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The Fashion Power Indexes - Feb. 4, 2002
By Angela LentoStylin’ in the Blue Grass State
In the past two weeks fans have emailed and coaches have called. The hot topic was which conference is America’s most stylish?
Not to mention, which state is the sportiest?
“It’s not even close,” says Drexel’s Bruiser Flint. “Pennsylvania is the most fashionable state by far. All three champions on the runway reside in Pennsylvania. As far as leagues go, like I said before it has to be the Colonial.”
Coach Flint is right on the first count. Jay Wright (Villanova) was named the best-dressed coach in the country in 1998 and again in ’99, while he was the head coach at Hofstra.
In 2000, Lehigh’s Sal Mentesana crowned the nation’s most elegant. And Flint is the defending national champion on the catwalk.
Once the coaches begin to stroll down the runway -- in March -- Pennsylvania may prove to once again be the snappiest state, but right now that distinction belongs to the state of Kentucky.
Four current residents of the Blue Grass State are in the latest fashion power index, which is more than any other.
And as for the most dapper conference, those bragging rights do not belong to coach Flint and his fellow Colonial Athletic Association coaches.
C-USA is still out-styling the CAA, at least for the moment.
“That’s crazy,” says Flint. “Any league that has Bob Huggins and Seth Greenberg is not stylish.”
Two weeks ago, Flint made similar comments, which caught the attention of a few C-USA coaches, including South Florida’s Seth Greenberg.
“Fly? Give me a break,” says Greenberg. “I would have thought that Bruiser would have had a better grasp of the English language. Bruiser received a fine education at St. Joseph’s University, but I know the professors did not teach the word, fly.”
USF’s head coach has one of the nations’ better one-two combinations with Canali and Zegna. And Greenberg believes that Flint is getting an assist of his own.
“Geoff Arnold (current Drexel assistant coach) has been carrying him since they were in the same backcourt at St. Joseph’s. Any fashion sense he has is a direct result of the hand-me-downs from Geoff. Bruiser has a nice smile and he’s even handsome, but he could probably stand to lose a few pounds. He has a lot of nerve saying that Bobby Huggins looks like he wears a chest protector.”
Wow!
While Flint was busy preparing for a two-game road trip, this past weekend, his boss took a moment to email me with his assessment of his head basketball coach.
Dear Angela,
I noticed Bruiser's ranking is slipping in the coaches' fashion poll. First of all, with the kind of dough I am paying him he should be at least seeded in the top three! Bruiser is the real deal! Starting with the cedar shoetrees, the shoe bag, and the perfect creases on the pants, all his clothes are carefully planned orchestrations, indeed a celebration of finely woven fabrics, autumn patterns, earth colors, and floral designs. Since I can't find Drexel in your mid-major poll you might as well let Bruiser win something, like your fashion poll.
With very best wishes,
Eric A. Zillmer, Psy.D.
Athletic Director
Carl R. Pacifico Professor of NeuropsychologyAnd of course all it took was a voice mail message on his cell phone -- regarding Seth Greenberg’s comments -- to get a return call from Flint.
“Seth is just upset because he’s not fly,” says Flint. “And when it comes to fashion, I do speak a different language and the word fashion is not in his vocabulary. He’s got some nice gear for a bald guy, but that’s about it.”
No doubt that the continuing saga of Flint and Greenberg will play out through March.
And now for the latest Fashion Power Indexes…
HEAD COACH FPI (Feb. 4, 2002)
1. John Calipari (Memphis): It’s hard to understand what coach Calipari’s team has to do in order to break into the national rankings. But while the Tigers remain unranked, Calipari remains firmly positioned in the fashion spotlight. And shame on the other polls for not including Memphis.
2. Jay Wright (Villanova): The two-time runway champion looked very elegant in a nationally televised game at Pittsburgh. His Wildcats were not victorious, but coach Wright racked up plenty of style points.
3. Rick Pitino (Louisville): For the first time this season, the Cardinals coach slipped past his counterpart in Lexington. But just by a tie’s length.
