(09-24-2020 07:13 PM)Zorch Wrote:  So why in the heck would anyone think that rowing would go over well in Williamsburg?

Rowing seems kind of random until you read Rector Littel's bio.

(09-24-2020 07:11 PM)tribetime10 Wrote:  

(09-23-2020 08:50 PM)Tribe32 Wrote:  

(09-23-2020 05:59 PM)Tribe1693 Wrote:  

(09-23-2020 05:53 PM)Tribe32 Wrote:  

(09-23-2020 05:17 PM)WMTribe90 Wrote:  They want everyone to believe this is a fait accompli and to move on quickly, but rest assured if enough supporters express outrage and vote by pulling financial support this can and will get reversed. I suspect Huge would be fired or resign if she gets over-ruled and I’m more than fine with that as well. The stakeholders were ignored and left out of the decision to fundamentally change the structure and mission of the AD. Huge was hired to steward Tribe athletics not treat it like her personal play thing to be molded to look like every other DI athletic department in the country. Time to be heard...

Take a look at the giving numbers from 2019 as posted by the Tribe Club. It was down an enormous amount. Not just basketball either.

Also It is classic to pin it on Pictor, etc. She most certainly told them her ideas and they were paid to support them

Looking at Swimming and M/W Track, the percentage and dollar increases from 2019 to 2020 is very impressive.

Not sure what you are looking at. What I see is the following:
Mens Track was down 19k
Womens Track down 13k

Swimming up 59k (great job)

Mens hoops down 255k (I wonder why)
Football down 277k (I wonder why again)
Baseball down 219k
Mens soccer down 56k

Gymnastics for both men and women are up by a combined 46k

Other sports were down or flat

Those numbers are reflective of something.

Side note...is this document that is referenced publicly available someplace?

Go look at post 301 in this thread for the link.

(09-24-2020 07:32 PM)mrjoolius Wrote:  

(09-24-2020 07:13 PM)Zorch Wrote:  So why in the heck would anyone think that rowing would go over well in Williamsburg?

Rowing seems kind of random until you read Rector Littel's bio.

It says his son is a member of the class of 2022. I wonder if he plays a sport. Probably, definitely, not track or gymnastics or swimming.

He has been on the BOV since 2012. That is long enough for any one person. He was on the Presidential Search committee. Maybe Rowe thinks she owes him.

(09-24-2020 10:52 AM)Old tribe Wrote:  

(09-23-2020 07:44 PM)nj alum Wrote:  

(09-16-2020 09:55 AM)Old tribe Wrote:  

(09-16-2020 08:30 AM)nj alum Wrote:  

(09-16-2020 08:03 AM)irisheyes0008 Wrote:  This author of the article has family ties to the swimming program and this is just another hit piece. There were several missteps by athletics and from the school administration on the way to cutting sports. These sports are a black hole when it comes to the university/athletics budget. Swimming as a powerhouse in the CAA...they swim against 5 other schools..that is like being the best at sharpening pencils..not that impressive actually but good on them for their run...also this money they are "raising"...it's called a pledge to donate-there is no money in hand. Volleyball has been a 1 million dollar black hole for many years...all the information is out there if you search for it instead of trying to get people to gather with pitchforks and lanterns. Up until WM cut gymnastics there were not many D1 schools our size that fielded a team that wasn't a club level sport.

Many large athletic programs; Minnesota, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, ECU, ect.., have had to make cuts-what makes any of us think we were exempt. The bigger issue is why are professors making so much money compared to the rest of the staff and administrators all across the campus. Bloated professor salaries are the real problem but that is not sexy to talk about.

Every sport at W&M ... every single sport ... is a “black hole” financially.

On the other hand, every sport at W&M ... every single sport ... is a successful student athlete model.

When W&M was founded, there was only one other school in the land. That didn’t stop the school from being founded. Similarly, the number of other like problems is irrelevant to me ... in fact, it’s better for the school in terms of athletic quality if there aren’t “many games in town”.

