[Vision2020] Smith, Kramer Gain Support at UI

[Art Deco]

I am overjoyed almost to the point of eternal rapture that this much 
attention, money, ignoring of EEO regulations, etc is being focused on 
finding a football coach instead of some dreary but first class researcher 
or successful education reform specialist.  This proves that we haven't lost 
our true perspective on what is really important to our country's long term 
future!

W.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
To: "Vision 2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>; "Idaho Vandals" 
<vandal at uidaho.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 6:56 AM
Subject: [Vision2020] Smith, Kramer Gain Support at UI


> >From today's (December 12, 2006) Spokesman Review -
>
> "Erickson's departure might continue to influence Idaho's search, too. 
> Smith
> apparently has an opportunity to join Erickson as ASU's defensive
> coordinator."
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Smith, Kramer gain support at UI
> Spear moving quickly to hire football coach
>
> Jim Meehan
> Staff writer
> December 12, 2006
>
> John L. Smith just received an offer on his house in Michigan.
>
> Where you headed next, John L.?
>
> "That all depends," Smith said, laughing, over the telephone.
>
> The University of Idaho might be one possible destination. Smith visited
> with Idaho athletic director Rob Spear by phone Monday as the Vandals'
> search for a new football coach heated up.
>
> "It's definitely something we'd like to consider," said Smith, who was 
> 53-21
> as Idaho's coach from 1989-94. "Obviously, we have an interest and (wife)
> Diana and I have sat down and talked about it and we'll have to talk some
> more."
>
> Idaho is talking with a number of candidates, but Smith and Montana State
> coach Mike Kramer seem to be at the forefront of the search to replace
> Dennis Erickson, who bolted for Arizona State University after 10 months 
> in
> Moscow. Kramer and Smith are expected to interview by telephone with Spear
> and Idaho's search committee today.
>
> Erickson's departure might continue to influence Idaho's search, too. 
> Smith
> apparently has an opportunity to join Erickson as ASU's defensive
> coordinator.
>
> Spear said he planned to narrow his list to two or three by Monday night 
> and
> "proceed quickly after that."
>
> Smith's teams at Idaho won two Big Sky Conference titles and he was 
> popular
> with Vandals boosters. He owns property in Sandpoint, where he plans on
> retiring. Yet it is those very things that concern a large portion of
> Vandals fans that see similarities to Erickson's resume. Erickson was 
> 32-15
> at Idaho from 1982-85 and he plans to retire on Lake Coeur d'Alene, but he
> left Idaho after just one season.
>
> "The only thing I can state is this: Di and I, if we look at this job, 
> we've
> talked about it and we have to be prepared that this is our last job," 
> said
> Smith, who coached at Utah State, Louisville and Michigan State after
> leaving Idaho. He was fired in November with three games left in his 
> fourth
> season at Michigan State.
>
> Erickson's buyout was $150,000, a figure that will be higher for Idaho's
> next coach.
>
> "There are no guarantees in life, but contractually we'll make sure 
> there's
> a significant buyout in the (next) contract," Spear said.
>
> Kramer, a Colton, Wash., native and former lineman at Idaho, is receiving
> considerable support. He has a 40-43 record (29-22 in the Big Sky) in 
> seven
> seasons at Montana State and the Bobcats have won or shared three 
> conference
> titles. The Bobcats on Nov. 25 celebrated their first I-AA playoff win in 
> 22
> years.
>
> Kramer was 37-32 at Eastern Washington from 1994-99, winning the Big Sky
> title in 1997 and advancing to the I-AA semifinals.
>
> "I've been coaching 30 years. I've worked at four places," Kramer said, 
> "so
> I'm not exactly a mover."
>
> Kramer, 52, said he's "not scared off" by some of the sizable obstacles
> Idaho's program faces.
>
> "Where Idaho wants to go, I think it's doable," he said. "As we've proven
> here, it's doable."
>
> Other names that have been mentioned include Montana's Bobby Hauck, San
> Diego's Jim Harbaugh and ex-Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter. Those would
> appear to be long shots. Harbaugh apparently is on Stanford's list. 
> Koetter
> didn't return a phone message.
>
> Smith, 58, is looking forward to more discussions.
>
> "The biggest thing in this whole process, like I told him, is I think 
> Idaho
> is going in the right direction, it just needs somebody to keep it going,"
> Smith said. "A lot of people are going to push for me supposedly, but Rob
> has to get to know me a little bit to make sure I'm the guy he wants and 
> not
> the guy that others want."
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Seeya round town, Moscow.
>
> Take care, Vandals.
>
> Tom Hansen
> Vandalville, Idaho
> UI '96
>
> Came a tribe from the north brave and bold . . .
>
> "Here We Have Idaho"
> http://www.tomandrodna.com/HWHI.mp3
>
> "I-D-A-H-O Idaho Idaho Go Go Go"
> http://www.tomandrodna.com/Vandals.mp3
>
>
>
>
>
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