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The Fashion Power Indexes - March 8, 2002
By Angela LentoConference Crowns and Final FPI
Okay, okay so the final pre-runway fashion power indexes were delayed a little bit, but there was a lot of last second photo-shoot-around sessions to determine rankings and each league’s most lavishing.
And some of the final fashion decisions may be surprising.
The head coach fashion frenzy begins on Monday, March 11 with the unveiling of the brackets for the 65-coach field. Nearly half of the 31 stylish invitations were handed out today, with the announcement of the 31 conference champions.
That leaves 34 spots remaining and a lot of coaches on the fashion fence.
“These are $1500 suits,” says Iona head coach Jeff Ruland. “There is no way that I shouldn’t be part of the tournament. With IMG (International Marketing Group) behind me I should advance far.”
Ravishing Ruland is one of many coaches that will have to wait until “Majestic Monday” to see if they get an at-large bid to the field.
“At-large is appropriate for Ruland,” says Marist coach Dave Magarity. “Ruland is a card carrying member of my “Portly and Stout” club and there is no question that he deserves to be a part of the field. I also believe, given our massive size and girth, that it would be safer for the other coaches if Ruland and I were taken off that fashion fence. I don’t think there is fence built that could support us.”
While Magarity and Ruland make their case for the field of 65, Rider’s Don Harnum (pictured) can relax and review his wardrobe to select an ensemble for his first round competitor. The Broncs debonair coach gets an automatic bid by virtue of being named the MAAC’s most majestic.
“It’s about time,” says Harnum. “Not only was I not named best-dressed in the MAAC last year, but I got snubbed from the field all together. Two years ago I had to face Jay Wright in the opening round, as a 16 seed. This year I expect a much better draw.”
Of course the MAAC exists in the shadow of the Big East in basketball and -- according to Rutgers coach Gary Waters -- in the world of style as well.
“Guys like Ruland and Magarity have no business being a part of anything that has to do with style,” says Waters. “Coach Harnum does a nice job and I’m glad for him that he was named best-dressed in the MAAC. It’s a major improvement over those other two guys.”
Last Water’s was the Mid-American Conference’s best-dressed and -- in his first season in the Big East -- he has claimed the title of the league’s most stylish.
“Oh there was never any doubt that I would be named Big East’s most stylish,” says Waters. “It’s an honor, but I have my sights set on the big prize.”
And the ravishing Rutgers coach took a moment to lobby for some of his captivating competitors to get at-large consideration.
“You have to include Mike Jarvis and Jay Wright,” says Waters. “There is no doubt that they should make the tournament. If Magarity and Ruland are getting consideration, Jay and Mike should be no-brainers.”
While Waters was not surprised at being named the Big East’s best, there were some captivating Cinderella stories across the country, as the basketball court is not the only place where upsets abound.
Most surprising to most was the emergence of Lamar’s Mike Deane and UNLV’s Charlie Spoonhour.
Dashing Deane stunned the competition on the Southland Conference Catwalk contest, while sensational Spoonhour dazzled the Mountain West with his mock turtleneck look.
In a mild surprise to the Big West faithful, Cal Poly’s Kevin Bromley grabbed the conference crown.
Here is the complete list of the 2002 Conference Champions, followed by the final pre-runway Fashion Power Indexes for both head coach and assistants.
America East: Tom Brennan – Vermont
Atlantic Coast: Skip Prosser – Wake Forest
Atlantic Sun: Don Maestri – Troy State
Atlantic 10: Bob Hill – Fordham
Big East: Gary Waters – Rutgers
Big Sky: Joel Sobotka – Portland State
Big South: Pete Strickland – Coastal Carolina
Big Ten: Jerry Dunn – Penn State
Big 12: Melvin Watkins – Texas A&M
Big West: Kevin Bromley – Cal Poly
Colonial: Bruiser Flint – Drexel
Conference-USA: John Calipari – Memphis
Horizon: Ed Schilling – Wright State
Ivy League: James Jones – Yale
Metro Atlantic: Don Harnum - Rider
Mid-American: Stan Joplin – Toledo
Mid-Continent: Homer Drew – Valparaiso
Mid-Eastern Athletic: Cy Alexander – South Carolina State
Missouri Valley: Barry Hinson – Southwest Missouri State
Mountain West: Charlie Spoonhour – UNLV
Northeast: Bobby Jones – St. Francis (PA)
Ohio Valley: Kyle Macy – Morehead State
Pacific-10: Paul Graham – Washington State
Patriot League: Sal Mentesana – Lehigh
Southeastern: Tubby Smith – Kentucky
Southern: Bob McKillop – Davidson
Southland: Mike Deane - Lamar
Southwestern Athletic: Lafayette Stribbling – Mississippi Valley
Sun Belt: Dennis Felton – Western Kentucky
West Coast: Michael Holton – Portland
Western Athletic: Willis Wilson – RiceHEAD COACH FPI (March 8, 2002)
The announcement of the last FPI before The Runway to the Fashionable Four begins officially secures the four top seeds for the 65-coach field, while five-through-eight all but assure themselves of No. 2 seeds.
Drexel’s Bruiser Flint prepares to defend his fashion crown with a No. 1 ranking in the FPI. Drexel’s debonair coach will also be the top seed in the tournament.