Our Administration was disingenuous with, or outwardly lied to (or somewhere in the middle), all of the stakeholders, with the exception of a chosen few, and that is a big deal. How on earth do you run a multi-year campaign, bring in over one billion dollars, and nary a peep about the Tribe 7 in that campaign? HOW?

The rationale is the 2025 Vision Report. Fine. The proper approach would have been to combine For the Bold and 2025 Vision, and see where the chips land. That wasn’t done here!

Appalling treatment of the stakeholders. Why would anyone donate to this school while the current Administration is in place when trust has been so seriously eroded?

Frankly, pressure needs to be brought for a “do-over” of For The Bold because of the disingenuous way the Tribe 7 situation has been handled.

At the heart of all of this is a disagreement on what people want athletics at W&M to be. Some want it to continue as a broad based program (more broad than similar sized schools with similar resources) where resources are stretched thin for all teams and athletics doesn't do much to add to W&M's national profile and awareness. Others, including the current administration, want to put more resources towards programs where continued success can enhance W&M's national profile and awareness. So current decisions are being made with that goal in mind.

You can disagree with how the decision to cut was communicated, but this is the real issue. And the decision to take the latter approach to athletics comes from the administration/BOV. So all the vitriol for the AD is misplaced in my opinion. And before Tribal accuses me of being a relative of Huge or Huge herself, let me say I've never met the woman or had any sort of interaction or communication with her in my life.

(09-23-2020 07:35 PM)TribePride91 Wrote:  2 hours and the BOV meeting still goes on. Highly disappointing that President Rowe sent her letter before listening to so many voices tonight. Hard to read it as anything other than continued support for our AD. Lots of students from varied backgrounds speaking very well, especially about what has made William and Mary special to them. It seems very clear that the decision has already been made and their experiences are irrelevant to the decisionmakers. That is, unless the BOV reverses course. I don't see how our AD can stay if that occurs.

I doubt any of the well crafted thoughts ultimately makes a difference. Although, around the time I graduated swimming was saved once before. So, I guess there is a small chance.

This issue is over. The resistance is universal and overwhelming. Faculty are going to “no confidence” the AD next month ... the AD skipped out on Spring meetings to inform the faculty. The sports are getting reinstated. There will be no school, and no donor base left, if these sports aren’t reinstated.

The only question is whether Rowe survives this.

It's not over because Rowe supports the moves and the strategic plan for W&M athletics. I highly doubt all of the sports get reinstated. No school if they don't get reinstated?! Please.

The debate about what W&M athletics will be is not over. If the department is going to exist just to sponsor as many teams as possible so that as many athletes as possible can compete at the varsity level, with each team generally at the bottom of resources for peer schools, W&M should drop to D3. There's no point in being in D1 unless you're going to dedicate more resources to higher profile sports. The point of being in D1 in today's college athletics environment is to use certain sports as marketing vehicles for the school. Some may not agree with it, but that's how it works today and that's what W&M is doing. Even Harvard, Yale, and Patriot League schools get this and have made similar resource allocation moves. With the football program being FCS, men's and women's basketball should get as many resources as possible. That doesn't necessarily mean you have to cut sports to do that, but with limited resources W&M has made the decision to go about it that way.

Wm & Mary has a small enrollment, stringent academic requirements, and plays FCS football. Peers have similar characteristics (or at least two out of three). Tribe athletes rarely take the field or court against athletes from peer institutions. Failure to acknowledge and address this reality is unfortunate and debilitating. Harvard, Yale, and Patriot League schools get this.

Huge blocked (on Twitter) several student-athletes and the sophomore class president. Hard to block your stakeholders and remain relevant. I want a leader who is willing to field tough questions/statements and face opposition. I mean, I get it, she's tired of the constant criticism but ya gotta face it. Get out of the comfort bubble, show some humility, and communicate.

If we could all just block our problems, huh?

