I met with President Royce Engstrom

[englishgriz]

Well done Native. I appreciate your hard work and willingness to pursue the truth. It is very disheartening to read RE's answers, but maybe there is the slightest hope that something you have said to him will make him think twice about his decisions in the future. Not likely, but it cannot hurt. Once again thank you, and I look forward to hearing what more you have discovered.

 

[NorthEndZoneDan]

Great start, NativeGriz.

"That is it for now. I have to much more I would like to share that I did not talk with RE about and I am sure much of it will come out later from more credible sources than me. Some of the information is unfreaking believable. This is Dateline material."

Keep posting the rest of what you want to share. Get the 'more credible souces' pointed in the right direction and watch what develops, like Deep Throat. Everything needs to come out in the open. If it takes 'Dateline' or '60 Minutes' to do the job, so be it.

I will second tourist on that! :thumb: Don't sell yourself short on waiting for more credible sources to appear out of nowhere. If the information that you have us indeed unfreaking believable then it needs to see sunshine and that certainly will not be coming from the Daily Rag and pooh-pooh florio. Step up to the plate buddy and hit it.

 

[nzone]

Setting aside athletics(I know thats hard to do) has Royce Engstrom none anything that would be considered positive for the University?

 

[UMAlum]

Concern#7 I mentioned that UM has one of the lowest institutional funded athletic programs in the country. Significantly less than MSU. He mentioned he was not aware of any percentages

I don’t believe President Engstrom is unaware of the MSU vs UM institutional funding of athletic program comparisons. He may not be aware of exact percentages but he is aware of the differences that exist. Does anyone believe this is something that Jim O’Day (and others) would not have pointed out to RE?

BTW ... great work on this NativeGriz.

 

[justanotherfan]

If I was a new President and I had such a bad first year, I'm not sure I would have granted this interview.

The interview just reinforces that President Engstrom is over his head and is now starting to look over his shoulder. I'm sure he is a great academician, but he is not now, nor does he have the ability to be even a mediocre President.

This is not just a football issue.

The University of Montana deserves better.

 

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

Great start, NativeGriz.

"That is it for now. I have to much more I would like to share that I did not talk with RE about and I am sure much of it will come out later from more credible sources than me. Some of the information is unfreaking believable. This is Dateline material."

Keep posting the rest of what you want to share. Get the 'more credible souces' pointed in the right direction and watch what develops, like Deep Throat. Everything needs to come out in the open. If it takes 'Dateline' or '60 Minutes' to do the job, so be it.

I agree, but out of respect to some people that shared, I would like to wait a bit. This is just a begining. I have held back my opinion on some of this so others will share more. I am confident the truth is coming, but you will not see it in the Missoulian.
By the way, someone asked me if I am Native American and I am not though I have several very close Native American friends.

Most everyone born in America is native.......so I too have a lot of native American friends.




Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

 

[Silvertip]

Native's interview brought to light an admission by Engstrom that only underlines the president's naive and shortsighted approach to leadership. Imagine -firing not one but both of the top two administrators of UM's athletic program without a clue as to who will succeed them? Perhaps we should be thankful that Engstrom was not Missoula's mayor with a hankering to fire the police or fire chief over morning coffee. Even eight months later he can't man up publically with his reasons for the firings - primarily I suspect because even he in his weird mind set realizes how embarrassing such an admission would be. And you can be further assured that he was totally unaware that the untimely terminations would come with large payouts to the involved individuals along with the inevitable legal fees that will ultimately dwarf the $150,000 department budget cut announced this week... President Royce Engstrom is just plain scary - a loose cannon who the BOR and Governor Bullock would be well advised to jettison so the healing can truly begin. However,to avoid RE's colossal blunder perhaps they can first assemble a list of likely successors before they pull the trigger sending Engstrom back to South Dakota hopefully well in advance of pheasant season.

