For about the first half of the Leebron presidency, I was pretty close to the inside workings of the athletic department. From that position I would say that he was more favorable toward athletics than either Hackerman or Gillis. They may have talked a better game, but Leebron actually DID some things that I don't think either of them would ever have done.

(01-13-2022 10:39 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-13-2022 10:23 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(01-13-2022 08:54 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  As I've said before, (Leebron's) cared more about Rice Athletics-- and been more involved in not only Rice athletics, but the NCAA as well-- than any Rice president since at least Hackerman 45+ years ago.

Brings to mind this post I made in 2014 (https://csnbbs.com/thread-630536-post-92...pid9256763)

Quote:That reminded me of President Leebron's visit in February to speak to local alumni. He gave an excellent talk about the state of the university & challenges. Surely it was similar to those given earlier on campus. But aside from saying that he hoped we'd beat A&M in the fall's first football dame, there was no mention of athletics.

So in the Q&A, I asked him about his experiences as a member of the NCAA Div 1 Board of Directors. He said: "I went to my first board meeting recently, and it was not an inspiring experience. We voted to lift the cap on entertainment spending for athletes. The vote was 15-1. I’ll let you figure out who the '1' was. It’s not about the money; it’s about how much money."

Later, I asked him about the chances that university presidents would try to reform the system to something more equitable. He wasn't encouraging. It clearly seemed that this was a battle with such a low chance of winning that it wasn't worth fighting.

Mike, with all due respect, that was almost 8 years ago. He has become much, much more involved in Athletics since then.

Any more with the NCAA?

(01-13-2022 10:49 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(01-13-2022 10:39 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-13-2022 10:23 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(01-13-2022 08:54 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  As I've said before, (Leebron's) cared more about Rice Athletics-- and been more involved in not only Rice athletics, but the NCAA as well-- than any Rice president since at least Hackerman 45+ years ago.

Brings to mind this post I made in 2014 (https://csnbbs.com/thread-630536-post-92...pid9256763)

Quote:That reminded me of President Leebron's visit in February to speak to local alumni. He gave an excellent talk about the state of the university & challenges. Surely it was similar to those given earlier on campus. But aside from saying that he hoped we'd beat A&M in the fall's first football dame, there was no mention of athletics.

So in the Q&A, I asked him about his experiences as a member of the NCAA Div 1 Board of Directors. He said: "I went to my first board meeting recently, and it was not an inspiring experience. We voted to lift the cap on entertainment spending for athletes. The vote was 15-1. I’ll let you figure out who the '1' was. It’s not about the money; it’s about how much money."

Later, I asked him about the chances that university presidents would try to reform the system to something more equitable. He wasn't encouraging. It clearly seemed that this was a battle with such a low chance of winning that it wasn't worth fighting.

Mike, with all due respect, that was almost 8 years ago. He has become much, much more involved in Athletics since then.

Any more with the NCAA?

Yes. As 69/70/75 said, Leebron never talked up athletics publicly (save for one on ones with sports-minded donors such as myself) because he's never been an athlete or a big sports fan himself. However, he has very much supported Rice athletics behind the scenes and without taking any credit for some of the things that have gotten done.

Based on Reggie’s background (Ga Tech athletics role and his daughter playing for Rice), regardless of how pro or anti-sports Leebron was, I think that we’ll see a president offer greater support for Rice athletics. That’s definitely a gut feel, though. I’ve got 0 personal insight into Leebron, and it never seemed like he was anti-sports at Rice, given how frequently he was at all types of events and tweeting his support to the public.

The problem is that not that much got done

(01-13-2022 10:53 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-13-2022 10:49 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(01-13-2022 10:39 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-13-2022 10:23 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(01-13-2022 08:54 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  As I've said before, (Leebron's) cared more about Rice Athletics-- and been more involved in not only Rice athletics, but the NCAA as well-- than any Rice president since at least Hackerman 45+ years ago.

Brings to mind this post I made in 2014 (https://csnbbs.com/thread-630536-post-92...pid9256763)

Quote:That reminded me of President Leebron's visit in February to speak to local alumni. He gave an excellent talk about the state of the university & challenges. Surely it was similar to those given earlier on campus. But aside from saying that he hoped we'd beat A&M in the fall's first football dame, there was no mention of athletics.

So in the Q&A, I asked him about his experiences as a member of the NCAA Div 1 Board of Directors. He said: "I went to my first board meeting recently, and it was not an inspiring experience. We voted to lift the cap on entertainment spending for athletes. The vote was 15-1. I’ll let you figure out who the '1' was. It’s not about the money; it’s about how much money."

Later, I asked him about the chances that university presidents would try to reform the system to something more equitable. He wasn't encouraging. It clearly seemed that this was a battle with such a low chance of winning that it wasn't worth fighting.

Mike, with all due respect, that was almost 8 years ago. He has become much, much more involved in Athletics since then.

Any more with the NCAA?

Yes. As 69/70/75 said, Leebron never talked up athletics publicly (save for one on ones with sports-minded donors such as myself) because he's never been an athlete or a big sports fan himself. However, he has very much supported Rice athletics behind the scenes and without taking any credit for some of the things that have gotten done.