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

(09-24-2020 08:37 PM)Tribal Wrote:  Huge blocked (on Twitter) several student-athletes and the sophomore class president. Hard to block your stakeholders and remain relevant. I want a leader who is willing to field tough questions/statements and face opposition. I mean, I get it, she's tired of the constant criticism but ya gotta face it. Get out of the comfort bubble, show some humility, and communicate.

If we could all just block our problems, huh?

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

Lawsuit against W&M may be in the horizon over women’s sports programs cut; Rowe apologizes for copied letter, saying it was a ‘mistake’

By Julia Marsigliano -September 24, 2020

(WYDaily/ Courtesy of Tribe Athletics)

William & Mary may be facing a Title IX lawsuit after the university announced its decision to cut seven varsity sports programs.

Arthur H. Byrant, of Bailey Glasser LLP, a law firm based in California, wrote a letter to W&M President Katherine Rowe on Wednesday, stating the women’s varsity gymnastics, volleyball and swim teams hired him to stop the teams from being cut by the university.

The law firm was prepared to “pursue a class action lawsuit” against the university for “depriving women athletes and potential athletics of equal opportunities, athletic financial aid, and treatment.

On Sept. 3, William & Mary announced the university would cut seven varsity sport programs starting next year in the 2021-2022 academic year: Men’s and women’s swimming, men’s and women’s gymnastics, men’s indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball.

The open letter, which was signed by Rowe, W&M Athletics Director Samantha Huge and University Provost Peggy Agouris, showed similarities and direct quotes written verbatim to the July 8 open letter from Stanford University.

In the letter to Rowe on Wednesday, Byrant noted he previously represented the women’s basketball team in 1991 when the college announced the team would be cut.

He wants to meet with Rowe or the school’s attorneys to discuss the law.

“It is my hope that William & Mary, in its wisdom, will decide to preserve the women’s gymnastics, swimming, and volleyball teams and avoid being sued,” he wrote.

Bryant added he wanted Rowe to provide documentation that show cutting of the women and men’s sports teams is in line with Title IX compliance.

“If it is true, we, of course, have no basis to file suit,” Byrant wrote. “But, according to all the information we have seen, including information William & Mary has submitted to the U.S. government, it is not true.”

The deadline for Rowe and the university to respond is Sept. 30.

Rowe had also released a statement Wednesday about the open letter which announced the university’s decision to cut seven varsity sports programs effective next year.

Rowe’s statement came six days after Huge released a statement about the open letter which noted the university had “consulted” with Stanford University.

So why did Rowe wait to release a statement about the controversy and verbatim sentences copied from Stanford University’s open letter even though Rowe, and Agouris signed off on the Sept. 3 open letter to the community.

Why not release a joint statement instead?

Rowe’s statement

In her statement to the college community, Rowe referred to Huge’s previous letter on Sept. 18 multiple times saying the open letter announcing that seven sports team would be cut from the university did not “rise to William & Mary’s standards” and “this was a mistake.”

“Despite good intentions – in part because of the effort to seek best models for sharing difficult decisions – the communications process ultimately broke down,” Rowe wrote.

She noted “many” athletics departments who cut sports “share freely with one another” and W&M consulted with them to “ensure the utmost clarity and compassion in communicating very distressing news.”

“That said, words representing William & Mary should come from William & Mary,” Rowe said. “As president, I am accountable for the review process that should have ensured this.”

“As the leader of our learning and research community, it is my responsibility to make certain this situation does not occur again.”

Rowe reiterated Huge’s statement about integrity being “paramount for the success of the university as a whole” and added she spoke with Huge, noting the athletics director’s top priority “needs to be restoring trust.”

Jim Golden, senior counselor to Rowe, will “help guide strategic communications in Athletics,” working with Huge to review and improve how the Athletics department communicates to address the community’s concerns, Rowe wrote.