 

[BWahlberg]

Look at the takeaways from his replies:

1. "Delaney has done an incredible job." That could probably be quantified, with discipline he certainly has, with results on the field - he hasn't. Without the ability to follow up on that I'd have to assume Royce clearly thinks that an "incredible job" is pretty much completed by discipline and top-end control. Therefor should we presume that W-L doesn't matter to Royce? Such a short-sighted approach to this is just asking for trouble because when a successful program stops filling seats, selling advertising, etc - the school foots the bill.

2. "Knew that some people would be complaining [about Pflu and O'Day being fired]" SOME people? How about MOST people? He honestly didn't think this would turn the fan base upside down before making this firing? And I'm fully aware he didn't have a coach ready before the firing because he called the assistants together and asked them who they want to have take over. Bob Beers came back at him and said no way, you got us in this mess - you appoint the next HC."

3. "Positive meeting with the Missoulian Staff / they did their job" Wow...

4. "Enrollment drop affected a little by the bad press" Time will tell

5. "Does not think that donors will back off now that the academic center is for all students" Shows a strong disconnect with Grizzly Sports boosters, IMO.

6. Branding company comments sound like he has no clue as to what they're doing but I'll hold my overall opinion until NativeGriz posts his follow up on the successes they've given the UM.

 

[tourist]

If I was a new President and I had such a bad first year, I'm not sure I would have granted this interview...Engstrom is over his head and is now starting to look over his shoulder...This is not just a football issue...The University of Montana deserves better.

Hired in 2010, his 'first year' has gone on for 27-28 months.

 

[Silvertip]

...pheasant season with Dick Cheney as a hunting partner...

 

[statler & waldorf]

"Hedley Lamarr: [smiling] Kinkyyyy. Sign here."

 

[AllWeatherFan]

Hey, you had the balls to make an appointment to go talk to the guy, Native, and for that you should be congratulated. It's a lot easier to just dream up conspiracies. I am very surprised that Engstrom took the time to meet with you, and the fact that he did speaks well of him.

As far as the "Dateline" stuff goes, I think that detracts from your story and lessens your credibility a bit.

Anyway, thanks for posting what you learned.

 

[justanotherfan]

If I was a new President and I had such a bad first year, I'm not sure I would have granted this interview...Engstrom is over his head and is now starting to look over his shoulder...This is not just a football issue...The University of Montana deserves better.

Hired in 2010, his 'first year' has gone on for 27-28 months.

I stand corrected. Having an extra year in his role makes his actions even more unacceptable since he can't blame it on his rookie year.

 

[Spanky]

Good effort Native. It sounds almost like Engstrom has little interest in what has happened and less interest in the future. Do you get the impression he is a man about to make his exit?

 

[ranco]

Nice work Native. Further proof the RE needs to be fired. It was clear from the beginning that firing Oday and Pflu were knee jerk decisions done without planning and without any forethought. These decisions have resulted in direct costs of over a half million dollars and god only knows how many indirect costs. How can anyone support a person who makes such poor decisions and who doesn't have the common sense to actually consult with people around him. It's amazing any coach is willing to stay here. He needs to go and the sooner the better.

 

[GrizPony]

Nice work Native. Further proof the RE needs to be fired. It was clear from the beginning that firing Oday and Pflu were knee jerk decisions done without planning and without any forethought. These decisions have resulted in direct costs of over a half million dollars and god only knows how many indirect costs. How can anyone support a person who makes such poor decisions and who doesn't have the common sense to actually consult with people around him. It's amazing any coach is willing to stay here. He needs to go and the sooner the better.

I've said it before and I will say it again, RE was pressured by Williams and others and he caved without a full picture and without a plan.

