Bama offers VCU's Anthony Grant $2 million per year

dolfan · Postby **dolfan** » March 25th, 2009, 2:46 am

News in Alabama media this morning and last night is that Alabama is ready to offer VCU hoops coach Anthony Grant $2 million per year to become Bama's next basketball coach. Alabama's AD and assistant AD met with Grant on Sunday in Virginia. They have reportedly left the door open for him through this weekend, with an eye on Mizzou's Mike Anderson, who is from Birmingham and coached at UAB before taking the Tigers' job (I think he's the better hire, personally, if they could make it happen). Reports indicate that Alabama is also committing to a new hoops practice facility to sweeten the incentives for Grant to come.

After getting Mike Groh from UVA to move here as a graduate assistant, seems like Alabama has a Virginia affinity. Of course, Saban is from that general area, too, as a West Virginia native.

Funny how things go sometimes. We'll see if Bama can land Grant.

Rob · Postby **Rob** » March 25th, 2009, 5:20 am

Of course, Saban is from that general area, too, as a West Virginia native.

Dolfan,

There is no such thing as a general area, when you are speaking of VA and WV. That would be like saying a guy from TN is from the general area of AL or KY, just doesn't work.

Saban is a WV guy nothing to do with VA.

dolfan · Postby **dolfan** » March 25th, 2009, 10:36 am

I hoped when I wrote that that you'd object!!! :lol:

I know better, but I figured if I said that I'd get a little protest. :lol:

Rob · Postby **Rob** » March 25th, 2009, 10:46 am

dolfan wrote:I hoped when I wrote that that you'd object!!!

I know better, but I figured if I said that I'd get a little protest.

I was mild to say the least, I wanted to do more than object or protest, I wanted to really tell you a lot of other things, but didn't want to get kicked out of Jude2. West Virginian's have not use and do not like to be compared to Virginian's.

Mountie12 · Postby **Mountie12** » March 26th, 2009, 4:27 pm

Pastor Rob wrote:

was mild to say the least, I wanted to do more than object or protest, I wanted to really tell you a lot of other things, but didn't want to get kicked out of Jude2. West Virginian's have not use and do not like to be compared to Virginian's.

Preach on my Brother, preach on. I just wondered why they never taught geography in all the other 49 states of the union. If you weren't born in West Virginia, you need to be born again!

Hey dolfan,
Big front page story in the Tuscaloosa News today about this guy. I guess I was sleeping through the first round of the NCAA's. Never heard of him before. I really thought Anderson would be the man they went after. He seemed to have more impressive credentials. What are the boosters saying about the VCU guy?

Rob · Postby **Rob** » March 26th, 2009, 6:27 pm

Better go after Anderson. Why? Billy G is out at UK, Billy D is going to take that job and the guy at VCU is going to Florida.

Remember you heard it here first.

dolfan · Postby **dolfan** » March 27th, 2009, 4:51 am

I think there's a very mixed feeling about hiring Grant. There is, it seems for some reason, a reluctance to go after Mike Anderson. I don't know. Grant would be a really good coach here, I'm convinced, and if he accepts, I'll be glad. YET, I'd rather have Mike Anderson, personally.

The VCU/UK/Florida merry-go-round is an interesting scenario. I think you may be onto something. BUT, doesn't Donovan have a huge buyout clause at UF? Not that it would matter to UK if they wanted the guy badly enough. If you're a Kentucky fan, do you really want Billy Donovan? The whole thing with the Magic made him look flaky and a little unhinged (although I don't think that's true of him). It has not helped him in recruiting, though. I'm just curious for a UK perspective on him.

I'm still hoping for Anderson, but I'll be very pleased if Grant takes the job.

Rob · Postby **Rob** » March 27th, 2009, 6:44 am

With regards to UK, here's my take, and I'm not near as big a fan as I use to be. But here goes. Barnhart (AD) did not do a very good job in the hiring of Billy G. Billy G. has not endeared himself to the UK fan base. Joe B. Hall said yesterday, that Coaching at UK is more than just basketball and it is. You have to wow the fans, and understand that you are a star here. Billy G. has not understood that.

So now Barnhart can not afford to hit a single, he has to hit one out of the park with this hire. That is why, regardless of what it cost, UK is going to go after who UK wants. Be it Billy D. or Calapri. Personally, I would like to go after Calapri, he is getting the recruits that UK use to get. Talks also has them going after Pitino, can't see that one, but I can see them going after Billy D. This time I think he will accept. Kinda like Roy Williams at UNC.

dolfan · Postby **dolfan** » March 28th, 2009, 5:14 am

Bama got Grant. We'll see how he does. Hope he succeeds wildly. Billy D. says he's committed to UF. So, that may mean he'll be in Lexington next week. :lol:

Jude 2