Barnes confirms no change coming

Since he had extended the contract Barnes is not about to admit it was a huge mistake.  Only a blind man cannot see that Tinkle doesn't have the capacity or skills to improve the situation at OSU.

The bigger issue is that the Oregon Legislature just gave the OSU AD department $10 million.  If we turn around and fire WT and pay him the $8.7 million he is owed, it is very bad optics.  

Yet scholarship $ and coaching salaries are not from the same pot of $. But, so true some will not see it that way. Although the football program's coaching change over the next few years covers WT's payout. And. any payout is not some lump sum amount... depending of course on the individual contract.

I know it's different pots of $$, but it would definitely not been seen as that by the general public.

College of Idaho is the powerhouse in that league this year.

OIT is still good, by not like they used to be under Miles.

Uh, you saying that the WCC is every bit as strong as the Pac-12?  Somehow I have my doubts.  That conference has 2-3 pretty decent teams, but this year's Beaver team probably would have been in the fight for 4th or 5th at least, maybe higher.  At which point you're looking at roughly 10-ish conference, maybe more this season.

Next season depends completely on retention and recruiting.  If Pope/Bilodeau/Rataj/Ibekwe all bolt, I'd be hard pressed to see 5 conference wins there next year.  If they all stay, I'm thinking 12 or more is quite doable, I'd call it 12 minimum.  To get to the top of the conference will probably take some recruiting, or a heck of a lot of development with KC and Michael (both of which could make a jump in level of play this year with hard work) and probably another 2 or 3 players.  Ideally the coaching staff, whoever it is, can find (or develop) a full-time center that can play at the level of KC on his good days or higher. They also need a quality point guard that is a floor general/assist guy to free up Pope to move to the 2 spot.