for somebody who has such potential to help make the WAC better by turning around Fresno's miscreant past and present, his first step was decidedly backwards.

"I was disappointed," said WAC commissioner Karl Benson.

"To sit there and say, 'we want to go to the Mountain West.' Why would you leave the Mountain West to come to the WAC if this wasn't as good as the Mountain West in your eyes?" said Hawai'i coach Riley Wallace.

Consider that over the past six seasons the WAC is 9-11 in the NCAA Tournament compared with the MWC's 5-14. And, in overall postseason (NCAA and National Invitation Tournament) appearances, the WAC is 22-21 to the MWC's 15-27.

"We feel like we have done as well — or better — than they have the last few years," said Wallace, the dean of WAC basketball coaches. "We think we have as good a league as the Mountain West and we've got to sell our own league. I thought all of our schools were committed by the presidents to sticking with the league and advancing it. I think he probably needs to visit with his president before he says things like that."

Clearly, Cleveland will have some explaining to do when the coaches meet next month.

Considering he was a combined 10-18 in WAC games in two seasons at BYU before the Cougars bolted the conference and his Cougars went 1-2 this season against teams that will be part of the conference in 2005-06, maybe Cleveland might want to win the WAC before he talks about leading Fresno State out of it.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044

[H20]

Good luck. He might want to think about winning the WAC first.

[Sportsbow]

"I've got to be careful because I don't want to offend WAC coaches, but, yes, I'll do everything I can to help get us into the Mountain West (Conference)."

I guess he didn't care in offending the WAC coaches. What an idiot!

[BigWave96744]

Consider that over the past six seasons the WAC is 9-11 in the NCAA Tournament compared with the MWC's 5-14. And, in overall postseason (NCAA and National Invitation Tournament) appearances, the WAC is 22-21 to the MWC's 15-27.

Darn it, who had the signature, "Just proving a point"...
NUFF SAID!!

[Ultimate Warrior]

he needs to learn to shut his trap. Doesn't he know how to handle the media. The media did ask him the question, so I'll give him that. He didn't have to answer it. What is he going to do when the media asks him, "So what kids are we after?" Is he going to give them the run down and get a new violation for the school? The guy burned bridges. From what I've read, the WAC championship might be held at Fresno soon, hope this lack of respect changes all that.

[WA Warrior]

Regardless of where he was born or grew up, he did come from BYU. Does anything more need to be said?

I do like the statistical comparison during tournament play, you know WAC versus MWC.

[BigWave96744]

Hey Wyokie, You are good with stats... What was this coaches record at BYU? I remember BYU used to dominate in the days of Danny Ainge, Shawn Bradley, etc... Now they seem to be going downhill...

Remember when the Reid boys (were they twins) played under their dad? Fans used to really boo them when they played in Hawaii..

And when Frank Arnold left BYU to come to Hawaii, he was basketball's Fred Von Appen..

[warriorfan808]

Consider that over the past six seasons the WAC is 9-11 in the NCAA Tournament compared with the MWC's 5-14. And, in overall postseason (NCAA and National Invitation Tournament) appearances, the WAC is 22-21 to the MWC's 15-27.

Darn it, who had the signature, "Just proving a point"...
NUFF SAID!!

that was me took it down though because the info was getting a little old. I still think we're better. There needs to be a bowl putting the MWC against the WAC.

[wyokie]

Consider that over the past six seasons the WAC is 9-11 in the NCAA Tournament compared with the MWC's 5-14. And, in overall postseason (NCAA and National Invitation Tournament) appearances, the WAC is 22-21 to the MWC's 15-27.

Darn it, who had the signature, "Just proving a point"...
NUFF SAID!!

that was me took it down though because the info was getting a little old. I still think we're better. There needs to be a bowl putting the MWC against the WAC.

Thank you warriorfan808 for taking that signature down.

I was getting sick of seeing the bowl & Big Dance records of both conferences.

BTW, the MWC did better than the WAC in this last year's bowl season. Wyoming's win over a BCS school helped.

[wyokie]

Hey Wyokie, You are good with stats... What was this coaches record at BYU? I remember BYU used to dominate in the days of Danny Ainge, Shawn Bradley, etc... Now they seem to be going downhill...

Sorry, but I don't keep up on the basketball side of college athletics as I do with the pigskin. But thanks for the compliment.