A week after signing day and still no word on Pat Hill's contract situation.
Is there something to worry about?
Probably not.
Fresno State athletic director Thomas Boeh and Hill verbally agreed back in December that the longtime coach would receive an extension.
It's just that no one still knows how long will the contract run and will Hill receive more or less money to keep coaching at Fresno State.
Hill's current contract isn't scheduled to expire until after the 2010 season, so technically, the two sides have little to worry about for the upcoming season and appear to be in little hurry to finalize a new deal or extension.
But because no details of negotiations have been revealed or a timetable established when Hill's extension would be finalized, rumors continue to spread.
One thing heard over local radio this week suggested that the reason no extension was finalized yet was because Hill and Boeh differed on the length of the contract.
Hill, as expected by any veteran coach or player, wants more years. Boeh wants fewer years to commit.
Because lets face it, there's no big-money donors around in Fresno who'd be willing or have the money to buy out a coach and pay for the remaining years of a contract. It's just the facts of life at Fresno State. This university doesn't have a Phil Knight (NIKE CEO) as Oregon does or T. Boone Pickens (legendary Texas oil and gas executive) as Oklahoma State does.
So when a contract is signed, that's pretty much it. Barring NCAA violations (see exit of former Fresno State men's basketball coach Ray Lopes), Fresno State must pretty much just stay with the coach for the length of a contract regardless of production on the field.
Now, of course, a coach could always get lured away by another university and end the relationship with Fresno State sooner.
But in the end, Fresno State is the one that has little power in ending relationships with coaches sooner than a contract.
So what's the hangup with Hill's contract? No word. Both parties have been busy for most of 2010, with Hill recruiting and Boeh doing athletic director-type things.
Word is the two briefly met last week and both remain on the same page that an extension will be worked out.
How soon and when?
Boeh said he had no timetable.
Hill guessed sometime in March.
If both sides are really on the same page, then fine print has never taken so long to write and read.
If I were Thomas Boeh, I would delay this signing as long as possible and only sign a short term deal. The fact that Fresno State doesn't have the big name donor to bail them out of a bad coaching decision is the biggest reason to make the extension a short one.
Based upon the past performance of Coach Hill and his offensive philosophy, Fresno State will continue to struggle beating the likes of Boise State and Nevada.
I don't see Fresno winning the WAC anytime soon unless Boise jumps ship to the PAC-12 or Mountain West which would clear the way for Fresno to have a chance.
The only leverage Fresno gets is having short term deals tied to performance unless of course Mr. Boeh is happy with mediocrity out of the football program and then I'd say sign Coach Hill for a ten year contract.
Why does 13 years of continually disappointing and enraging an entire fanbase deserve a contract extension? Can someone please name one other coach on campus who is not required to win a single WAC championship in 13 seasons and still is employed at Fresno State? You can't do it.
In what parallel universe does a football coach averaging 5 losses a year get rewarded with a contract extension? How does that make any sense?
Attendance next season is going to continue to be awful. 20,000+ fans for home games at Bulldog Stadium last year? Expect more of the same. The actual butts in seats will be lucky to break 30,000 fans next year.
People are fed up and they aren't going to take it anymore. Hire a new coach Boeh. You big wimp. He doesn't have the guts to hire a new coach. He is content with mediocrity. I guess when you come from Ohio U, being terrible in football is all that he is used to.