Steve Alford -- you remember him, don't you? -- is pocketing more than twice as much money as the football coach at the University of New Mexico, where both guys work.
And, sorry to tell you, the FireSteveAlford.com web domain is no longer available for you to buy.
Somebody else already bought it for $212.50 [kind of cheap, don't you think?] on eBay -- and a guy I know wonders if Alford forked over the money for it.
Anyway, the latest news on Alford is reported by www.thewizardofodds.blogspot.com under the headline "A Rocky Relationship at New Mexico:"
"If you can't say anything nice, the best thing is to say nothing at all, or so it would appear.
"The Albuquerque Journal reports that New Mexico [football] coach Rocky Long's salary of $440,000 a year is the second-lowest in the nine-team Mountain West Conference. In comparison, new basketball coach Steve Alford just signed a six-year deal for $975,000 a year, more than double Long's salary.
"Long was asked if he was being compensated fairly. 'I have no comment about that,' he said.
"The Albuquerque Tribune reports that the university just finished spending more than $3.4 million to hire Alford and assistant Craig Neal, along with new president David Schmidly. And it appears officials didn't even get the domain FireSteveAlford.com, which just sold for $212.50 in an eBay auction.
"Long might have allies in the academic community. The average annual salary for a full professor at New Mexico is $92,489."
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6-9 VETTE OF WAVERLY-SHELL ROCK WILL BE A CYCLONE
Iowa State basketball coach Greg McDermott said Clayton Vette, winner of the 2007 Mr. Basketball Award given to the top prep player in Iowa, will attend Iowa State on a basketball scholarship for the 2007-08 season. Vette, a 6-9, 245-pound forward from Waverly, led his Waverly-Shell Rock team to its first state title since 1944, claiming the Class 3A championship with a 74-51 victory over Sioux City Heelan.
“Clayton has a rich basketball background and knows how to win,” McDermott said. "He has a strong work ethic and comes from an outstanding high school program. Clayton will give us toughness, versatility and a high basketball I.Q. to our front-court."
Vette’s dominating performance at the state tournament earned him captain of the Class 3A all-tournament team, averaging 20 points and 12 rebounds in the three state tournament contests. The Go-Hawks won by an average of 20.7 points in their state title run. A two-time first-team Class 3A all-state selection, Vette averaged 19.1 points and 11.9 rebounds in 2006-07.
Vette is the first Iowa Mr. Basketball Award winner to sign with the Cyclones since Fred Hoiberg in 1991. He is the fourth winner of the coveted award to ink with ISU since its inception in 1981. Robert Johnson (1987- Des Moines Lincoln) and Mike Bergman (1989- Waverly-Shell Rock) were the others.
Vette joins five other Cyclones who have signed letters of intent to attend ISU on a basketball scholarship next season.
MARCUS BRISTER SIGNS WITH IOWA STATE
Iowa State basketball coach Greg McDermott said today that Marcus Brister, a 6-3, 215-pound guard from Duncanville, TX, has signed a letter of intent for the 2007-08 season. Brister is one of the top prospects out of Texas after playing last season at God’s Academy Prep School in Dallas. A strong guard who is an excellent passer, Brister led his squad to a 29-9 record.
“Marcus is a guard who has a great feel for the game,” McDermott said. “He distributes the ball and has the innate ability to make his teammates better.”
Brister averaged 13.1 points and 6.2 assists in his only season at God’s Academy. He previously played at Duncanville High School, where he helped his squad to a 24-10 record and a No. 2 ranking in Class 5A. He averaged 18.0 points and 6.2 assists in the 2005-06 season.
Brister is one of five Cyclones who have signed letters of intent to play next season. He joins Craig Brackins (F, 6-10, 220, Palmdale, Calif. -- Boy’s To Men/Brewster [N.H.] Academy), Diante Garrett (G, 6-4, 170, Milwaukee, Wis. -- Vincent), Lucca Staiger (G, 6-5, 215, Baulstein, Germany -- Urspring Academy/Decatur [Ill.] Christian) and Charles Boozer (6-3, 190, Raleigh, N.C. -- Leesville Road/Stoneridge [Calif.] Prep) as freshmen next year.
