Kennedy Takes Plea Deal, Apologizes

Busy day for apologies in Mississippi and it was even two differet schools that got to do it.
Definitely Monday...
((HT: Cincinnati Enquirer/Kimball Perry))

Even though former University of Cincinnati basketball coach Andy Kennedy pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct today and apologized to a cab driver he was accused of assaulting, one of the coach’s attorneys insists that doesn’t mean Kennedy hit anyone or used racial slurs.

“None of that was pleaded to today,” attorney William Posey said an hour after Kennedy pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of disorderly conduct. Kennedy had been charged with assault in the December 18 incident.

Kennedy, 41, now the University of Mississippi basketball coach, was in Cincinnati in December as his team participated in a basketball tournament.

At about 1 a.m. December 18, Kennedy was accused of leaving a Downtown bar and, with four co-workers, getting into a cab driven by Mohamed Moctar Jiddou.

Jiddou later told police when he told Kennedy five large men couldn’t fit into the cab, Kennedy punched him in the face and called him “sand n(word),” “Osama Bin Laden” and “Saddam Hussein.” Those claims were backed up by Michael Strother, a valet, who witnessed the incident.

Posey insists Kennedy’s conviction today doesn’t mean he hit or hurled racial slurs at Jiddou.
Mike Allen, Kennedy's lawyer in the criminal case, said the coach "vehemently denies" he struck or used racial slurs against Jiddou.

Kennedy pleaded guilty to a "verbal altercation which escalated into an" incident that didn't involve slurs or violence," Allen added.

"He did not strike Mr. Jiddou," Allen said.

Kennedy’s guilty pleas “has no impact” on the civil suits the coach filed against the cabbie and valet, Posey said.

“Make sure you separate out the criminal charges from” the civil suits, Posey said.

Kennedy was sentenced by Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Dwane Mallory to six months of probation, a $100 fine, court costs and to perform 40 hours of community service.
Kennedy refused comment except to say the University of Mississippi would release a statement later today.

But the attorneys for the cabbie and valet say the conviction is strong evidence they will use in the civil suits stemming from the incident.

Kennedy filed a civil suit against Jiddou and Strother after the incident, alleging their assertions that Kennedy punched Jiddou in the face and called him racial slurs defamed the coach. Kennedy’s wife joined in the suit, saying that national story was embarrassing and was ruining their marriage. Strother and Jiddou countersued.
The civil suits were on hold until Kennedy’s criminal case was resolved.

Here's the heavily-prepared text and apology given by Coach Kennedy, thanks to our friends at WDAM-TV...


And all this gives us another excuse to run the tape...
((Thanks, cincinnati.com))

In Memphis Who's Next On The List

Let's see, the University of Memphis was promoting a "wow" hire after John Calipari took the money and headed to Lexington, Kentucky. Well it's become a "wow" situation for Memphis like "wow, no big name wants the job." Reality bites sometimes.

Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson is producing his own economic stimulus plan with college hoop coaches and it's not effecting his bottom line. Mention Bruce Pearl and he gets a raise, Mike Anderson, gets a raise. If you're a coach on Memphis' list, your getting a bump in pay.

Which leads me to the latest list of names that Memphis seems to be targeting. One is Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy. Kennedy is popular with the media and is doing a heck of a job at Ole Miss. At Memphis Kennedy would have the resources he doesn't enjoy at Oxford, Mississippi.

Kennedy's judgement day for his arrest in Cincinnati is coming up. Depending on the outcome of that, he might be looking for work.

The next name that's reportedly emerging is Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton. FSU had a breakout season in the ACC this year making it to the tournament title game. The timing might be right because the Seminoles lost their best player, Toney Douglas.

Those of us at the OSG HQ saw this coming. It's the case of another program talking big and finding out their not so big. By the way, we won't endorse anyone for this gig.

Photos Courtesy: Getty Images

Andy Kennedy's Arrest On Videotape

Major, major kudos to WLWT-TV in Cincinnati, who got the police tapes of Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy arrest last December. Take a look.



"We deal with the Bengals all the time." Classic, absolute classic.

And another thing, if the head men's basketball coach at Ole Miss doesn't show up, is it really an international altercation (whatever that is). Is it even a altercation in Oxford. Have a strong cup of coffee coach Kennedy.

William Armstrong, the Ole Miss director of basketball operations, certainly goes ballistic and drops the "F" and "MF" bombs.

Andy Kennedy Accused Of Assault

Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy returns to Cincinnati and ends up in jail.

Kennedy was arrested early Thursday morning charged with misdemeanor assault. He is accused of attacking a taxi driver and shouting racial slurs at him.

A report says that Kennedy was the "aggressor" and punched the cab driver, Mohammed Ould Jiddou, and used racial slurs during the attack.

Kennedy has hired an attorney, Mike Allen who is a former prosecutor in the Cincinnati area and entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Kennedy this morning. Hamilton said Kennedy, "emphatically denies this and emphatically denies making any racial slurs."

According to an OSG source, Kennedy and Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone are meeting about his immediate future. The Rebels play Louisville tonight in the SEC/Big East challenge it is not known at this time whether Kennedy will coach in the game.

Kennedy was the interim head coach at the University of Cincinnati during the 2005-06 season when Bob Huggins stepped down.

Photo Courtesy: University of Mississippi