By CHUCK POLLOCK, Wellsville Sun Senior Sports Columnist
In our business we live by an age-old bromide: “No cheering in the press box.”
And we adhere to it.
I cover Bills games without a peep.
But, this week, I violated that rule … sort of.
Oh, I was actually home in front of the TV, but I had a rooting interest.
My desperate hope was that Mark Schmidt would find a way to win a game, or two, or three at the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Pittsburgh.
As it turned out, Schmidt conjured a pair of St. Bonaventure wins out of his 13th-seeded Bonnies … one short of the semifinals.
Full disclosure, I had this mental picture of Athlectic Director Bob Beretta and Basketball General Manager Adrian Wojnarowski (“Woj”) squirming in front of a Reilly Center television agonizing through those two rallies that left viewers wondering “How did they let this guy go?”
Presumably, Beretta and “Woj” were the architects of the “Schmidt is retiring” narrative and the broadcast media bought it. But a walk around campus changes that perception. Schmidt was paid his 2026-27 salary (approx. $1.5 million) plus a million bucks paid by a wealthy donor for him to say he was “retiring.”
If he takes another job, we’ll have a better idea of who was truthful.
AS IT turned out, the Bonnies fell five points short of the A-10 semifinals … losing to Dayton 68-63 Saturday afternoon at Pittsburgh’s PPG Arena in agonizing fashion as two of their 80%-plus free throw shooters — Charles Caden and Dasonte Bowen — combined to miss five foul shots in the final minute.
I’d give anything to know what Dayton coach Anthony Grant said to Schmidt as they shared a long embrace after the game.
But rest assured that the ex-Bona coach gave Beretta and “Woj” almost three days to feel uncomfortable and stay out of public view.
NOW COMES the hard part for the two of them.
1. Bona has already made it clear the new coach won’t be paid as much as Schmidt, the difference going to the Name, Image and Likeness players … hardly helping the sales pitch.
2. Reportedly, the last time “Woj” and Schmidt spoke was late December. Apparently “Woj” injected himself into Schmidt’s practice, a major “No, No.”
And if that word gets out, try selling that to a coaching hopeful: “We’re going to pay you less than the last guy … and the GM will be offering advice during practice.”
3. Woj’s basketball knowledge is unchallenged, but that hardly qualifies him as a recruiter, an issue that reportedly formed a wedge between him and Schmidt. Those familiar with the situation maintain “Woj” declined to recruit some players Schmidt favored, and opted from some that didn’t fit the coach’s system.
4. Pressure. “Woj” and Beretta have to get this hire right. If Schmidt successor struggles, fan tolerance won’t last long … nor will the jobs of those who arrogantly made the change.
As it is, student attendance at games is down and, more importantly, a number of loyal season ticket holders have bailed.
Turns out Beretta and “Woj” have more to deal with than the popular coach they “retired.”
AFTER the opening win over LaSalle, Schmidt allowed, “It’s nice that what we’ve done at Bonaventure has been respected nationally. The people who have reached out within the league and outside the league … it’s humbling. It’s nice knowing that we did it the right way and we’re respected for that.”
He added, “Retirement can’t come soon enough, to be able to spend more time with the people who really care about me.”
Take that St. Bonaventure sports administration.
