What is the real story?

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GRUDGE MATCH? Rick Pitino Says He Turned Down Michigan Job

Ann Arbor Insiders Say Bo Schembechler Nixed Louisville Mentor

April 9, 2013
By: Dave Rogers

What is the real story, Rick?

Was the game Monday night against Michigan a grudge match?

Several suspicious situations raise that issue, at least in this corner.

The day before the final NCAA championship game The Detroit News quoted Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino as saying he turned down the University of Michigan coaching job because his wife wanted to stay in Kentucky.

That was over a decade ago. Rick is still singing the same song. And why would he bring it up in the tense time leading up to the final game?

Ann Arbor insiders say his wife's love for Louisville wasn't the reason Pitino didn't coach at Michigan.

"People forget, and apparently Rick Pitino selectively remembers as well, Bo Schembechler still had significant influence on the athletic department at that time," one insider says.

"Bo was staunchly and adamantly against the hiring of Pitino, and this in fact favored heavily into Pitino's last-minute decision - as he was stunned and hurt by the negative comments made by Schembechler about him. Right or wrong, Bo didn't feel Pitino's personality or image fit in with "The Michigan Way" back then. Perhaps, over the long haul, it turned out better for the Wolverines anyway."

There may be even more to the story than that, according to a source close to the Wolverine athletic department.

After hearing Pitino's salary demands, Bo reportedly exploded: "No basketball coach is ever going to make more than the football coach at Michigan!"

Actually, that report was confirmed by the Michigan Daily in a story in 2001: "Schembechler said that Michigan shouldn't pay the new basketball coach more than (Lloyd) Carr, who signed a six-year, 6.1 million contract last summer.

"Schembechler told The Detroit News. "It will never happen here. What do you think this thing was built on? Everybody should know that.

"Not that Lloyd Carr (cares) about money, but (paying a basketball coach more) would be a colossal mistake."

After hearing of Schembechler's comments, Pitino told the press: "Then the first thing Bo Schembechler is worried about is what somebody is going to be paid. If you're a program guy, it shouldn't be about football or basketball. It should be about what's best for the whole athletic program. "Fortunately, I don't think he speaks for the university. But I was shocked that he started talking about money when we haven't even begun to have real discussions there."

The News ran Rick's comments recalling the events of 12 years ago shortly before the NCAA championship game. Was that an attempt to put down the Wolverines, a little mind play? Coaches are known to do that, to try and get into the heads of their opponents. Unfortunately the Detroit News may have played into Pitino's little plot.

The naming of Pitino to the Hall of Fame, and the announcement of the U-M's Trey Burke as player of the year, both the day before the game, also were distractions that weren't needed by the U-M.

Why would the NCAA schedule those important announcements the night before the most important game of the year?

Those press impacts may be meaningless, but something is fishy in Denmark, as this columnist sees it.

Pitino has some dirty laundry and some questionable activities. He was exonerated by the university president recently despite an egregious breach of morality.

Manipulation of the press would be minor for a guy like that, wouldn't it? But then... winning isn't everything, it's the only thing. ###