There were times over the past few weeks when it seemed likely that Ken Bone was mere seconds away from packing up his belongings and shouting to his three daughters and wife, Connie, “Kids, honey, let’s go. We’re heading south.”
Raising Hell: From the desk of Nathan Hellman
There were times over the past few weeks when it seemed likely that Ken Bone was mere seconds away from packing up his belongings and shouting to his three daughters and wife, Connie, “Kids, honey, let’s go. We’re heading south.”
That southern destination would have been Corvallis, Ore., according to a multitude of media outlets that had pegged the Portland State head basketball coach as Oregon State’s No. 1 candidate to fill its head coaching vacancy after several other top candidates had declined the job.
On Monday morning reports flooded in stating that the Beavers had hired their man. Oregon State had finally found a new coach. And, much to the delight of every sports fan that strolls along the South Park Blocks, it isn’t Ken Bone.
The dust has settled, and out of the cloudiness and haziness that has been Oregon State’s coaching search, one thing is clear: Bone is still a Viking. Former Brown head coach Craig Robinson was hired instead, a reality that should make everyone who cares even a smidgen about Portland State athletics jump for joy.
Bone led Portland State to its first ever Big Sky Championship. Bone coached a Vikings squad that was the school’s first to appear in the NCAA Tournament, an excellent achievement despite the fact that Portland State came up short to a high-powered Kansas team in the first round 85-61. Bone has laid a foundation for success at Portland State.
A positive reaction to Bone staying put in the South Park Blocks should be a no brainer. Look at Bone’s list of accomplishments in his three years at Portland State for a brief moment, and the importance of retaining him should become crystal clear.
Though the sneakers have not been laced up for a few weeks and Vikings jerseys are hanging up in lockers, Portland State just notched victory number 24 on the season. The Vikings keep the key to years of success, and that is a win every day.
For those of you keeping score at home, it’s Vikings 1, Beavers 0.
Once again, the Beavers whiffed at a Jamie Moyer-speed lobber right down the middle of the plate. After San Diego’s Billy Grier passed on the Beavers and St. Mary head coach Randy Bennett said, “No thanks,” Bone was the obvious choice. He’s a Northwestern guy, with ties around the region. He’s a hot commodity after leading the Vikings to the Tournament. He’s been successful at each of his stops.
But if any team is capable of blowing a sure thing it’s the Beavers, who set a record by compiling a dreadful 0-19 record against Pac-10 squads this year. And we’ll take this gift that Oregon State so graciously returned.
Just like former head soccer coach Tim Bennett left for a position at Iowa State a couple months ago, it seemed Portland State was going to suffer from another cause of “stepping stone syndrome.” With more money, better facilities and a higher level of competition to offer than Portland State, Corvallis seemed to be the likely home of Bone.
Let’s not even venture to wonder how or why Bone is not donning the orange and black colors of the Beavers right now, while Barack Obama’s brother-in-law fills the spot instead.
Following the initial feeling of relief after dodging the proverbial Pac-10 bullet, Viking fans should hug the first person they see today. There should be handholding, dancing and singing of kumbaya in the Park Blocks today, because this has big deal written all over it.
King Bone has returned to his cushy throne in the Stott Center. Now, let’s see if he can lead the Vikings to a return visit to the NCAA Tournament next year.
