John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Central Kentucky and graduate of UK, he covered UK football for 13 seasons before being promoted to columnist in 2000. He lives in Lexington with his wife and two sons.
Ford slips off to Stillwater
How badly did Travis Ford want out at UMass?
So badly, apparently, he'll be the new coach at Oklahoma State.
Many thought Ford had a deal worked out to be the new head man at LSU. But then the school went and hired a new athletics director, Duke's Joe Alleva, just as Stanford's Trent Johnson was feeling the big chill from his athletics director in Palo Alto. That made Johnson and Baton Rouge a match, leaving Ford on the outside.
Then Travis did the visit-interview-offer grand tour with Providence, all played out very publicly, before turning down the Big East school, once coached by his mentor, Rick Pitino.
At the UMass banquet last week, the AD announced that Ford had agreed to a new unspecified deal to remain the coach of the Minutemen.
Guess it wasn't signed.
ESPN, CBS Sportsline and Fox Sports are all reporting that Ford has reached an agreement to follow Sean Sutton at Oklahoma State.
One good thing: No more Billy Gillispie to Stillwater rumors.
just heard a HUGE rumor on ESPN and FSN.....UK Asst. Coach Jeremy Cox will be named head man at UMass, and coach Billy G is expected to be named asst. to himself at UK (LOL!)
Posted by:bruce pearl | Apr 16, 2008 at 06:55 PM