Our Savior: Andy Kennedy

After Finney's richly deserved termination in a week, the Tulane community needs to select a replacement. Frankly, Tulane has some problems. This job is not as attractive as when we hired Finney. The building had been full rather ecently then- it is increasingly empty now. Perry had success- there is only a sort of increasingly tendacious mediocrity now. Probably the only thing in common in the talent cupboard is bare.

So the Wave needs to over-achieve making this selection. Tulane needs to find a guy who might not normally consider the Green Wave- but due to circumstances fits right in.

I nominate this guy, Andy Kennedy- the number one assistant in Cincinnati. I am convinced that Kennedy, as opposed to other fantastic suggestions on chat boards and such, is a guy who could arguably come in here right now and fix things.

First, Kennedy is a fantastic recruiter. Fantastic. Look at the Bearcats incoming classes the past three years: Holy Smokes! Yes, no one really cares at Cincinnati if the players aren't committed to school. And yes, that is a problem at Tulane. But the fact that Tulane sort of insists kids go to school will mitigate that potential unpleasantness. And even if he loses a few kids- the talent upgrade for the Wave would be enormous.

Kennedy is an assistant- so he is somewhat affordable- important at Tulane.

He has lots of southern roots. He has already coached at two nearby southern stops- and he played ball at UAB. Seriously considered a USM job. He might just want to come to Tulane- a key part of a good basketball marriage.

Plus, this scandal, where he calls out Perry Clark, makes me cheer. You have to read down a bit. It is embarassing- but ultimately harmless.

http://espn.go.com/ncb/columns/forde_pat/1289801.html

Kennedy recruits nationally- and Tulane is still in a semi-power league- we need to learn how.

This is a guy Tulane probably never would get normally: the top assistant to a Top 15 program. But that is what makes me crazy to get him. A lot of signs point to him potentially wanting to come back to this area: he has interviewed here, worked here, has family here, his interest in the USM thing, etc. And you can win here at Tulane; we're not a disaster. Perry did- and while I admire the job he did here, he's not a genius.

I just cannot find anything about Kennedy that does not make me want to personally drive him to New Orleans to interview.

His bio is here:

http://www.ucbearcats.com/sports/mbball/bio.asp?player_id=855