“My overarching goal for the whole of this very painful Athletics decision is that we move through it in a way that is respectful towards those most closely affected,” Rowe noted. “Though we fell short of this aspiration this time, we remain fully committed to it going forward.”

W&M response

Suzanne Clavet, spokeswoman for the university, wrote in an email W&M understands the “concerns raised” about the open letter.

“The university takes seriously the integrity of this institution as well as the trust and respect it holds in our community,” Clavet wrote. “They have been directly addressed in a statement last week by the athletic director and one this week by the president.“

“Each has acknowledged the communications related to the recent announcement of team reductions in athletics did not meet William & Mary’s standards and affirmed the expectations of our community.”

WYDaily reached out to W&M athletics spokesman Pete Clawson for comment. He sent WYDaily a statement from university communications, the same statement Clavet had sent previously.

It’s unclear why Rowe released a statement about the open letter on Wednesday and neither Clavet nor Clawson elaborated further.

In the university’s Honor Code violations section, plagiarism is listed as a form of cheating defined as the “intent to deceive” and phrasing others ideas or information “as if they were one’s own without giving appropriate credit.”

The honor code states one’s honor is “their most cherished attribute” and applies to both students and faculty members.

Agouris has yet to release a statement about the letter.

(09-25-2020 06:21 AM)heferbovine Wrote:  By Julia Marsigliano -September 24, 2020

She's back! Get 'em Julia!

(09-25-2020 06:21 AM)heferbovine Wrote:  

(09-24-2020 08:37 PM)Tribal Wrote:  Huge blocked (on Twitter) several student-athletes and the sophomore class president. Hard to block your stakeholders and remain relevant. I want a leader who is willing to field tough questions/statements and face opposition. I mean, I get it, she's tired of the constant criticism but ya gotta face it. Get out of the comfort bubble, show some humility, and communicate.

If we could all just block our problems, huh?

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

Lawsuit against W&M may be in the horizon over women’s sports programs cut; Rowe apologizes for copied letter, saying it was a ‘mistake’

By Julia Marsigliano -September 24, 2020

(WYDaily/ Courtesy of Tribe Athletics)

William & Mary may be facing a Title IX lawsuit after the university announced its decision to cut seven varsity sports programs.

Arthur H. Byrant, of Bailey Glasser LLP, a law firm based in California, wrote a letter to W&M President Katherine Rowe on Wednesday, stating the women’s varsity gymnastics, volleyball and swim teams hired him to stop the teams from being cut by the university.

The law firm was prepared to “pursue a class action lawsuit” against the university for “depriving women athletes and potential athletics of equal opportunities, athletic financial aid, and treatment.

On Sept. 3, William & Mary announced the university would cut seven varsity sport programs starting next year in the 2021-2022 academic year: Men’s and women’s swimming, men’s and women’s gymnastics, men’s indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball.

The open letter, which was signed by Rowe, W&M Athletics Director Samantha Huge and University Provost Peggy Agouris, showed similarities and direct quotes written verbatim to the July 8 open letter from Stanford University.

In the letter to Rowe on Wednesday, Byrant noted he previously represented the women’s basketball team in 1991 when the college announced the team would be cut.

He wants to meet with Rowe or the school’s attorneys to discuss the law.

“It is my hope that William & Mary, in its wisdom, will decide to preserve the women’s gymnastics, swimming, and volleyball teams and avoid being sued,” he wrote.

Bryant added he wanted Rowe to provide documentation that show cutting of the women and men’s sports teams is in line with Title IX compliance.

“If it is true, we, of course, have no basis to file suit,” Byrant wrote. “But, according to all the information we have seen, including information William & Mary has submitted to the U.S. government, it is not true.”

The deadline for Rowe and the university to respond is Sept. 30.

Rowe had also released a statement Wednesday about the open letter which announced the university’s decision to cut seven varsity sports programs effective next year.

Rowe’s statement came six days after Huge released a statement about the open letter which noted the university had “consulted” with Stanford University.

