{"id":2112,"date":"2016-03-18T11:34:17","date_gmt":"2016-03-18T16:34:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=2112"},"modified":"2016-03-28T11:04:27","modified_gmt":"2016-03-28T16:04:27","slug":"buzz-williams-at-osu-would-be-more-than-acceptable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=2112","title":{"rendered":"Buzz Williams at OSU would be more than acceptable"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Georgia_Tech_Virginia_Tech_Basketball-09d03-4980\"<\/a>It is a given that Oklahoma State\u2019s men\u2019s basketball coach Travis Ford\u2019s tenure with the Cowboys is running on short time.\u00a0 Rumors have surfaced that former Marquette and current Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams could be\u00a0 a strong possibility for coming to Stillwater to fill the post after Ford\u2019s departure.\u00a0 That would be just fine with.\u00a0 Williams coming to the Big 12 school would be an upgrade in that position for the Pokes.\u00a0 One thing is for sure, nobody in the Big 12 would outwork Williams.\u00a0 Familiar with the man since his days in Oklahoma City as Win Case\u2019s graduate assistant at Oklahoma City University in the 1990\u2019s. Buzz Williams has been an aggressive\u00a0 and successful young coach in the profession. He is a great recruiter and\u00a0a players coach. He is, in all aspects, high energy with everyone he\u00a0crosses path with. Meet the man just once and you will know how dynamic this coach is.\u00a0This man is a first class individual in all aspects.<\/h6>\n

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Williams has been at Virginia Tech for two years and has a nice long term contract in Blacksburg, but has always hinted he would like to get back to the Big 12 region and lead a team in that league.\u00a0 Oklahoma State is a better job than the one at Virginia Tech and if O-State\u2019s athletic director\u00a0Mike Holder wants a winning program Williams could be just the man to bring back the wins and the fans to Gallagher-Iba Arena.\u00a0 Would Holder buy out Williams contract after paying Ford after he is fired?\u00a0 Maybe, especially if Ford takes another job which would lessen the payout to him.<\/h6>\n

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As he has made his progression up the coaching ladder from a grad assistant at OCU\u00a0to head jobs at New Orleans, Marquette and Virginia Tech, Williams would bring basketball back, and quickly, to the\u00a0Cowboy program.\u00a0 Williams is high energy and could be what is needed.\u00a0\u00a0Williams is also on the radar of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.\u00a0 One way or another, Williams is looking at other schools.<\/h6>\n

From\u00a0the DAILY PRESS (Newport News,\u00a0VA):<\/p>\n

During Tech\u2019s leap from a 2-16 ACC record to 10-8, speculation percolated that Williams, aTexas<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>native, would be a natural fit for potential openings at Texas Christian andOklahoma State<\/a>. Sure enough, the\u00a0<\/span>Horned Frogs<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>excused Trent Johnson, and the Cowboys will do the same with Travis Ford,\u00a0according to ESPN.<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0Fort Worth Star-Telegram included Williams<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>and ACC colleague Jamie Dixon ofPittsburgh<\/a>, a former TCU player, on a list of possible candidates for the Horned Frogs.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

ESPN analyst and former St. John\u2019s coach Fran Fraschilla tweeted: \u201cHate to disappoint Va Tech fans, but logical move for TCU & Oklahoma State is to get Buzz Williams \u2014 quickly. TCU job fits like a glove.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, money is no object to Oklahoma State booster and graduate T. Boone Pickens, for whom the school\u2019s football stadium is named. So bumping Williams\u2019 salary \u2013 he\u2019s guaranteed to make $2.5 million next season with the Hokies \u2013 and paying his buyout, which dips from $3 million to $1.5 million March 24, wouldn\u2019t make anyone in Stillwater flinch.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

OSU needs to act if they want Buzz Williams.\u00a0 They could do worse than hiring him.\u00a0 TCU knows that too.<\/h6>\n

Feature photo: Virginia Tech head coach Buzz Williams celebrates in the final moments of Virginia Tech\u2019s victory over Georgia Tech on Feb. 9. (Matt Gentry\/AP)<\/span><\/p>\n

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AP Photo\/Kevin Rivoli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u00a0 \u00a0 It is a given that Oklahoma State\u2019s men\u2019s basketball coach Travis Ford\u2019s tenure…<\/p>\n

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