If you read my post on Monday, ASU won their first Men’s NCAA swimming and diving championship after almost cutting their program in 2008. I wrote about how the team’s success was due to Head Coach Bob Bowman (who was Michael Phelps longtime coach) and Assistant Coach Herbie Behm, who was one of my daughter’s coaches at Utah.
Then within 48 hours of winning the number one spot at NCAAs, social media went wild. Announcements were made from the University of Texas that Bob Bowman was named their head coach to replace retiring Eddie Reese. That came out of the blue, because amidst speculation, nobody thought Bowman would leave ASU.
At first everyone was convinced it was an April Fools’ joke.
Next, ASU announced that Herbie was being promoted to head coach. Congrats to Herbie!
That pretty much made the changes for real. Not a joke.
Now the swimming world is waiting to see what happens next. Do swimmers follow Bowman to Texas? Or, do they stay at ASU with Herbie? Time will tell.
Here are a few photos from my walk yesterday and of blooms in our neighborhood:
Did you see or hear something on Monday that you thought was an April Fools’ joke?
What are some of the fun April Fools’ joke you experienced?
In case you haven’t figured it out. I’m on TEAM HERBIE! The one who came back to his home team for his dream job. The one who isn’t ditching out after of 48 hours of a team championship to leave everyone else behind for the next step up in his career. Or worried about the next legacy or career about all him.
Do you think UT read your post and then thought they had to have Bowman? You did a really good job of talking him up. So glad ASU gets to have Herbie!
Great pictures!
I sure my post had nothing to do with it, but thanks for the kind words. It must have been in the works for awhile. It was the last NCAA meet for the UT coach. The fact it was announced so quickly and on April Fools’ Day was shocking.
Not surprising at all, but ironic that you posted at just the right time! Washington teams are doing the shuffle all the time. I catch bits and pieces when the news is turned on and honestly just ignore it all. People (leadership) come and go so often anymore.
The pictures are stunning EA! Love the cloud photos and I’m always still a tiny bit surprised when I see your plants. I would be so lost if I moved south and not able to walk past the cedar and pine and maples or see our typical spring blooms. Cacti are wonderful in their own way though 🙂
Yes, they do come and go so quickly. The Husky football coach did the same this year. It was beautiful on our walk after the rain with all the clouds. It was such an adjustment for me when I left Snohomish for the desert.
I always hate to see coaches leave right after a season has ended and they’ve had some success. I know it’s a tough business and coaches need to “strike while the iron is hot” and they’re in the news, but it goes against everything they’ve been telling their students: “We’re a team.” “Work together.” “Put personal achievements aside for the good of the team.” In any event, it sounds like ASU is still keeping a great coach. Good for them.
I agree with you that when coaches leave for another job so quickly after success, it seems wrong. My daughter is convinced that Herbie is the real reason for success at ASU and Bob Bowman was only a big name. She said Herbie is very innovative, he basis his training on science and he’s kind and level headed.
Oh, that’s even better for ASU then!
Hopefully, if the swimmers don’t leave and follow Bob Bowman to Texas. Funny story my daughter told me about Waffles and Herbie in Utah. Waffles found an adderall and on a floor and ate it. He spent the night in ER. The next day at swim practice, my daughter said Herbie picked him up, looked Waffles in the eye and said, “Did you think taking drugs was going to make you more popular? Well, it’s not.”
The best April fools I saw was an instagram. The caption read “best April fools ever” with the dots at the bottom indicating multiple pages. Of course there were no multiple pages. I did it twice btw….
Haha! 😂
It’s been so busy here that I hardly noticed 1st April.
👍🏼
Wow! With blooms like these, I’d walk this way every day this spring! LOVELY!
The huge blooms on the cactus only last for a day or two. So, it’s such a treat to see them.
Lovely blooms! This is the best time of the year. Enjoy!
It is so gorgeous!
What a story about the coaches! That’s crazy. And you’ve captured some glorious photos of spring! Hugs, C
I’m glad you enjoyed the coaching story and the Spring photos 😁
Your photos from your walk are pretty. I like the colors in the desert this time of year. As for April Fools Day, I don’t like it. Too many mean people trying to be funny at the expense of others. It rankles me.
The desert was so beautiful with all the clouds after the rain stopped. Today is just plain old blue skies. As for April Fools, the upset in the swimming world with the ASU coach switching teams after winning NCAAs had everyone believing the news was an April Fool. Maybe bad timing on the announcement?
That last cactus blossom is amazing!
They are so beautiful but only last a day or two.