Sitting Duck ?
If I'm Ernie Kent I don't want to sit down because that seat is extremely hot.
Mike Montgomery is without a job.
What kind of coach is Montgomery ? Let's put it this way. The next big time college job that is open, Montgomery is an instant front-runner.
He won at Stanford. Not that easy to do. Academic requirements are tough in Palo Alto. What do you think he can do at a place like Oregon where the academic requirements aren't as difficult ?
While at Stanford Montgomery's teams went to the post-season 16 of the last 18 years he was there. Before he left for the Warriors Stanford made 10 straight trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Let's not forget what Ernie Kent has done at Oregon. Before Kent got to Eugene getting to the NCAA Tourney was a dream. When Jerry Green took the Ducks to the tournament his reward was a long term contract at Tennessee.
Kent got players like Freddie Jones, Luke Ridnour, and Luke Jackson to come to Oregon. That was good. He then took the Ducks to the Elite 8. That was a really big deal. In fact Kent fielded calls from Illinois and Notre Dame. They were interested.
But Ernie has failed the last 3 years in more ways than one. His teams are losing and he's losing some of the top recruits the state of Oregon has ever seen.
When guys like Kevin Love and Kyle Singler won't even consdier staying in state, that's a problem.
So that takes us back to Montgomery. Will the Ducks wait and see what Ernie and the Ducks do this season or will they go after Montgomery right now ?
If Oregon waits, Montgomery may be snapped up by another school.
The answer may not come from Eugene, but from the boosters who will pay for the new arena.
I don't think the new arena gets built with Ernie Kent as head coach. But if Mike Montgomery gets hired I think Phil Knight may donate the millions the university is waiting for. Think of Mike Montgomery as Oregon head coach and a new arena being built. That's pretty enticing.
Will Duck fans and the big time boosters wait to see how the Ducks fare this year ?
I'm not sure Bill Moos and the University of Oregon can afford to wait.
