(06-17-2013 08:18 AM)Afflicted Wrote:  The new AD needs the character and integrity of David Bailiff and Wayne Graham. What's just as essential is possessing business, fundraising, and marketing skills. A CEO-type candidate needs to be considered. And I have mixed emotions about a "Rice guy" being hired. A Rice guy may know how Rice does things, but someone from outside the hedges would surely have a set of fresh perspectives and ideas that the athletic department may desperately need. What matters most is that the university get this hire right.

A Rice guy not only "gets Rice" (and instantly earns the respect of fellow student-athletes and alumni, but also the professors and the rest of the academic community), but also pretty much ensure the appropriate passion to succeed is there....and understands the importance of communications to ALL constituents. Also, I would argue that a CEO-type from outside college athletics, but one who has stayed actively involved in college athletics (if only as an avid fan and supporter), brings just as much "fresh perspective-- if not more-- than someone from "outside the hedges". And this is absolutely key as we've got to change the parodym if we're going to get back to the next level. The advantage of hiring an actively involved Rice guy is that he/she knows about the warts hidden in the closet, and is more likely to be aware of history and challenges faced than a total outsider.