Doh, or no Doh

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Could Matt Doherty be coming to the mountains?


Doherty was the talk of the basketball world a couple of years ago. Now there’s talk he’s ready to come back.


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An AP/Sports Illustrated story from earlier this month quoted Doh as saying he itching to get back to the sidelines. He’s been working in Charlotte and dabbling in a couple of other business ventures, as well as honing some of hi s broadcast skills.


Today, Sports Bob wrote a column about Western Carolina University’s basketball woes, and mentioned the fact that the rumor mill has churned out Doh’s name in connection with that. Could it be so?


WCU’s program is pretty pitiful. They have a wonderful facility – the giant Ramsey Center seats something like 7,000. And while the college plays in a small conference, there are some good teams there, especially East Tennesee State University.


I haven’t followed WCU’s basketball program closely, because there’s been precious little to watch.  Last year, Catamount Kevin Martin starred, and now he’s playing in the NBA. Several years back, WCU made the NCAA March Madness tourney and nearly pulled off the unbelievable.


It was 1996, and 16 seed WCU was facing #1 seed Purdue in the first round. Catamount Anquell McCollum was the star, and he kept WCU in it all the way. He missed a last-second shot to put game into overtime. WCU lost 73-71 and scared the bejesus out of Keady and company. Man, that was a great game.


But I digress. Doherty got the boot after muffing the Carolina head coaching job, which he took over when the Deanster retired and old Roy turned us down the first time. Doh was too immature and didn’t have enough experience.


I posted my thoughts on the Carolina message boards. Most responders thought the WCU job was too low down the totem for Doherty to even consider.


I don’t think so. Why not start small, have some real success, then move on? Doherty proved himself to be a good recruiter, but he wasn’t at Notre Dame long enough to really show what he’s made of. He showed more of that in Chapel Hill, and it wasn’t pretty.


That’s water under the bridge. Doh, come on back. And come see us in Ashvegas (he’s been here before because I’ve seen him walking around town.)

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1