Comments on: To Dick Tomey: Happy retirement and thanks for the memories

By: Ex-Arizona coach Dick Tomey can vouch for Boise State’s worthiness - AG's Wildcat Report

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:16:19 +0000

[...] It will be Tomey’s first visit to Arizona Stadium since being forced out after the 2000 season. From Nov. 2009: To Dick Tomey: Happy retirement and thanks for the memories [...]

By: PianoGuy

PianoGuy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:32:09 +0000

PianoGuy…

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By: Anthony Gimino

Anthony Gimino — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:50:31 +0000

Barry,
Thanks for posting and continued success at Gila Ridge.

By: Barry Julian

Barry Julian — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:59:45 +0000

Anthony,

Thanks for a great article on a great coach! I had the privaledge of playing under Coach Tomey from 88′ to 92′. I have used his same coaching philosphies to the freshman team I coach at Gila Ridge H.S. in Yuma. We went 8 and 1 this year….. Thanks Coach !

Barry Julian #86
Class of 92′

By: mike_brewer

mike_brewer — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:28:31 +0000

Great story Anthony. Senor’ Tomey is the consummate class act, and your tribute is fitting. Many in the community know that there is a back story to Dick Tomey’s departure, having nothing to do with football and much to do with the AD. But that story is not for publication, pointing to the real reason that Dick Tomey is a total class act man.

By: Anthony Gimino

Anthony Gimino — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:48:47 +0000

Hey, Amit … (and thanks to everyone else who commented),

I think “boredom” — as you suggest — had something to do with it. Tomey was here 14 years, and the ups and downs over that time led to a climate in which fans wanted change. I don’t really blame them for that, and all the positive things that happened in his tenure don’t offset the counter argument of “yeah, but he couldn’t us to the Rose Bowl.” Either you believed he could or you didn’t … and there was no convincing the pessimists.

(And, unlike this decade, the Pac-10 was up for grabs throughout most of the 1990s.)

I tend to think of the years I covered the team as a beat reporter (1991-1998) as something of a golden age. By the end of the 1993 and 1998 seasons, I think Arizona could have beaten anybody in the country — if only there had been an eight-team playoff!.

Just think of the 1990s: two top 5 finishes in the AP poll, major award winners in Darryll Lewis, Rob Waldrop, Steve McLaughlin and Chris McAlister (not to be mention two-time All-American Tedy Bruschi), and the second-most overall wins among Pac-10 teams. Pretty good stuff.

I’m sure that’s the kind of stuff that has earned a deeper appreciation as Arizona has struggled to get back to Tomey-era levels for the past nine seasons.

By: Amit

Amit — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:48:22 +0000

Dear Anthony,

How are you? That is a great story.

One thing I remember about Tomey was that he once let one of his players keep a scholarship despite the fact that the player’s football career was done due to an injury. Tomey let him keep the scholarship just for school.

I also remember one year, I think a year or two before he resigned, Tomey graduated 100% of his senior class!

I think, in retrospect, the decision to let Tomey go might have had more to do with just boredom, a time for a change mentality in this town, and also revenue and ticket sales. I think it had less to do with wins/losses and student-athlete development. After all, we had a great 1998 season, just two years before the firing.

It’s interesting. I just made a Facebook post on a friend’s wall a couple weeks back complimenting Dick Tomey. I think people were so used to a brand-name basketball program in this town that we simply wanted the same in football. And it never happened. We got a couple really great seasons and a lot of ups and downs with Tomey.

I remember growing so tired of Tomey’s boring “running game” as a kid in the 1990′s. And so he was let go in hopes of something even better.

But after Tomey was let go, I think people realized what we gave up. Like they say about the legacy of the first president Bush, Tomey’s legacy has grown after he left. Feelings of benevolence toward him have only increased in this town.

What do you think about this? What were the real reasons Likins let him go?

That was a great look back…

Hope you’re doing well…

Best,
Amit

By: Amit

Amit — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:45:01 +0000

Dear Anthony,
How are you? That is a great story.
One thing I remember about Tomey was that he once let one of his players keep a scholarship despite the fact that the player’s football career was done due to an injury. Tomey let him keep the scholarship just for school.
I also remember one year, I think a year or two before he resigned, Tomey graduated 100% of his senior class!
I think, in retrospect, the decision to let Tomey go might have had more to do with just boredom, a time for a change mentality in this town, and also revenue and ticket sales. I think it had less to do with wins/losses and student-athlete development. After all, we had a great 1998 season, just two years before the firing.
It’s interesting. I just made a Facebook post on a friend’s wall a couple weeks back complimenting Dick Tomey. I think people were so used to a brand-name basketball program in this town that we simply wanted the same in football. And it never happened. We got a couple really great seasons and a lot of ups and downs with Tomey.
I remember growing so tired of Tomey’s boring “running game” as a kid in the 1990′s. And so he was let go in hopes of something even better.
But after Tomey was let go, I think people realized what we gave up. Like they say about the legacy of the first president Bush, Tomey’s legacy has grown after he left. Feelings of benevolence toward him have only increased in this town.
What do you think about this? What were the real reasons Likins let him go?
That was a great look back…
Hope you’re doing well…

Best,
Amit Mehrotra

By: Juan Aguirre

Juan Aguirre — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:11:57 +0000

I always said that the letting go of Dick Tomey was a mistake. He made something out of nothing…great teams with unheralded recruits and subpar facilities. But more importantly, the guy had and still has character. Those kids who played for him were lucky and he will never be forgotten here at Arizona. The best of luck to you Dick.
Bear Down!

By: vegasallen

vegasallen — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:01:23 +0000

AG-Unlike the current football beat writer at the Star who I think is competent but chicken/spineless I’ve always appreciated that you’ve called them as you’ve seen them.