So why did Rowe wait to release a statement about the controversy and verbatim sentences copied from Stanford University’s open letter even though Rowe, and Agouris signed off on the Sept. 3 open letter to the community.

Why not release a joint statement instead?

Rowe’s statement

In her statement to the college community, Rowe referred to Huge’s previous letter on Sept. 18 multiple times saying the open letter announcing that seven sports team would be cut from the university did not “rise to William & Mary’s standards” and “this was a mistake.”

“Despite good intentions – in part because of the effort to seek best models for sharing difficult decisions – the communications process ultimately broke down,” Rowe wrote.

She noted “many” athletics departments who cut sports “share freely with one another” and W&M consulted with them to “ensure the utmost clarity and compassion in communicating very distressing news.”

“That said, words representing William & Mary should come from William & Mary,” Rowe said. “As president, I am accountable for the review process that should have ensured this.”

“As the leader of our learning and research community, it is my responsibility to make certain this situation does not occur again.”

Rowe reiterated Huge’s statement about integrity being “paramount for the success of the university as a whole” and added she spoke with Huge, noting the athletics director’s top priority “needs to be restoring trust.”

Jim Golden, senior counselor to Rowe, will “help guide strategic communications in Athletics,” working with Huge to review and improve how the Athletics department communicates to address the community’s concerns, Rowe wrote.

“My overarching goal for the whole of this very painful Athletics decision is that we move through it in a way that is respectful towards those most closely affected,” Rowe noted. “Though we fell short of this aspiration this time, we remain fully committed to it going forward.”

W&M response

Suzanne Clavet, spokeswoman for the university, wrote in an email W&M understands the “concerns raised” about the open letter.

“The university takes seriously the integrity of this institution as well as the trust and respect it holds in our community,” Clavet wrote. “They have been directly addressed in a statement last week by the athletic director and one this week by the president.“

“Each has acknowledged the communications related to the recent announcement of team reductions in athletics did not meet William & Mary’s standards and affirmed the expectations of our community.”

WYDaily reached out to W&M athletics spokesman Pete Clawson for comment. He sent WYDaily a statement from university communications, the same statement Clavet had sent previously.

It’s unclear why Rowe released a statement about the open letter on Wednesday and neither Clavet nor Clawson elaborated further.

In the university’s Honor Code violations section, plagiarism is listed as a form of cheating defined as the “intent to deceive” and phrasing others ideas or information “as if they were one’s own without giving appropriate credit.”

The honor code states one’s honor is “their most cherished attribute” and applies to both students and faculty members.

Agouris has yet to release a statement about the letter.

I'm not sure how the Administration's decision to cut these sports violates Title IX. It seems men's and women's sports were cut equally.

I don't think it alleges current violations, but is being explored in anticipation of T9 violations.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

(09-24-2020 07:32 PM)mrjoolius Wrote:  

(09-24-2020 07:13 PM)Zorch Wrote:  So why in the heck would anyone think that rowing would go over well in Williamsburg?

Rowing seems kind of random until you read Rector Littel's bio.

OK, so imagine this scenario. Rector Littel and the BOV preside over the elimination of seven sports -- funds just not available to support them, y'know.

Then, through some combination of funds from Littel, funds from his rowing connections, and wherever else, W&M suddenly gets $43.33 million as an endowment for a rowing team ($43.33MM being the amount, using the AD's math, needed to support $1,690,000 annually for rowing operations, not counting any additional support staff).

Now, I personally like rowing as a sport. The very idea of a rowing team at W&M is aesthetically pleasing, in an Oxbridge/New England prep school sort of way. They could dredge Lake Matoaka, upgrade the old boathouse, and it'd be lovely.

But what do you think the reaction would be?

On an unrelated topic, is it true that in the Old West they used to tar and feather people and run them out of town on a rail? Asking for a friend.