IOWA STATE'S RECRUITS
Craig Brackins, F, 6-10, 220, Freshman, Palmdale, Calif. (Boys To Men/Brewster [N.H.] Academy)
Diante Garrett, G, 6-4, 170, Freshman, Milwaukee, Wis. (Vincent)
Lucca Staiger, G, 6-5, 215, Freshman, Baulstein, Germany (Urspring Academy/Decatur [Ill.] Christian)
Charles Boozer, G, 6-3, 190, Freshman, Raleigh, N.C. (Leesville Road/Stoneridge [Calif.] Prep)
Marcus Brister, G, 6-3, 210, Freshman, Duncanville, Texas (Duncanville/God’s Academy)
Craig Brackins
F, 6-10, 220
Palmdale, Calif. (Boys To Men Academy/Brewster [N.H.] Academy)
High School: One of the highest-rated players to ever sign with the Cyclones...rated as the 18th-best player in the nation in the final 2007 rivals.com rankings...ranked as the fourth-best power forward in the Class of 2007...ranked as the 48th-best player nationally by CBSsportsline.com...rated as the 17th-best power forward by scout.com...played for Brewster Academy in his final season, leading the squad to a 29-6 record and a NEPSAC Class A runner-up finish...team finished with a final ranking of fifth nationally by ScoutHoops.com...averaged 18.1 points and 9.3 rebounds in his final season en route to first-team all-New England honors...scored 32 points vs. Lee Academy...voted as one of the top-10 performers at the 2006 Cactus Classic, averaging 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks...named to the all-tournament team at the Stoneridge Holiday Classic in 2006...Brewster Academy is the same prep school as current Cyclone Dodie Dunson...played for Boys To Men Academy (Chicago) as a junior where he was considered one of the top prep school prospects in Illinois...averaged 14.1 points and 7.2 rebounds for Boys To Men in 2006...chose Iowa State over Indiana, Pittsburgh, Illinois and Clemson.
Diante Garrett
G, 6-4, 170
Milwaukee, Wis. (Vincent)
High School: Regarded as one of the best players in Wisconsin in 2007...rated No. 111 in the final 2007 Rivals.com national rankings...was a finalist for Wisconsin Player of the Year honors...named first-team all-state as a senior by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel...averaged 15.2 points and 5.3 assists in 2006-07...led his team to a 23-3 mark and a runner-up finish in the Wisconsin D1 state championship...his Vincent team lost in the D1 state championship game to Oshkosh West...scored 20 points, going 8-for-11 from the field in Vincent’s semifinal win over Kimberly...won Wisconsin D1 state tournament co-MVP honors...was named first-team all-conference and honorable mention all-state as a junior for a team that was ranked as high as No. 2 in the state...father, Dick Garrett, played five seasons in the NBA for the Los Angeles Lakers, Buffalo Braves, New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks, averaging 10.3 ppg...chose Iowa State over Clemson, UNLV and Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Lucca Staiger
G, 6-5, 215
Baulstein, Germany (Urspring Academy/Decatur {Ill.} Christian)
High School: A strong guard who is considered one of the best junior players in Germany...a skilled, versatile guard who is an outstanding shooter and passer...played his senior season in high school at Decatur Christian in Illinois...averaged 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists...named a NACA All-American...selected to play in the Illinois Premier Basketball High School All-Star Game...at the age of 15, was named MVP of the Dirk Nowitzki All-Star camp...his high school team won the 2005 German High School Championship...averaged 24.2 ppg, 5.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists last season for Urspring...a member of the German Junior National Team the last four seasons...competed for the German Junior National Team at the 2005 FIBA U18 European Championship...was a member of the German National Team that competed in the 2006 FIBA U20 European Championship this past summer...was one of 49 participants selected by the NBA and FIBA for the 2005 Basketball Without Borders Europe Camp...selected to play in the 2006 Adidas Superstar Camp All-Star game.
Charles Boozer
G, 6-3, 190
Raleigh, N.C. (Leesville Road/Stoneridge [Calif.] Prep)
High School: Played his final season at Stoneridge Prep in California...averaged 12.5 points, 2.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds...shot 32.3 percent (42-130) from 3-point range...had the second-best scoring average on a team that finished 16-14...named all-tournament at the Stoneridge Holiday Classic...scored 25 points vs. Brewster Academy and current Cyclone teammate Craig Brackins...played four seasons at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh before attending prep school...a three-year starter at Leesvile Road, recording over 1,720 points and making three state tournament appearances...averaged 15.2 ppg and 6.2 rpg last season and 18.1 ppg in 2004-05...named to the 2006 Fullcourt Press All-Tournament team...played for the North Carolina Bears AAU team...coached in prep school by Mike Mahoney...he is the younger brother of current NBA star Carlos Boozer, who is in his third season with the Utah Jazz...Carlos earned All-America honors at Duke, finishing his career as the school’s all-time leader in field goal percentage.
Marcus Brister
G, 6-3, 210
Duncanville, Texas (Duncanville/God’s Academy)
High School: A strong guard who is an excellent passer...played his final season at God’s Academy Prep School in Dallas, Texas, averaging 13.1 points and 6.2 assists...was named all-region and all-district...his team finished second at the NACA Nationals...listed as one of the top-60 players out of Texas after his final season at Duncanville High School...as a junior at Duncanville, he averaged 18.0 points, 6.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds for a team that went 24-10 and was ranked No. 2 in Class 5A...played for the Dallas Mustangs AAU team, the same AAU team as Wesley Johnson...chose ISU over Minnesota, Cincinnati, Nebraska and UTEP.
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Photo of Steve Alford [left] courtesy of Google. Photo of Rocky Long [right] courtesy of www.thewizardofodds.blogspot.com. Iowa State basketball story written by Mike Green of the university's sports information staff.
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