The South Philly street fighter went out with his gums blazing.
Temple coach John Chaney’s screams could be heard in the deepest corners of the cavernous Kingdome during the Owls’ 77-72 loss to Michigan in Sunday afternoon’s West Regional final.
Late in the first half, he bellowed a profanity at Steve Fisher as the Michigan coach demanded that officials call an intentional foul on a bruising collision in the lane. And as the Owls tried to rally in the closing minutes, Chaney picked up a technical foul for what the officials called profanity. Chaney called it instruction.
Chaney can be one of the college game’s most charming personalities, but also one of its most combative, especially on a day he’s trying to drag a talented, but inexperienced, team into the Final Four.
“I think anybody who was near my bench knows clearly that I was talking to (Temple forward) Derrick Battie,” Chaney said. “I made it very clear to him and all my players . . . that (the Wolverines) push and put one hand on your back and jump over you.
“And I said to him very clearly that I want you to dump them the next time they’re on your back. I have young players and they were being taken advantage of.
“(Michigan) did the same thing against George Washington (Friday night) and got away with it. They did the same thing early in this game and got away with it. I was trying to get across to him to remember not to allow it to happen.”
Referee Larry Rose heard the advice and smacked Chaney with the “T.” The NCAA’s postgame report said Chaney had used profanity.
The technical was assessed with 1 minute 49 seconds to go and Temple trailing 67-62. By the time the Owls touched the ball again, they were down 72-62.
“Maybe that caused us to lose,” Chaney said. “I think you can perhaps determine that better than I. I don’t know if me not getting that technical for something that I was screaming at my own player about would have made a difference.”
It probably wouldn’t have. But it did change the way Chaney was viewed in the Michigan locker room. A day earlier, several of the Wolverines had praised Chaney, saying he was a role model for young African-Americans.
“I heard him say some real bad stuff,” Michigan’s Juwan Howard said. “He was a crybaby.”
Added Chris Webber: “There were hard fouls, and they were on purpose. A lot of people resort to that when they’re losing.”
Chaney shook hands with Michigan coaches and players afterward, but he declined to send his regards with them to New Orleans.
“I don’t coach Michigan and I don’t want to comment on Michigan winning it at all,” he said. “It might express a bigger problem that I have with Michigan.”