Current live BOV meeting. Littel and Rowe talking about TA at the early part of the meeting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKvRkwkia4E
___________________________________

Highlights from what Rowe said:

3 Points:

1. We must own our mistakes
2. We acknowledge both grief and anger...we hear deep commitment to WM. We need to assume positive intent. Critical to rebuilding trust. Haven't named an underlying disagreement - identity of Intercollegiate athletics at WM...
Core conflict at WM - different views on excellence and competitiveness in Division 1. The report (Strategic?) was beginning of a dialogue on competitive excellence that is necessary and need to listen to all voices.
3. We face acute and intractable structural problems in funding athletics competitively. The path forward requires sustained dialogue and open-mindedness.

AD Huge and Athletics have tasked to:
1) Share additional info to answer the questions on what financial sustainability means.
2) Engage Tribe Club Board (which she had not spoken to about this task prior to her briefing this morning) to validate and refine our assumptions that grows confidence so community has confidence in numbers and assumptions.
3) Work with TC Board to size the financial path for each sport to competitive and sustainable funding.
4) Invite athletic community into discussions of the problem itself - how we understand Division 1 competitiveness,

First and most important task is to rebuild trust in this community and repair distress we have caused student athletes and families.
This is not to suggest path ahead will be easy or status quo will remain...

I have confidence we will succeed.
_________________________________________

Then there was Q&A. Only question was about General Golden being a volunteer in his role supporting Huge and Rowe confirmed he is a volunteer.

I have done my best to capture her presentation.

(09-25-2020 09:02 AM)Tribe1693 Wrote:  Current live BOV meeting. Littel and Rowe talking about TA at the early part of the meeting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKvRkwkia4E

I just tuned in (10:33) and Rowe is talking about renaming buildings. So, what can you tell us about what was said earlier about sports? Thanks.

(09-25-2020 09:35 AM)Zorch Wrote:  

(09-25-2020 09:02 AM)Tribe1693 Wrote:  Current live BOV meeting. Littel and Rowe talking about TA at the early part of the meeting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKvRkwkia4E

I just tuned in (10:33) and Rowe is talking about renaming buildings. So, what can you tell us about what was said earlier about sports? Thanks.

See my updated post.

1693, excellent job summarizing her remarks. In addition she mentioned expecting budget shortfalls of $30-100 million dollars(no info as to the source of that, nor would I have expected that information today). I fully commend her on the efforts she has made related to COVID and to trying to do something to have students to have opportunities. I will reserve judgment on whether she and the BOV have a much better plan on athletics. There was no statement that the cuts are final, but also there was no recommendation to reinstate any of the sports at this time. It sounds like she is willing to be open to a dialogue. Whether that leads to a different outcome remains to be seen. Based on the letter she sent Wednesday along with the remarks from today, it appears that the Athletic Department will not have any personnel changes other than to add Gen. Golden for oversight.

Edit: Another party is now talking about the budget shortfall. Apparently the BOV had previously authorized 200 million in new debt authorization at a previous meeting. 30 million shortfall claimed for 2020-2021.

I'm not hopeful. I think things are going to get even darker over the next few months.

(09-25-2020 08:28 AM)Blow Gym rat Wrote:  

(09-24-2020 07:32 PM)mrjoolius Wrote:  

(09-24-2020 07:13 PM)Zorch Wrote:  So why in the heck would anyone think that rowing would go over well in Williamsburg?

Rowing seems kind of random until you read Rector Littel's bio.

OK, so imagine this scenario. Rector Littel and the BOV preside over the elimination of seven sports -- funds just not available to support them, y'know.

Then, through some combination of funds from Littel, funds from his rowing connections, and wherever else, W&M suddenly gets $43.33 million as an endowment for a rowing team ($43.33MM being the amount, using the AD's math, needed to support $1,690,000 annually for rowing operations, not counting any additional support staff).

Now, I personally like rowing as a sport. The very idea of a rowing team at W&M is aesthetically pleasing, in an Oxbridge/New England prep school sort of way. They could dredge Lake Matoaka, upgrade the old boathouse, and it'd be lovely.