Oh yes Lebroon did a great job. Who was responsible of hiring Ranger Rick, a complete waste of money, before the current athletic director was hired, who was responsible of running WBB into the ground before hiring Coach Langley, who kept Bailiff hear one year too long, why hasn't the Men's Tennis coach has not been fired, why hasn't he fired Bloomgren yet?

(01-14-2022 11:11 AM)Texasowl Wrote:  Oh yes Lebroon did a great job. Who was responsible of hiring Ranger Rick, a complete waste of money, before the current athletic director was hired, who was responsible of running WBB into the ground before hiring Coach Langley, who kept Bailiff hear one year too long, why hasn't the Men's Tennis coach has not been fired, why hasn't he fired Bloomgren yet?

That's on the AD; not the President. The President does not hire or fire coaches, and shouldn't. That's not his job.

I might be mistaken, but wasn't it Leebron who pushed for Karlgaard's extension a few months ago? We have an AD that destroyed the three biggest programs, and had applied to work for Northwestern and Duke. No one else wanted him, so Leebron extended him. What a gigantic Rice disaster. It's no wonder conferences aren't interested in us. There's nothing but dysfunction in the athletics department. Leebron needs to stay in the exit lane. It wasn't his place to mettle

(01-14-2022 06:46 PM)Ourland Wrote:  I might be mistaken, but wasn't it Leebron who pushed for Karlgaard's extension a few months ago? We have an AD that destroyed the three biggest programs, and had applied to work for Northwestern and Duke. No one else wanted him, so Leebron extended him. What a gigantic Rice disaster. It's no wonder conferences aren't interested in us. There's nothing but dysfunction in the athletics department. Leebron needs to stay in the exit lane. It wasn't his place to mettle

Actually, BOTH the Mountain West and AAC wanted us. We chose the AAC.

(01-13-2022 02:27 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(01-13-2022 12:40 PM)Houston Owl 2 Wrote:  These are unsubstantiated but are from good sources:

1..Posted congratulations on Twitter for Garcia on making Texas Football year-end honors.

2...Met with basketball recruit at the request of the coaching staff...a highly ranked recruit who met with the incoming Prez while on campus for a visit...very positive impression given to the recruit regarding the status of athletics on campus

3..Overruled certain other Rice officers regarding the distribution of a recent large gift...it all goes to athletics as the donor directed with no "misdirection" to other areas on campus...setting the tone for support...I'm not sure about the size of the gift, just that it was "very large".

All good signs

Indeed! Thanks for the insight. I hope your sources are 100% on all these items!

Im surprised that that people would ever think to redirect any portion of a gift or donation that was specifically directed.

Its that type of hubris that can get a university embroiled in a fairly nasty lawsuit rather pronto.

(01-13-2022 10:39 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-13-2022 10:23 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(01-13-2022 08:54 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  As I've said before, (Leebron's) cared more about Rice Athletics-- and been more involved in not only Rice athletics, but the NCAA as well-- than any Rice president since at least Hackerman 45+ years ago.

Brings to mind this post I made in 2014 (https://csnbbs.com/thread-630536-post-92...pid9256763)

Quote:That reminded me of President Leebron's visit in February to speak to local alumni. He gave an excellent talk about the state of the university & challenges. Surely it was similar to those given earlier on campus. But aside from saying that he hoped we'd beat A&M in the fall's first football dame, there was no mention of athletics.

So in the Q&A, I asked him about his experiences as a member of the NCAA Div 1 Board of Directors. He said: "I went to my first board meeting recently, and it was not an inspiring experience. We voted to lift the cap on entertainment spending for athletes. The vote was 15-1. I’ll let you figure out who the '1' was. It’s not about the money; it’s about how much money."

Later, I asked him about the chances that university presidents would try to reform the system to something more equitable. He wasn't encouraging. It clearly seemed that this was a battle with such a low chance of winning that it wasn't worth fighting.

Mike, with all due respect, that was almost 8 years ago. He has become much, much more involved in Athletics since then.

Perhaps that was one of the reasons Leebrons contract wasnt renewed.

(01-14-2022 08:27 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-14-2022 06:46 PM)Ourland Wrote:  I might be mistaken, but wasn't it Leebron who pushed for Karlgaard's extension a few months ago? We have an AD that destroyed the three biggest programs, and had applied to work for Northwestern and Duke. No one else wanted him, so Leebron extended him. What a gigantic Rice disaster. It's no wonder conferences aren't interested in us. There's nothing but dysfunction in the athletics department. Leebron needs to stay in the exit lane. It wasn't his place to mettle

Actually, BOTH the Mountain West and AAC wanted us. We chose the AAC.

Not entirely true. The AAC only wanted us for the purpose of keeping the MWC out of Texas, and thank God.. If Aresco had his way, he would have taken Air Force, CSU, and UTSA. Rice is typically only needed as backfill when a good conference loses its best members. We never advance up the ladder to actually compete within the best conferences. That's what I meant by my comment.

The MWC is really the only conference that truly 'wanted' us, and even then it was only to use us for our market.