Smoke up for another job?

In the article below, Smoke Laval and Skip Bertman both deny any
contact from Oklahoma or Texas A&M about their respective head coaching
jobs. Rumors in Baton Rouge say Smoke is cheesed off at the LSU fans
for their attitude towards him. I don't blame him, Coach Bertman was
never subjected to anything like this.
After all though, Skip Bertman is a genius.
If Oklahoma offered Smoke the job and he turned it down, most would say
that was when two fools met. The fool that offered and the fool that
turned down the offer.
>From another point of view, this would be a good move for Oklahoma and
a good move for Smoke Laval.

The Okies would be getting a proven head baseball coach with two CWS
experience behind him. A guy who knows how to build a program, and how
to get it to Omaha. They would also be getting a guy who has made some
mistakes, but hopefully one that has learned from them, and would do
better if given a fresh start with a clean slate. We all know that
Smoke can coach, he is a great Xs and Os man, and he is a great guy.
True, some of his managerial skills have not developed fully, and he
certainly hasn't gotten much out of his assistant pitching coach. All
of these things should improve in a new situation.

As for Smoke Laval, he would get a chance without the pressure that
comes from the LSU Nation. It would also be a chance to coach at a
school in a major conference, with a rich baseball tradition, a school
with large resourses, and of course, he'd be outside of the large
shadow of Skip Bertman. He could make that program his own, not a copy
of the Bertman teams. With a little success, and slightly lower
expectations in Norman, he could probably coach there forever. The
reduced pressure aspect alone has to appeal to this guy after the year
he's had.

I think he could use a change of scenery, and the Sooners could
definetly use him.
(Article to follow below)

Geaux Tigers!!
WDS from Baton Rouge

===============================================================

Laval says OU hasn't contacted him

Report claims LSU coach has interest in Sooners
Thursday, June 23, 2005
By Jim Kleinpeter
Staff writer

BATON ROUGE -- LSU coach Smoke Laval said this week he is not a
candidate for the head coaching job at Oklahoma, despite a published
report to that effect.

The Tulsa World reported June 16 that Laval might be interested in the
job, which came open when Larry Cochell resigned May 1. The story
quoted an anonymous source saying critics have gotten under Laval's
skin after the Tigers, a preseason No. 2 pick by Baseball America,
failed to reach the College World Series for the first time in three
seasons.

The Tigers were eliminated by Rice at the Baton Rouge Regional this
season.

Laval said he was unaware of any interest Oklahoma had and has not been
contacted.

"I don't know anything about it," he said Tuesday. "I haven't talked to
anyone about it."

LSU athletic director Skip Bertman said he has not been contacted by
Oklahoma or Texas A&M. The Aggies hired Nebraska pitching coach Rob
Childress on Wednesday.

"I don't know how these things get started," Bertman said. "I've had a
lot of coaches ask me to call Oklahoma on their behalf, but I haven't
done that. Neither (athletic directors) Bill Byrne at A&M nor Joe
Castiglione at Oklahoma have contacted me, and they would if they were
going to talk to him."

Castiglione, through sports information director Ken Mossman, declined
comment, saying it's not the school's policy to discuss coaching
candidates, but that a search is ongoing.

The Tulsa World story said a committee hopes to complete its search by
the first week in July.

Oklahoma assistant Sunny Golloway said he will interview. Other
possible candidates are Alabama assistant Todd Butler, Northwestern
State coach Mitch Gaspard and College of Charleston coach John
Pawlowski.

Laval, who coached 10 years under Bertman, has compiled a 175-81
record, but came under fire after LSU was ousted by the Owls. It was
the first time LSU has failed to advance out of regional play in 11
seasons.

.. . . . . . .


Jim Kleinpeter can be reached at jkleinpeter.TakeThisOut@timespicayune.com or (225)
892-3816.