Truth & Rumors > NCAAF

Pinkel mum about Washington job

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When University of Washington coach Tyrone Willingham was fired Monday, effective at season's end, speculation on the school's potential wish list for his replacement naturally included Missouri coach Gary Pinkel and offensive coordinator Dave Christensen. Pinkel played for highly regarded former Washington coach Don James at Kent State and served as his assistant at Washington for 12 years. Christensen played for James at Washington and also worked for him. Asked Monday to comment on the opening and whether there are implications for himself or Christensen, Pinkel declined and added, "To me, that's just a distraction. I'm going to focus on this football game (against Baylor), and that's all I'm going to do." Christensen declined comment. Earlier this month, James told the Post-Dispatch that he would take Pinkel "in a heartbeat" but didn't expect Pinkel to be enticed by the job because of Missouri's rise, Washington's decline and Pinkel's comfort in Columbia.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Gary Pinkel, AP Gary Pinkel, AP
October 28, 2008  08:19 AM ET

Kiffin [Raiders] is also under consideration because he knows the Pac-10, and worked for USC.

October 28, 2008  08:34 AM ET

I think that Pinkel has worked too hard to get Missouri back to it's pre 1984 form. He has built a program based on integrity and clean players and going to Washington at this point would be step down. That all is taking into consideration the NC that Pinkel was a part of in the early 90s. MU has the recruits to be a contender for a few years and I believe that he is going to stay.

October 28, 2008  09:03 AM ET

Don't do it Gary! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

October 28, 2008  09:04 AM ET

WU is where coaches go to Kevork their careers....Exhibit A: Rick Neuhiesal Exhibit B. Willingham

October 28, 2008  09:17 AM ET

Pinkel's got a better job at Missouri. Chase Daniel might be leaving but he's done a good job recruiting at Mizzou and even if there is a drop off it shouldn't be a big one.

October 28, 2008  10:15 AM ET

Do I hear Nick Saban's phone ringing???

October 28, 2008  11:24 AM ET

Admittedly I have not kept up with the U. of Washington's west coast school history but I do know a little about their, now fired, coach. He's a good man, coach and family man as well. Why is no one ever talked about the folks who have been through this institution and swept out as fast....is there something about "sick school syndrome" going on there?

October 28, 2008  11:36 AM ET

Les Miles may be available soon.

October 28, 2008  12:49 PM ET

I say he goes!!
The Big-12 will be the new SEC for the next decade and with two Ohio boys already coaching (Stoops & Pelini) he best go to Washington. Washington, can be a good top 10 program, Don James proved that. Plus he only has to worry about USC and UCLA (future top 10 program)

October 28, 2008  01:03 PM ET

Why would Pinkel go to Washington?

October 28, 2008  01:22 PM ET

he should leave - he has the best team he will ever have at Missouri right now and he still won't win the big 12 - get while the getting is good. could be a great pay day.

October 28, 2008  02:42 PM ET

Gary Pinkel is overrated. If he leaves Missouri I would be fine with it. The guy who Missouri needs to keep is David Christensen. Make him your head coach if Pinkel leaves.

October 28, 2008  03:46 PM ET
QUOTE(#9):

I say he goes!!The Big-12 will be the new SEC for the next decade and with two Ohio boys already coaching (Stoops & Pelini) he best go to Washington. Washington, can be a good top 10 program, Don James proved that. Plus he only has to worry about USC and UCLA (future top 10 program)

Spoken like only how a true Homer should!

October 28, 2008  04:47 PM ET

Peterson would be a great choice.

October 28, 2008  04:47 PM ET

michigan watch out...rich rod might be leaving

October 28, 2008  04:51 PM ET
QUOTE(#4):

WU is where coaches go to Kevork their careers....

LMAO! BTW, Truth I'm happy to see that you've brought back the Soup Naz ...er, uh..member of the now-defunct German Socialist Party. Damn censors!

October 28, 2008  04:58 PM ET
QUOTE(#11):

he should leave - he has the best team he will ever have at Missouri right now and he still won't win the big 12 - get while the getting is good. could be a great pay day.

Correct. Washington is down now, but has a much higher ceiling than Mizzou. Sooner or later Nebraska and Colorado are going to retake their places atop the Big 12 North. Pinkel would do well to learn from Greg Schiano and get while the getting's good.

October 28, 2008  05:06 PM ET
QUOTE(#17):

Correct. Washington is down now, but has a much higher ceiling than Mizzou. Sooner or later Nebraska and Colorado are going to retake their places atop the Big 12 North. Pinkel would do well to learn from Greg Schiano and get while the getting's good.

He hasn't left Rutgers though.

October 28, 2008  06:43 PM ET

You know what I'd like to do to that Willingham.

 
October 28, 2008  07:05 PM ET

I don't think that Pinkel is going to run to Washington because Nebraska and Colorado are going to get better. Every coach wants to be in the best conference where every win means something not just one or two big games followed up by several bum games. Pinkel is not leaving.

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