UTEP's Floyd: What's speculation, what's rumor

No, just because the Tennessee basketball job is open, it doesn't mean UTEP's Tim Floyd is the new Vols coach. But he's that high-level of coach. That is "speculation," not "rumor."

Just like the Oklahoma opening is specultion. He is, after all, that high-level of coach.

Some posters get really upset when a UTEP coach's name is thrown into somebody's mix. Expect Floyd's name to float on the wafts of speculation, unless he until he becomes "UTEPed," as has Football Coach Mike Price, who isn't going anywhere anymore. He's had five losing seasons in a row.

Since Floyd left here as an assistant in the early 1980s, he's coached at Idaho, New Orleans, Iowa State and "This is my last college job" Southern Cal. He's coached in the NBA (Chicago, New Orleans).

Obviously, yes, he'd move again. Wouldn't you think.

Word is Floyd, unlike some others in the business, isn't prone to applying for head coaching jobs. If somebody calls, and offers the job and a good living wage, that's when he gets into that mode of deciding yes or no. Recall he turned down Arizona's recruitment in 2009, saying Southern Cal is "my last college job."

Well, things happen, and now Floyd is one year into UTEP.

Don't think he won't go. My previous post meant it's possible he could go. After all, his UTEP salary is what Oklahoma pays for coaches' haircuts.

Floyd won 25 games, but will have a major rebuilding job to do next season. He lost eight seniors. And no recruiting addicts are giving Floyd's new guys a lot of ratings stars (***) next to their name.

Since His Coachency retired in 1999, UTEP has had five new head coaches in 12 years. They all "loved El Paso" and "will stay here as long as you will have me."

Bottom line: Don't get upset when a Miner coach's name gets on a "speculation list." That means he's a good coach.

The order of things:
1. Speculation (what's logical)
2. Rumor (Somebody reports something as having happened, but without official confirmation.
3. Bye bye (I still remember seeing that private jet over El Paso as Gillispie left for Texas A&M.

NOTE: It was "speculated here, before Texas Tech would fire Pat Knight, that Gillispie would be the top pick. It was logical. He was named to the job Sunday.

Comments

[Baskerville]

There's a cloud the size of Texas hanging over the Tennessee job. For one, I doubt Floyd would want to step into that mess, big bucks or not. For two, I doubt Tennessee wants to take a chance on Floyd given his history with USC, whatever the truth of it is. Expect an up and comer like the Butler or Richmond coach to take that job.

What's nice with having a huge rebuilding year coming up for the Miners is there won't be any programs who will want Floyd with the kind of record he'll have after next season. We'll have Floyd's services for at least two more years.

[Bill]

I know you love this and it may happen. What will never change is how much of a heel you really are. One day we may be lucky enough to read about you in the obits. That day, a huge chunk of the negativity that hangs over this community may be removed with your permanent retirement.

[t]

oh gee, thanks for not explaining yourself the first time! Bush-league writer, nothing more

[oh please]

Bill, you may enjoy reading about a newspaper columnist who has never done anything to you personally in the obits....but Mr. Muench's children and family probably will be very upset reading about it.

I think you need to see someone regarding your anger. Really.

[Anthony]

Joe you are a complete idiot, and deserve to be fired. You are in no way a journalist, and even the title of blogger may be a little generous. You have no clue what you speak of, and suffer from a very severe case of diarrhea of the mouth. Floyd may leave at some point, but to even suggest he would screw over this city and school after one year is just nonsense. Come on Joe, you've been around this thing long enough to know that Floyd has absolutely nothing in common with the previous 5 coaches, and his words of loving this school are a hell of a lot more believable than those of the ones before him. Not only that, but you throw around the fact that he left USC after stating it was his last job, like if he bolted as soon as UTEP came calling. I'm sure you know of the situation over there, and its completely understandable the he didn't hold true to those words. Regardless, I get tired of reading the garbage that you put out, and I can't believe that you have any support at all. I really wish you would start writing stuff that actually made sense, instead of just spitting out the first ridiculous thought that comes out of your little head. Here's my email, feel free to explain yourself.

[liebestraum]

Given the situation Floyd left at USC, I really doubt Tennessee would consider Floyd after what has happened with Pearl. Sure, Floyd was cleared, but the Vols might be looking for someone with a clean sheet. That is not Tim Floyd.

[CLEOFITZWITZ]

Nice rebuttal Joe. But your claims of objectivity are laughable. A case in point is right here in your latest blog. Saying that Mike Price got "UTEPed" is more than an insinuation that UTEP sucks you in and holds you down. It's an indictment on the University, it's athletic programs, and the whole city of El Paso. You think we just can't cut it and you love to rub that in our faces.

People like to blame Mike Price for not getting recruits. The truth is that kids look for more than the coach. The coach is usually way down on the list. They like big enthusiastic crowds. Great student support. They like cool uniforms. Awesome locker rooms. A 1st class weightroom. Social life. Prestige. Status. Playing time and Winning.

They hate being the butt of jokes. They hate being booed. They hate talk of the coach bailing. They hate playing in front of empty arenas and stadiums. You are complicit in helping foster this negative vibe. I understand that it's not your job to uphold UTEP athletics and make sure we land recruits. You could do everything in your power to tear down the University if you so choose. It's a blog. Opinions are welcome. But don't try to sound like you're so objective because you're not. I'm going to continue to call you out and do my job as a fan and supporter of UTEP athletics. I may be an overly optimistic fan. It's better than being a negative, bitter, sports writer with an agenda.

[Chris Stanley]

What a timely post, Joe! ...
Let's take a look at Tim. Yes, he's good. His record shows that.

