Miller Responds to Barbs

Fred Miller, San Diego State athletic director, responded Tuesday to being called “low-class” by Hawaii Coach Riley Wallace for firing Coach Jim Brandenburg in the middle of the basketball season.

“I thought Riley Wallace’s comments were inappropriate and self-serving,” Miller said. “I resent them.

“Basketball coaches like Riley Wallace want it both ways. They want the big contracts and the shoe contracts, and then they want tenure.

“Football and basketball are the two major income generators, so we hold football and basketball coaches to higher standards.”

Miller was particularly upset because he said he spoke with Wallace before Saturday’s SDSU-Hawaii game and Wallace voiced his displeasure then.

“There was no reason to go public,” Miller said. “If he wants to bash me, he had his chance. If he wants to extol wisdom, his wisdom is lacking.

“The Riley Wallaces of the world have no insights into the conditions surrounding personnel. When he says publicly that we’re low-class, I take strong exception. He was out of line and misinformed. . . .

“I’m not a quick-trigger guy unless I have just cause.”