(02-22-2014 11:38 PM)Crewdogz Wrote: (02-22-2014 06:18 PM)JackieTreehorn Wrote: (02-22-2014 06:02 PM)Ragpicker Wrote: (02-22-2014 05:43 PM)Eastside_J Wrote: There is a ton an ad can do to position us for a conference bid. To say we are at the mercy of the wind is nuts. I have no doubt in my mind that if Bob goin were still here we would not be in the AAC now.
I think this is one of the reason's Ono hired Bohn. The guy has been an AD in the conference realignment wars and knows what it takes. Whit on balance did a good job IMO and walked into a hornet's nest of conference issues as a first time AD. On the plus side he finally got the Nippert renovation off the ground, hired TT and got the ball rolling again on some of the olympic sports. On the downside, he's signed off on some questionable scheduling decisions and left this place without a lot of experienced leadership in the athletic department administration.
I agree EJ that's why I scratech my head at the whining. Whit did start getting the University in position far, far more than anything MT did. Whit made a strong run and was unsuccessful in getting the University in the ACC... yes he looked defeated but as others pointed out so did UL and Jurich when they lost out on the B12.
Whit brought back some scholarships and Olympic sports, and an all important upgrade to the stadium. Many are complaining about Whit's defeatist attitude and displaying many of the same behaviors IMO.
Bohn was brought in to take the University to the next level.
Rag I know you're a long time supporter of the program. Take a deep breath.
Crew, Jackie - I think we are largely on the same page.
I am not really concerned with Whit's defeatist attitude and I do think he definitely made significant contributions and helped us while he was hear.
I think people liked and were supporters of Whit for all the right reasons (smart, engaging, energizing, relational, action oriented AD) but also projected those things further to see Whit as something he was not and that is a HEAVYWEIGHT. Whit had been in a supporting AD role throughout his tenure before he arrived at UC (WVU and Missouri).
Hiring a "name" FB coach to a program in limbo is an accomplishment. And that is his accomplishment alone. But I think getting the scholarships for olympic sports is much more about Ono's strong sports support than Whit.
Building a coalition to support your entry into a conference is a big task and I don't think Whit for all his talent was "there" yet.
Bohn has done it before as had Bob Goin. And as Jackie pointed out, I think it is the sole reason he was brought on.
Truthfully I could care less if Bohn sees UC as a stepping stone to his huge money dream AD job (UCLA, ND, Texas etc etc etc) That would be FINE with me. Just get us out of this conference and you have done your job. We will throw the going away party in sincere gratitude.
Then we can hire the up and comer, sharp marketer, out in the community relationship builder, like Whit and be just fine.
Right now we need a guy whose sole mission is to be on the phone or on a plane - selling.