A lot of people are wondering why Freeze got extended to the max and Kennedy did not. There are a few things of note in this deal but let's get the 2 minor parts out of the way. (1) Bjork has no say in this. It's all Vitter. He is the boss and is making the decisions. (2) AK is being sent a message to go to the NCAAs sooner rather than later. I don't think they are serious about getting rid of him but it sends the message to the fans/donors that they are serious about basketball with the new arena.

Now on to the Freeze contract extension. To understand this, the first thing you have to do is throw out how ridiculous it looks on the surface. Why extend a guy that went 5-7, lost his rivalry game, and is facing the most significant NCAA sanctions since SMU? Makes no sense right? Wrong. It's all about signaling and posturing. Vitter has to walk a tight rope that keeps donors and the fan base happy while protecting his own interest. Nothing sends the message that we stand behind our guy more than extending him. That makes him happy, it makes his staff that is under pressure happy, and it makes a fan base that is 100% behind him happy. It doesn't matter what the rest of the country thinks. It matters what OM folks think because they are who is writing the checks and that is what Vitter answers too ultimately.

What Vitter is smart enough to understand is that he has a back-door he can use should this thing no nuclear. Should the NCAA sanctions go bad for OM, and Freeze personally, he can fire Freeze for cause and not be on the hook for anything. At worst, he can use "at cause firing" as a resignation leverage tool and give him pennies on the dollar to leave gracefully which I think is more likely, should it go bad. What Vitter has done by extending Freeze is stand in front of the OM family and washed his hands of Freeze. He can truthfully say he's done everything he can to back him to placate the base/donors but can also say he had no choice as a later date (i.e. it was the NCAA, not me). In my view, it's actually incredibly smart positioning and message signaling by Vitter. He understands he inherited a bad situation and is positioning himself where he can minimize any fallout he may get. He's covering himself from all angles.