The Sports Brewery

Ernie Kent One Win Closer to Saving His Job

Posted on 11. Mar, 2010 at 8:06 am by The Big Cat in Basketball, NCAA Basketball, Oregon Ducks Basketball, PAC-10 Basketball

Oh Ernie, how close you were to the start of your dream vacation. I guess that trip to the Bahamas can be put off for another day so, along with the end of your illustrious coaching career. In what turned out to be anti-Ernie fashion, the Mighty Ducks of Oregon squeaked out an overtime 82-80 victory Thursday night, against the fierce Washington State Cougars.

While watching the game I was prepared for Coach Kent’s reign at Oregon to come to an end in fitting fashion, in the Pac 10 tourney play-in game. (Let us not forget that Kent was the one who created this game because four times during his 13-year stint at the helm, the Ducks have been so awful that they were not even invited to play in the conference tourney). In front of a raucous crowd of 100 strong, the Ducks tried there best to blow a 12-point lead in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter. All to no avail, thanks to a great last second tip-in by EJ Singler, the Ducks live to fight another day and so does their “lame duck” coach.

During what looked to be another promising Kent led train wreck final five-minutes, it got me reminiscing on the last 13 seasons he has “moved” on the Oregon bench. And as surprising as this sounds, I am not ready to see him go. Now, this isn’t for the same reasons as the rest of you Kent apologists, it is purely out of spite. I want the rest of you suckers to go through the same torture I have had to endure the last ten-plus years. On principle I refuse to support inept coaching efforts, therefore Kent has forced me into exile from the Pit, a self-ban from all live college basketball.

Now that everyone seems to be catching on to the fact that Big Ern can’t coach, and one good season isn’t worth four bad ones, people finally are calling for his head. Too bad ya’ll are only 13 years late to the party. Now, I realized all of this from the beginning of Ernie’s charade as a successful head coach. It is now only fair that he pulls out yet another miracle Pac Ten Tournament win and punches that ticket to the big dance. I want to rest of you to live through the pain and suffering the last 13 seasons has caused me.

So please Ernie, make one last amazing run to save your job. We are so lucky to still have you, I mean we can’t possibly find a better coach. After all the U of O isn’t a basketball school. However, let us not forget that this is the fourth time in Big Ern’s 13-year tenure that he has been either 9th or 10th in the final Pac-10 standings, and has only made five NCAA Tournaments. If you still are on the fence about his pending loss of employment, ask yourself this question. Name the schools that would actually hire him when he hits the open market? But hey, he graduates his players right!

Tags: Ernie Kent, ncaa basketball, Oregon Ducks, Pac Ten Tournament