New Mexico hires Craig Neal

[Tugg Speedman]

Another job that slips through Buzz's fingers!

New Mexico hires Craig Neal

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9126982/new-mexico-lobos-hire-craig-neal-coach-replace-steve-alford

New Mexico has hired Craig "Noodles" Neal to replace his close friend Steve Alford as coach of the Lobos.

Neal will sign a five-year contract worth $750,000 annually, plus incentives. The deal will make Neal one of the four highest-paid coaches in the Mountain West Conference.

New Mexico will hold a news conference to announce Neal as coach Wednesday, four days after Alford left the Lobos to accept the coaching job at UCLA. Alford was introduced at UCLA on Tuesday.

Neal was the overwhelming choice by the players and Alford to succeed him. Neal said privately that he was confident the five starters would return if he were named coach.

The Lobos return key players Tony Snell, Alex Kirk and Mountain West Conference player of the year Kendall Williams.

The Lobos won the Mountain West Conference regular-season and conference tournament titles this past season but were upset by 14th-seeded Harvard in the NCAA tournament's round of 64.

Neal was with Alford at Iowa and the past six seasons at New Mexico, and was considered a co-architect of the Lobos' resurgence. Neal was a finalist with Brian Gregory a year ago for his alma mater, Georgia Tech.

This will be Neal's first head-coaching job in Division I.

[Aughnanure]

Smart.

[muarmy81]

Buzz to New Mexico Assistant role!

[burger]

The over under on Alford at UCLA is 2 years.....

He is a total scumbag.....

At Westwood?

What were they thinking.....

Let me remind everyone......While at Iowa.....He basically "pressured/blackmailed" by several different ways of influence the "rape" victim into not pressing charges on his star player....

Then yesterday in his presser.....He says......I followed what only Iowa University told me to do.....

Hey Steve.....If you "only" did what "they" told you to do.....Why did they "fire your A$$" and the only job you could get was in New Mexico?

Dirt Bag!

[Groin_pull]

The over under on Alford at UCLA is 2 years.....

He is a total scumbag.....

At Westwood?

What were they thinking.....

Let me remind everyone......While at Iowa.....He basically "pressured/blackmailed" by several different ways of influence the "rape" victim into not pressing charges on his star player....

Then yesterday in his presser.....He says......I followed what only Iowa University told me to do.....

Hey Steve.....If you "only" did what "they" told you to do.....Why did they "fire your A$$" and the only job you could get was in New Mexico?

Dirt Bag!

For someone who was supposed to be so goody-goody, squeaky clean in college...he really is a scumbag with a monster ego. (Plus, he still parts his hair down the middle like it's 1982.) If UCLA wanted to bring a fast-breaking, Showtime offense to Pauley, this is not your guy. His teams are very slow and deliberate. 

TJ Simers from the LA Times tore him apart this morning. I've never read anything quite like it.

[hdog1017]

The important question is why is Craig Neal's nickname "Noodles?'

[Skitch]

The important question is why is Craig Neal's nickname "Noodles?'

Vitale gave him the name while he played in college cause he was tall and thin.

[ChicosBailBonds]

TJ Simers from the LA Times tore himhis subject apart this morning. I've never read anything quite like it.

Has there ever been any other kind of article from TJ Simers?


If someone is offering some $$$$ on whether Alford will make it 2 years at UCLA, I'm in.  I'll take the over.

[VegasWarrior77]

For someone who was supposed to be so goody-goody, squeaky clean in college...he really is a scumbag with a monster ego. (Plus, he still parts his hair down the middle like it's 1982.)

Like the Indiana coach?

[Groin_pull]

Has there ever been any other kind of article from TJ Simers?


If someone is offering some $$$$ on whether Alford will make it 2 years at UCLA, I'm in.  I'll take the over.

No idea. Does Simers do that a lot?

In this case, I'd say he's right on the money. Alford is a scumbag.

[ChicosBailBonds]

No idea. Does Simers do that a lot?

In this case, I'd say he's right on the money. Alford is a scumbag.

It's ALL that T.J. Simers does.  He is paid to be the antagonist out here, even taking on folks like Vin Scully.  As the joke goes around here, the "J" in TJ is for dickhead.  LOL.  There has been a fire TJ Simers blog that is probably at least 7 or 8 years old by now.

Even USC fans out here were cheering on Jim Mora, UCLA head coach, when he challenged him last year after Simers basically said UCLA purposely lost to Stanford.  This is what Simers does.  That's his role.  Some people like him, I suppose Bill Dwyre does, but that's his schtick.  If he didn't try to destroy someone, I would be shocked because that is the purpose of his being.

http://www.youtube.com/v/lP-tB87BOx0