Warnungen » named interim head coach when Herman left. Applewh

While Lane Kiffin was said to be nearing a deal to become Houstons next head coach, the schools board of regents chairman said Friday night that the Cougars never were close to hiring the Alabama offensive coordinator.Tilman Fertitta told KILT-AM in Houston that offensive coordinator Major Applewhite, whom the school promoted to head coach earlier Friday, was a better fit than Kiffin. Fertitta called in to the sports radio show Gallant At Night after he heard the hire being discussed on air.Lane Kiffin did not show me anything that Major Applewhite did not show me, Fertitta said. Sure, hes been a head coach and hes been an OK head coach. But I can tell you this: [Kiffin] was not a safe hire.Asked whether Kiffin was ever close to becoming Houstons coach, Fertitta said: Never. He was no closer than anybody else. Those [stories about him being close] are all put out by his agents, because thats the way they play the game.In response to reports that Kiffin was put off by Houstons desire to put a steep buyout clause in the next coachs contract to make it difficult for the coach to leave after two seasons -- as former coach Tom Herman did in order to accept the head position at Texas -- Fertitta said that wasnt the case and that Kiffin had assured him he would stay at Houston for an extended period if hired.He said Write the contract the way you want it, said Fertitta, who also is a prominent booster for the schools athletic program. Lane Kiffin looked me in the eye and he knew when he sat down at that table that he was going to go with the contract that I put in front of him with the buyout that I wanted in front of him. And we never even got there.The range for the buyout that Fertitta sought was the remainder of the contract at the time the coach leaves. The Houston Chronicle reported Friday that such a buyout will, indeed, be in Applewhites deal. Sources told ESPN on Friday that Applewhite will receive a five-year contract. Financial terms were not immediately available.Fertitta also expressed concern with Kiffins potential offensive and defensive coordinator choices and lack of ties to the Houston area.Applewhites familiarity and relationships with Texas high school football coaches and the continuity his hire would provide were major factors in the decision to choose him over Kiffin, Fertitta said.The Texas high school football coaches bombarded our athletic director [Hunter Yurachek] and said: We want our kids to play for Major Applewhite, Fertitta said. Heres a guy thats been on the big stage, he was the quarterback at the University of Texas, he has a great relationship with the coaches and high school football in Texas. Lane does not. That was an X against Lane compared to Major.Continuity in the program, the kids, the recruits today playing wanted Major Applewhite. They let it be known. It was just one thing after another that had steamrolled to Major.Fertitta, an entrepreneur who owns the restaurant corporation Landrys Inc. and is the host of a CNBC reality television show called Billion Dollar Buyer, said he interviewed Kiffin twice and admitted that when Houstons coaching search started, he did not originally intend to hire either of the two internal candidates: Applewhite or defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, who was named interim head coach when Herman left. Applewhite, Kiffin, Orlando, former?LSU?coach Les Miles and current Oklahoma?offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley all interviewed for the job.Ill be 100 percent honest with you. When this started, I thought that we needed to go out and get a name-brand coach, because, to me, its all about brands, Fertitta said. Nobody understands that better than me. And I wanted the University of Houston to stay relevant, OK? I think Les Miles is a fine coach and hes going to be a great coach for somebody, and I think the same thing of Lane Kiffin. I was very impressed. But when I looked at the whole picture and totality, I truly think in my heart -- and so did everybody else on the committee think -- that Major Applewhite was the right fit. Air Jordan 1 Sale . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Air Jordan 1 Retro Wholesale . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. http://www.airjordan1wholesale.com/ . According the Toronto Star, a knee injury will keep Sundin out of the lineup, which includes former teammates Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi and Curtis Joseph. Air Jordan 1 Wholesale . Traditional contenders Brazil, Greece and Turkey drew the other three spots to complete the 24-team field for this summers tournament in Spain, basketball governing body FIBA announced Saturday at its meeting in Barcelona. Air Jordan 1 Retro Cheap . Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. Tinsley, a 10-year veteran, spent the last two seasons in Utah, where the point guard averaged 3. NEW YORK -- Finally, after nearly a fortnight of generic coaches and trainers, family and friends, a male players box finally produced some serious star power.There were Hugh Jackman and Ben Stiller sitting next to each other Tuesday night in the top row of Novak Djokovics box. You had to wonder who was more thrilled to meet whom when six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker, Djokovics coach, introduced himself before the match.It wasnt the Q-Rating bonanza of Jay Z and Beyonce, who appeared in the box of Serena Williams earlier in the tournament, but it was pretty solid. The best Jo-Wilfried Tsonga could do? Roland Garros tournament director Guy Forget.What felt like a prizefight at the outset -- this was the 22nd meeting between the two -- quickly devolved into a master-level class in geometry. No. 1-seeded Djokovic was leading 6-3, 6-2 when Tsonga retired abruptly with a left knee injury.I came out with the right intensity, the level of my game has raised, Djokovic said. As tournament progresses, I feel like Im getting better.To have three retirements on the road to the semifinals, I can only wish all my opponents a speedy recovery.Is Djokovic concerned about the lack of playing time?Not really, he said. At this stage of the season, considering some of my physical issues, this is the scenario that I needed and I wished for. Got a lot of days off, recovered my body. Im feeling very close to the peak, and thats where I want to be.Djokovic, thus, advances to a Friday semifinal against another 30-something Frenchman, Gael Monfils.The 29-year-old Serb, who came into this event a little nicked up, doesnt need any luck -- but he has gotten oodles of it here.Through five matches, Djokovic has now played a mere nine sets and six games. Only two of his matches have gone the minimum distance of three sets, with a walkover and two retirements.At the beginning of Djokovics on-court interview, ESPNs Brad Gilbert wanted to know what exactly was going on.You tell me, I dont know, Djokovic responded. Obviously, I have to say it again. I really wish Jo a quick recovery. This is something Im sure he didnt wish for.Djokovic has now won each and every one of his 10 US Open quarterfinal matches, 10 straight Grand Slam quarters overall and 23 of the past 24.Hes also beaten Tsonga in 14 of their past 15 meetings.There were times when Djokoovic, covering the court with an almost disquieting aplomb, could have been mistaken for the flashing, steel-slashing X-Men character Wolverine.dddddddddddd Tsonga, the No. 9 seed, played more like the night watchman in Night at the Museum.Arthur Ashe Stadium, very close to its capacity of 23,700 spectators, was actually almost hushed at times. All those bodies seem to dampen the swirling sound that has visited matches when the seats are half full.In those moments, the only sound was the squeaking of Djokovics sneakers, the sound of impeccable footwork.Djokovic is acknowledged as the games finest returner of serve. His instincts and hand-eye coordination are extraordinary. For most of the match, he casually moved Tsonga from side to side, as if for his own amusement.And no one turns trouble into treasure, defense into offense, quite like Djokovic. With Tsonga serving a 3-4 but facing a break point, Djokovic stretched to hit a running forehand -- for a winner past a stunned Tsonga.Tsonga came into the match on a serving tear, but went out of the tournament meekly, seeing his serve broken four times in two sets. He double-faulted three times in a single game during the first set and four of five times overall.Djokovic, noticing that Tsongas first-serve speed had dropped significantly, knew something was up.But I held my concentration well, Djokovic said. I hung in there and stayed composed.Based on Andy Murrays superb summer, with wins at Wimbledon and the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, some folks have him favored to win this tournament.Djokovic, for his part, came into this event nursing a recurring left wrist injury, but he has found some unexpected time for rest and relaxation in the Grand Slam considered the most grueling of the four.Two matches short of the title, Djokovic is in a terrific spot, looking like a man poised to win three majors in a season for the third time, following 2011 and 2015.Im hoping thats going to happen again, Djokovic said. Grand Slams through the history of our sport have been the most prestigious.At the end of the day, Im trying to take every moment with appreciation. I put myself in a position to be two matches away from the title. Im not taking anything for granted. ' ' '