This has to be the most fascinating and non-traditional recruitment/interview of an AD there has ever been. We have been publicly apprised of the day the prime candidate was interviewing, we have seen a press conference before the candidate was offered the job and now we've been publicly notified that WSU has offered the prime candidate the position. The only thing we don't know are the monetary terms that Pres. Floyd has offered to Bill Moos.

So, as we sit back and look at this we are left to wonder why the job search has been conducted in such a unique manner.

First, let's acknowledge that neither Bill Moos nor Elson Floyd are foolish men. There is very likely a grand design behind such a public process. I HAVE to believe that this is a done deal because the risk of Bill Moos opting not to take this job would be absolutely disastrous for Dr. Floyd. It would be the sort of misstep that can forever tarnish a legacy and shorten a career. It would be a Tim Ruskell losing Steve Hutchinson sort of debacle for Dr. Floyd. He has essentially left himself just one "out" if things go sideways and that is the one thing he's kept secret up to this point. Money.

Why would Dr. Floyd take this sort of public risk? Let's take a look:

1) Extend the PR news cycle. Bill Moos and WSU have been in Northwest news for a full week now. A fantastic extension of a news cycle to keep the story relevant with new bits of information over the course of what will be two weeks. If the decision was pre-ordained it's been a fantastic way to build interest in the hire and frame the conversation for alumni and WSU fans.

2) Motivate donation. One of the prevailing themes of the AD hiring saga has been the need for money to flow into the Athletic Department. It has been a great educational tool to apprise potential donors of the dire situation and it likely sets up a big donor push if and when Moos comes on board.

3) Create massive internal and external support for Moos. If Moos accepts and comes on board. The process has been brilliant to position him as a hero type. It would be the equivalent of a new President taking office with an 80% approval rating. Just look around WSU fan communities. People are breathless for Bill Moos to be the AD. It could raise the collective morale in one swoop and that rise in morale would hopefully inspire bigger checks to flow into WSU.

4) Hedge against a misfire. If Moos doesn't accept the position it's clear that Floyd has one easy answer as to why. This process has been so public that many people will conclude that Dr. Floyd did all he could and in the end the non-compete or the money terms just didn't match-up. It is one good argument for going public the way Dr. Floyd has.

5) Immediately quell panic amongst the rank and file. Dr. Floyd didn't even wait for Jim Sterk to be announced as the AD at San Diego State before he put out his first statement on the job search and then Bill Moos. He immediately cut off the news cycle and the opportunity for people to gnash their teeth over Jim Sterk leaving and what sort of impact that would have on football and donations. We've spent all of our time reading about Bill Moos and his WSU story.

Overall, I think the decision to go public was mostly genius. In the end, the only thing that potentially keeps Bill Moos from becoming the AD at WSU is if there is something in that Oregon non-compete that his attorneys interpret as airtight that would require him to pay back an egregious amount of money. It's impossible to say what level of risk is there without specifics on the contract but it makes me nervous.

If it does turn out in our favor, what a truly incredible mistake of pettiness on the part of Oregon. UNLV was scared away by the threats of Oregon pursuing remedy if they hire Bill Moos. What a crazy turn if it winds up that they were successful in denying him that job only to see him take a job in their conference and one state away. Let's hope Bill Moos accepts the job this week and they introduce him at the WSU v. UW basketball game this weekend. That would send a serious jolt of energy through the crowd on Senior Day and maybe just kick-off what will be the most critical decade the WSU Athletic Department has ever seen.

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