 

[NativeGriz]

I will give you my opinion of how this went. First off, I got exactly what I expected in regard to the questions he was able to answer within the guidelines of privacy-I don't have problems here and I respect his answers. Here is what I was hoping he would say in regard to some of the other questions. I wanted him to admit to some mistakes and then give a little direction in how he was hoping to overcome the mistakes. For example: I was hoping he would say he had not done enough to help bring COT to Missoula, but he was now being proactive and setting up meetings with the BBB, Mayor's office, and other leading groups in Missoula so they could work together in getting this accomplished. I want a leader that has the balls to stand up to the media when they are wrong. If the Missoulian continued to put out misleading facts, then go to a paper not controlled by the Lee. Find someone that would provide balanced reporting. I believe had he done that, he would not have received as much emotional pressure from people reacting to the Missoulian stories. I can only imagine how he was slammed in this area by a bunch of emotional people and I am sure Pat/Carol Williams were two of them. I am sure REs final decision to let his AD and FC go was affected by these people-I recall a bunch of egrizers calling for JO and RF head early on before some of the other truth started coming out from places other than the Missoulian. I would like to see a leader defend innocent people when the police are wrong - and so on and so on. I realize I am dreaming, but I am sick of seeing what is happening at UM. I have no question RE would be a great Provost, but I did not come away thinking he is a qualified CEO. I met his VP in charge of communication and I loved her energy/personality, so I don't want to make it sound like I am jumping on everyone, but I do not feel RE has the most qualified people in place to overcome his short comings as a leader of an institution as large as the University of Montana. The old adage "Nothing changes if nothing changes" and clearly something needs to change.

 

[Bear Pause]

I will give you my opinion of how this went. First off, I got exactly what I expected in regard to the questions he was able to answer within the guidelines of privacy-I don't have problems here and I respect his answers. Here is what I was hoping he would say in regard to some of the other questions. I wanted him to admit to some mistakes and then give a little direction in how he was hoping to overcome the mistakes. For example: I was hoping he would say he had not done enough to help bring COT to Missoula, but he was now being proactive and setting up meetings with the BBB, Mayor's office, and other leading groups in Missoula so they could work together in getting this accomplished. I want a leader that has the balls to stand up to the media when they are wrong. If the Missoulian continued to put out misleading facts, then go to a paper not controlled by the Lee. Find someone that would provide balanced reporting. I believe had he done that, he would not have received as much emotional pressure from people reacting to the Missoulian stories. I can only imagine how he was slammed in this area by a bunch of emotional people and I am sure Pat/Carol Williams were two of them. I am sure REs final decision to let his AD and FC go was affected by these people-I recall a bunch of egrizers calling for JO and RF head early on before some of the other truth started coming out from places other than the Missoulian. I would like to see a leader defend innocent people when the police are wrong - and so on and so on. I realize I am dreaming, but I am sick of seeing what is happening at UM. I have no question RE would be a great Provost, but I did not come away thinking he is a qualified CEO. I met his VP in charge of communication and I loved her energy/personality, so I don't want to make it sound like I am jumping on everyone, but I do not feel RE has the most qualified people in place to overcome his short comings as a leader of an institution as large as the University of Montana. The old adage "Nothing changes if nothing changes" and clearly something needs to change.

Is your name Native Griz, or Naive Griz? Dude, you need to understand that this is a very small community. Royce is not going to declare was on the Missoulian, nor the Missoula police department. He knows he would be very sorry if he did. Both entities could be the Icy Hot in his underwear for years to come! My previous post in this thread said it all in a single sentence. Engstrom is just like any politician. He gives only the talking points he wants you to hear, with no substance. It will not change. Chill out and start your weekend out with a stiff drink, or two, or three, or.............!

 

[tnt]

Some of this supposition is almost funny especially in regards to Pat Williams... If in fear of him Jim Foley would never have been fired.........

 

[Bear Pause]

Nice work Native. Further proof the RE needs to be fired. It was clear from the beginning that firing Oday and Pflu were knee jerk decisions done without planning and without any forethought. These decisions have resulted in direct costs of over a half million dollars and god only knows how many indirect costs. How can anyone support a person who makes such poor decisions and who doesn't have the common sense to actually consult with people around him. It's amazing any coach is willing to stay here. He needs to go and the sooner the better.

Do not fear...... Brint is on it!