Some Danforth stuff...Post Standard April 22 1975.
Typos included.
COLLEGE Feedback The SU Dilemma "Three years ago, nobody said a thing when it was time for him to renew his contract," a spokesman for the Syracuse University athletic department was saying yesterday. "Now, sud - mm Batzold Iaeniy it s a not news topic. The reference, of course, was made about Syracuse basketball coach Roy Danforth, who may or may not be returning to coach the Orange next season, depending on whom you talk with. According to one source: "Rov has been of - Ifered a contract with a professional basketball Steam in the ABA (American Basketball Assoc iation). The contract calls for some big money, week." Danforth, a clever poker player who doesn't like to give away his hand, refuses to confirm or deny the report, which only leaves the sports community in the dark, rather than sheddiiig any light on an already puzzling situation. Danforth's coaching stock has risen 1,000 points since Syracuse's Cinderella trip to the NCAA's Final Four this season in San Diego. That performance, on top of a seven - year career which has seen SU make five consecutive post - season tournament appearances, makes Danforth a distinct possibility to wind up in any coaching position in the country, college or pro. There was some talk that he would have a shot at the Illinois job, vacated when Gene Bartow left to succeed John Wooden at UCLA. But that job was filled quickly and Roy never got an interview. Then last week, sources had Danforth pegged as the leading candidate to fill the head job at the University of Oklahoma. Danforth's wife, Caroline, said Roy had withdrawn his name from consideration, saying the move West and the rebuilding job necessary at Oklahoma was just too much. And the money wasn't right either, with the new Sooner coach signing a three year contract for about $24,000, just slightly more than what Danforth made in his last three years at Syracuse. Now, there is talk of a possible ABA job, with the rumors of other college job offers, namely New Mexico State, still in the air. Which all leads to the ultimate question: Why has Syracuse failed to offer Danforth a new contract? "I don't think it's been so much our reluctance to sit down with him as it's been his being out of town so much," the athletic department spokesman said yesterday. "The team returned from San Diego on a Tuesday night and he left town the next day." But why couldn't Danforth have been approached in San Diego? Athletic Director Les Dye and Chancellor Melvin A. Egg - ers were both on the west coast at the time of the NCAA semifinals. "I don't think they we're going to rip up his contract as if the team had just won the pennant in baseball," the spokesman claims. "That's not done very often in college athletics." That's the type of thinking which is hurting SU athletics. The . gold rush to the NCAA semifinals was worth approximately $120,000 to the University's general fund, so why not re - invest some of the money to insure the return of the man who put Syracuse basketball there in the first place? Even if Syracuse was to offer a 810,000 yearly raise, higher than any probable offer, it would still only cost $40,000 for a four - vear contract, leaving an 880,000 profit from the NCAA tournament. Even now. despite reports of Danforth possibly headed for an - . other job, the efforts to renegotiate the contract have failed to ' make any progress, although Athletic Director Dye says differently. "Roy has had a lot of trouble with the new contract," one of : his closest friends says. "I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up in , the NBA or the ABA," says another. ; And he might. The community would wish him well if he was • to leave for another school or the professional ranks because nobody really wants to see him leave. It would be a costly mistake