But what do you think the reaction would be?

On an unrelated topic, is it true that in the Old West they used to tar and feather people and run them out of town on a rail? Asking for a friend.

Professional suicide if he cuts our programs and picks up rowing.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

I have heard nothing that makes me think things are going to get better. But, will try to give things a little time to see if things can improve. But, if I was a current student and athlete in those sports, they have heard nothing to indicate anything is going to change. Their time and choices are running out. Like so many things right now, if you stop doing something for a time, you run a significant risk of never doing it again.

(09-25-2020 09:02 AM)Tribe1693 Wrote:  AD Huge and Athletics have tasked to:
1) Share additional info to answer the questions on what financial sustainability means.
2) Engage Tribe Club Board (which she had not spoken to about this task prior to her briefing this morning) to validate and refine our assumptions that grows confidence so community has confidence in numbers and assumptions.
3) Work with TC Board to size the financial path for each sport to competitive and sustainable funding.
4) Invite athletic community into discussions of the problem itself - how we understand Division 1 competitiveness,

Just listened to the board meeting as well. Athletics discussion begins around -3:44:00 on the video.

But I wanted to focus on Rowe's direction to the AD. If Rowe is asking Huge to perform these actions now, logic would follow that Huge didn't do any of the above before making the decision to cut the sports. Forget "no stone unturned", it seems that she didn't bother turning over the first stone. How can you cut sports without understanding what financial stability means? How can you cut sports without engaging the literal foundation for the advancement of William & Mary athletics? How can you cut sports without engaging the athletic community? Rowe went on to say that throughout this process of determining a path forward we need to "assume positive intent" of all involved parties. I find that especially difficult to do given the above failures. It leaves me to the conclusion that either Huge is well intentioned but very, very stupid or may not be acting with "positive intent". Either way, I don't know why we would retain her as the leader of our athletic department.

(09-25-2020 11:34 AM)zablenoise Wrote:  

(09-25-2020 09:02 AM)Tribe1693 Wrote:  AD Huge and Athletics have tasked to:
1) Share additional info to answer the questions on what financial sustainability means.
2) Engage Tribe Club Board (which she had not spoken to about this task prior to her briefing this morning) to validate and refine our assumptions that grows confidence so community has confidence in numbers and assumptions.
3) Work with TC Board to size the financial path for each sport to competitive and sustainable funding.
4) Invite athletic community into discussions of the problem itself - how we understand Division 1 competitiveness,

Just listened to the board meeting as well. Athletics discussion begins around -3:44:00 on the video.

But I wanted to focus on Rowe's direction to the AD. If Rowe is asking Huge to perform these actions now, logic would follow that Huge didn't do any of the above before making the decision to cut the sports. Forget "no stone unturned", it seems that she didn't bother turning over the first stone. How can you cut sports without understanding what financial stability means? How can you cut sports without engaging the literal foundation for the advancement of William & Mary athletics? How can you cut sports without engaging the athletic community? Rowe went on to say that throughout this process of determining a path forward we need to "assume positive intent" of all involved parties. I find that especially difficult to do given the above failures. It leaves me to the conclusion that either Huge is well intentioned but very, very stupid or may not be acting with "positive intent". Either way, I don't know why we would retain her as the leader of our athletic department.

Join the militia! Ha ha


It's obvious that Huge went solo on this and Rowe trusted her to run the department (as she should). Now Rowe finds herself dealing with a crazy academic environment and now this. She can't be happy with Huge. There's an easy fix but I believe Rowe and the BOV are looking for a work around.

BTW, the "assume noble intent" (as it's phrased at my job) is the big Leadership 101 nugget. I will not assume noble intent from someone with Huge's history...that level of respect must be earned.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

I don't buy that Rowe was blindsided here... wouldn't she have been involved if we were going to cut 7 majors from the academic catalog? Why would this be different?