The Worldwide Leader says Alford is leaving

The hits just keep pouring in, folks. Now Andy Katz (oh yeah, him) is citing multiple sources to report that UNM is thiiiiiis close to hiring Alford, and now they're just working on details.

The article included a couple interesting points that I hadn't heard before:

The connection to Alford started in largely part because the new UNM president, David Schmidly, was formerly at Texas Tech, home of Alford's former coach Bob Knight.

I don't know what's funnier: the fact that Alford is STILL riding Knight's coattails, or the president's name (that's him to the right). Schmidly. He sounds like an unpopular science teacher in some Disney Channel sitcom. "Oh no, here comes Mr. Schmidly!"

Sources close to Alford said he was looking for a new challenge after going through some tense seasons in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes haven't been devoid of issues off the court, notably with Pierre Pierce's legal troubles during Alford's tenure.

"Legal troubles" is a nice euphemism. It's certainly more polite, if less accurate, than calling them "raping troubles."

All in all, even if Alford's deal falls through, it seems pretty safe to assume that Barta's rolling up and putting away the welcome mat in Iowa City as we speak. I hope he's already thumbing through the Rolodex to find a new coach. I hear John Wooden's available.

P.S. I am sorely tempted to make a Schmidly avalanche. But the better part of me is keeping the avalanche where it belongs: in Pat Harty's house.