4. Tubby Smith (Kentucky): Normally removing the jacket during a game is a fashion foul, which is exactly what coach Smith did when his Wildcats visited Florida. However, keep in mind that it was played near the swamp and nobody can expect to remain well pressed after a trip to a swamp.
5. Bruiser Flint (Drexel): Mr. Fly is starting to climb back up the rankings. Flint’s blue-textured Canali suit, with blue striped shirt and blue and yellow tie looks fabulous.
6. Gary Waters (Rutgers): He almost dropped out of the last FPI and that prompted him to call the office.
“We have played 21 games and I have still not warn the same suit twice,” says Waters. “Maybe I have worn the same tie twice, but I doubt it.”
With a Valentino tie, two-tone shirt and cuff links, Waters is styling his way back to the top.
7. Willis Wilson (Rice): His tailor Bee (like Cher or Prince) continues to be his most productive option. Wilson can also go at least 30 deep in his closet.
8. Paul Graham (Washington State): Grand Graham is looking more and more like the Pac-10’s automatic bid to main stage in March.
9. Bob Hill (Fordham): The newspapers call Manhattan’s Bobby Gonzalez “The King of New York,” but not on the runway. This ravishing Ram is the Big Apples’ Best.
10.Dennis Felton (Western Kentucky): Tubby Smith and Rick Pitino aren’t the only dapper coaches in Kentucky. Fabulous Felton looks like a Cole Hahn shoe-in for the Sun Belt’s most fashionable.
ASSISTANT COACH FPI (Feb. 4, 2002)
1. Wayne Brent (Ole Miss): The stylish Brent has a little flair and pizzazz in his wardrobe. His footwear will get your attention and while they would not work for everyone, they accent his attire perfectly.
2. Rodney Terry (UNC-Wilmington): A strong candidate for “College Basketball’s 50 Most Eligible Bachelors,” (to be released on Feb. 14) terrific Terry continues to remain among the best on the fashion circuit.
3. Ronny Thompson (Georgetown): Rutgers coach Gary Waters takes prides in the fact that he has not had a repeat performance in his game day attire all season and the same can be said for this chic Hoya coach. In the past two years, I cannot recall seeing Thompson sporting the same outfit twice.
4. Reggie Hanson (Kentucky): Coach Tubby Smith’s protégée will make it an interesting race for the title of SEC’s most stylish coach.
5. Tom Schuberth (UAB): In Birmingham, Alabama there is only one option -- Armani. Sensational Schuberth can get 30+ from Armani on any night.
6. Mike Jarvis, II (St. John's): Deuce continues to move up the fashion ladder. Down the runway there could be a meeting of old rivals -- Georgetown (Ronny Thompson) vs. St. John’s.
7. Steve Sauers (Marist): Sporty Sauers has become a fashion fixture in the top ten. Rumor has it that he is tutoring head coach Dave Magarity on fashion sense.
8. Leroy Washington (Wyoming): This 30-something style maven is a newcomer to the runway. He brings a distinguished look to the catwalk, in his first appearance in the FPI.
9. Tony Jones (UW-Milwaukee): The Panthers assistant sports a cool, chic and refined look. It’s his first season at UWM and his first go-round on the runway.
10. Eric Eaton (Holy Cross): Funny how sometimes you overlook some of the attractions in your own neighborhood. Such is the case with this dapper young assistant. Elegant Eaton works his trade and sports his gear just a short drive down the Mass Pike.
And speaking of the neighborhood, the greater Boston area is still a buzz, following Super Bowl Sunday. While everyone seems to be shocked at the Patriots win, it came as no surprise to me.
Any team with a guy named “Ty” Law is a winner, as far as I am concerned. Perhaps “Tie Talk” should be changed to “Tie Law.”
And don’t forget…
“College Basketball’s 50 Most Eligible Bachelors” will be unveiled on Feb. 14 (Valentine’s Day).
Angela Lento is a big supporter of the “Bobbi Olson Foundation” and would like to urge you to make a contribution. For more information Click Here
CLICK HERE TO SEND ANGELA YOUR COMMENTS
(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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