(02-25-2023 01:05 PM)Ourland Wrote:  

(02-25-2023 10:54 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(02-24-2023 10:50 PM)Ourland Wrote:  They're following the bylaws. It's what's expected of the BOT, President, and AD. Calling it the 'path of least resistance' implies there's choice. I doubt there's much choice. Rules are in place that keep Rice from doing more than what's absolutely necessary in athletics.

Then Rice should do nothing--drop athletics altogether.

I somehow doubt that the bylaws were intended, or should be interpreted, to mandate an athletic program that is a laughing stock. And that is what the present course dictates. McKinsey said do it right or don't do it. Twenty years later, Rice has yet to decide which.

Rice's problems in athletics are most directly tied to academic restrictions. They're the most stringent in the country. In a nutshell, that's by far the biggest barrier, and it will never change.

We can't blame low salaries anymore, because those are up. They aren't high enough to attract the best coaches, and never will be, but they're up. We also really can't blame athletics infrastructure anymore, because everything but Rice Stadium has been refurbished. We just spent $10 million to get into the AAC, and we're increasing our budget to $40 million annually. I think it's important to acknowledge all this. The problem of 'neglect' is a problem of the past that we are still paying for today. Rice waited 30 years too long to make these investments.

Let's face it. Karlgaard made a terrible hire in Mike Bloomgren, whom I believe is making $1 million a year. Up until now, his system has been a failure.

God bless David Bailiff and Ken Hatfield. They did well for years with little support. It's no wonder they finally ended up crashing and burning.