NEW: Gillispie balks at A&M deal

[KFDM COOP]

NEW: Gillispie balks at A&M deal

COLLEGE STATION — At the end of another bizarre day in Texas A&M's quest to lock down basketball coach Billy Gillispie, school officials delayed an announcement of a new contract agreement after receiving indications from Gillispie that he wants to keep open his options for the most tantalizing of current job openings — Kentucky.

According to sources close to the situation, Gillispie late in the day balked at verbally agreeing to a new contract placed before the A&M board of regents for approval on Thursday. Under the new contract, Gillispie's base salary would jump from $1.25 million to around $1.6 million per year.

The school had hoped to announce the new deal Thursday afternoon and put to rest nearly a week of speculation about Gillispie's intentions to stay at A&M.

The day's maneuverings kept the uncertainty alive for A&M fans, but brought a week of drama at Arkansas to an end.

According to reports, the Razorbacks elected to drop pursuit of Gillispie after being informed by athletic director Bill Byrne around noon on Thursday that Gillispie, who is in Atlanta for the Final Four, was accepting the new contract offer at A&M and was staying put.

Curiously, according to reports, Byrne contacted Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles around 10 a.m. on Thursday to grant his permission for the Razorbacks to talk to Gillispie.

Following the A&M regents meeting, A&M officials prepared a statement to acknowledge the new contract and announce Gillispie's acceptance of the deal. Around 7 p.m., the announcement plans were scrapped.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/...b.130b409d.html

[Mr. Buddy Garrity]

gotta feeling he's gonna go.

[Morgan]

he should go to UK.......then the aggies could be bad next year ;D