But like Mike Price, Tim Floyd will (not rightfully, though) have dirty stories attached to his reputation. How many ADs are going to stand before the university president, regents, boosters, etc. and try to sell a guy who has been branded as a cheat in the media. ADs can talk all they want about how the NCAA never found anything on him but once the gavel of public court has come down that's all a lot of people are going to hear.

And right now Tennessee has a truck load of their own problems they want to wash off the university's crest. They'll hire Mr. Clean long before Mr. Floyd.

Lastly, your syllogism for coach hiring and the justification for 'blogging' stretch journalistic integrity. Years ago the ideal was to never print something without credible sources to help confirm stories or at least identify where the story originated. The better the source, the more weight it carries. Where's yours?

These days the focus seems to be if someone, heck anyone, says something each paper better write something about it. Because no one wants to be without it while everyone else has it. Somewhere Tim Crouse is laughing.

[Canaima]

"Some posters get really upset when a UTEP coach's name is thrown into somebody's mix."

Joe - it isn't that we get mad just because it is the UTEP coach. Rather we "get mad" (or better stated we call you the "anti-journalist") when it is just you making stuff up. If you were reporting that the university had contacted the coach or vice versa and citing a source then that would be one thing - instead it is just you seeing an open position and then posting that maybe Floyd would be a candidate. It isn't based on anything except your laziness. It is anti-journalism. If we turn to the Times solely for opinions then we really don't need you do we? There are a lot of readers posting regularly that show way more knowledge and foresight than you show. No, we turn to the Times for reporting and journalism and then we want to express our opinions about the topics.

If it is true that you "forecast" the Texas Tech move (before anyone in the national media saw it coming) then I chalk it up to dumb luck - or a dummy getting lucky.

[Rick]

Bill ... you're a poor excuse for a human being to wish death on a person. What you and other trash like you don't understand is that Joe has a job to do and he does it quite well. You don't have to like it, you may not agree with it, but it's his job. You have a job (I'm guess, for all I know you may sit around in your underwear all day, talking a big game and hiding behind a computer screen) and I'll bet some people don't like your work. They've never wished death upon you. You talk about negativity but then you wish death upon someone? You're a jerk and give UTEP a bad name. Rick

[Arthur Thompson]

Desperate times calls for desperate measures. El Paso Times needs TRAFFIC on their site for AD impressions and clicks. That is game and Joe is only doing his job by trying to get on peoples nerves to get responses on his topic/opinion. Joes knows that majority of El Pasoans are quick tempered and easily offended and always ready to attack. Whatever gets everyone to log on to El Paso Times.com is what it's all about and Joe is helping in with this task.

El Paso Times has way too much competition and their newspaper sales are dwindling fast. They are desperate for website TRAFFIC. Desperate times calls for desperate measures.

He is doing anything to get you people to keep coming to ElPasoTimes.com. It's all about the benjamin$

[Rene Gu]

Fact: you are horrible at your job and NMSU must give out degrees to anyone with a pulse a credit line.

[Mike]

Bill go home and kill yourself, you make me sick with your half cocked concepts .

[ia licon]

Very well put Joe. I guess some people just cant handle the truth. I have a family that i have to support, so if someone comes calling with more money you bet i am looking at the offer. i for one enjoy your blog, you tell it how it is. Keep up the good work.

[BVP]

"Just like the Oklahoma opening is specultion. He is, after all, that high-level of coach."

Specultion? Looks like the copy editors have checked out again.

[Papillon]

IS this poor excuse for a sports writer all the EP Times can afford? Joe is as dumb as dirt. ohh Joe Dirt. nice!

[This blog stinks]

Real utep news minerrush we dont make up rumors to have comments

[Anthony]

Seriously, how does someone with so much negative feedback continue to have a job like this?

[Dewey]

Negative or not, there is one redeeming quality of Joe... give me a minute and I'll try and think what it is. anyway, after checking local online papers and other sources for both OU and UT (Tennessee), neither school has Floyd even mentioned as a possible thought for a replacement. Mr. Joe aught to do some homework first and go investigate things like this before typing out this sort of nonsense! Oh wait, I've figured out that the new rule of journalism is not to find facts first. silly me!

[Prospero]

Joe you recently said that UTEP doesnt have any "diaper dandys" coming in next year.

* GOOGLE: Julian Washburn.
ESPN.com rates this 6'8 Power Foward at a 92 overall.
He turned down offers from Texas, Kansas, Texas A&M, UCLA, and Arizona.

He sat out and was enrolled at UTEP this past year, and is expected to play this season.

[Prospero]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/44097/julian-washburn

[john franco]

Of course, Price is staying at UTEP. Where else is he gonna get paid 1.5 million a year to have a losing record and have a drinking buddy relationship with the AD, who obviously doesn't care that less than 20 thousand fans fill the seats by the end of the football season, thanks to the ineptitude of the coach and his staff.

Based on your definition of speculation, Joe, I will say that Floyd is here for at least 4 Yrs to see this incoming group win a few in the NCAA tournament. Unlike his predecessors, he has ties to the city and university, and a little something called class.

[Barry]

If Floyd does leave for somewhere, anywhere than UTEP, fans should have no fear -- Bruce Pearl could coach here in El Paso.

Afterall, UTEPIA has turned into the rehab center for star-studded coaches who make mistakes. (Price, Floyd)

And Prospero, Being the No. 92 ranked player in the country doesn't make you a diaper dandy. Diaper Dandies these days play one season and leave for the NBA.

[Jay Koester]

Hey, Joe, I don't have much to say. But after reading all the ridiculous comments above, I just want to repeat that this is still my favorite spot to read about UTEP sports. I can read the UTEP party line anywhere; this is the only place I can hear truths being spoke.

[Barry]

Well said, Jay.