“Now is when the real competition begins,” says Flint. “I am ready to defend my title and show guys like Cal [John Calipari], Seth [Greenberg] and all the others who took shots at me, what being fly is all about.”
1. Bruiser Flint – Drexel
2. John Calipari – Memphis
3. Gary Waters – Rutgers
4. Willis Wilson – Rice
5. Jay Wright – Villanova
6. Paul Graham – Washington State
7. Tubby Smith – Kentucky
8. Rick Pitino – Louisville
9. Melvin Watkins – Texas A&M
10. Mike Jarvis – St. John’s
ASSISTANT COACH FPI (March 8, 2002)
In the assistant coach tournament -- like the NIT -- there are no seedings so the top four in the FPI represent the unofficial No. 1 seeds in their respective brackets, which were unveiled on Friday.
No surprise that once again Ole Miss assistant Wayne Brent tops the rankings, thus establishing himself as the favorite to be named as America’s Best-Dressed Assistant Coach.
Brent went out of the box in the Rebels SEC tournament game, breaking out a purple suit. A lot of guys could not make such a fashion statement, but Brent looked flawless. Unfortunately, Ole Miss lost that game so he was unable to sport other members of his deep closet, but he is sure to hold nothing back when “40 Guys and 40 Ties” kicks off next week.
Or perhaps I should call it “39 Guys, 39 Ties and One Woman.”
Also making the 40-coach field is Oakland’s beautiful 27-year old assistant, Jen Johnston. Coach Johnston also rounds out the FPI, checking in at No. 10.
1. Wayne Brent - Ole Miss
2. Gary Stewart - Washington State
3. Steve Sauers - Marist
4. Ronny Thompson - Georgetown
5. Tony Jones - Wisconsin-Milwaukee
6. Patrick Sellers - Central Connecticut State
7. Reggie Hanson - Kentucky
8. Lew Hill - Texas A&M
9. Tom Schuberth - UAB
10. Jennifer Johnston - Oakland
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(Head Coach: 3-8-2002) 1. Bruiser Flint
2. John Calipari
3. Gary Waters
4. Willis Wilson
5. Jay Wright
6. Paul Graham
7. Tubby Smith
8. Rick Pitino
9. Melvin Watkins
10.Mike JarvisPlaying Catch with Satchel Paige
The Captivating Conference Champions
Coach Brent Encourages Players to Build Professional Look
The Renaissance Man and Wrestling Alligators
Coaches Give Fashion Statements on Coaches
A Look at New Jersey's Stylish Coaches
Feb 4 FPI: John Calipari Remains No. 1
Sideline Style Poll is Clothes Call
Being No. 1 Suits Rutgers' Gary Waters Just Fine
Jan 21 FPI: John Calipari Tops Fashion Power Index
Carter, Felton, Lutz and Scruggs Combine Coaching and Style
Terry Gets Rave Reviews in North Carolina
Jan 7 FPI: Gary Waters Tops Fashion Power Index
Though Styles Differ, Smith and Pitino at Top of Their Game
December FPI: Georgetown and Drexel Top The Lists
Jesse "The Body" Ventura and a Kid at Delaware
Musical Talent in Kansas and Wyoming
The FPI, The Natural and a 7-Footer from Wal-Mart
Pennsylvania: America’s Most Stylish State
In Search of Bigfoot with Dale Brown
Auctioning off Auburn coach Cliff Ellis
UCLA's Steve Lavin Talks Fashion
John Feinstein Plugs Fashionable Four
(Assistant: 3-8-2002) 1. Wayne Brent
2. Gary Stewart
3. Steve Sauers
4. Ronny Thompson
5. Tony Jones
6. Patrick Sellers
7. Reggie Hanson
8. Lew Hill
9. Tom Schuberth
10.Jennifer Johnston
AMERICA EAST:
Tom Brennan
ATLANTIC COAST:
Skip Prosser
ATLANTIC SUN:
Don Maestri
ATLANTIC 10:
Bob Hill
BIG EAST:
Gary Waters
BIG SKY:
Joel Sobotka
BIG SOUTH:
Pete Strickland
BIG TEN:
Jerry Dunn
BIG 12:
Melvin Watkins
BIG WEST:
Kevin Bromley
COLONIAL:
Bruiser Flint
CONFERENCE-USA:
John Calipari
HORIZON:
Ed Schilling
IVY LEAGUE:
James Jones
METRO ATLANTIC:
Don Harnum
MID-AMERICAN:
Stan Joplin
MID-CONTINENT:
Homer Drew
MID-EASTERN:
Cy Alexander
MISSOURI VALLEY:
Barry Hinson
MOUNTAIN WEST:
Charlie Spoonhour
NORTHEAST:
Bobby Jones
OHIO VALLEY:
Kyle Macy
PACIFIC-10:
Paul Graham
PATRIOT LEAGUE:
Sal Mentesana
SOUTHEASTERN:
Tubby Smith
SOUTHERN:
Bob McKillop
SOUHTLAND:
Mike Deane
SOUTHWESTERN:
Lafayette Stribbling
SUN BELT:
Dennis Felton
WEST COAST:
Michael Holton
WESTERN ATHLETIC
Willis Wilson
Take a stroll down last season's Runway to the Fashionable Four
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