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JUST SAYING……

S

Sport

Well-known member
Fire away if you must. This is a rhetorical question so discuss amongst yourselves. Is it time for a change at the top? Not the top top but the athletic department top? I’ve always liked Kent. I think he’s done great things for the University and the athletic department. BUT there comes a time when being in a position for as long as Kent has been complacency starts to set in. You become more concerned about keeping your job rather than taking risks. Granted, Stitt was a risk that didn’t work out and give Kent credit for that. The rehiring of Bobby was easy because there was a lot of external pressure from well positioned alumni who I believe forced the issue. And Bobby has been good for the program, no question about that. BUT has Bobby’s time come and gone?
The exit of Justin Green has me beginning to think that maybe he’s beginning to see the writing on the wall? So is it time to turn out the old and start with a clean slate? There are obvious risks associated with doing that and the risks have multiple pitfalls.
Public sentiment was high for Nate and the women’s bb team after their showing in Boise. For Kent he went along with the popular opinion and made the easy decision. I hope the ladies can turn their season around but watching their game against NoCo last weekend was not pretty.
My opinion is probably not going to be popular but maybe it’s time to turn the page and clean house. And I’m not in favor of hiring from within. New blood from the top on down. Struggle for a few years but rebuild the entire dept. I often look across the mountains at our neighbors to the East. I know it’s blasphemy but look at what Leon Costello has accomplished at our sister institution?
And that’s my 2 cents worth.
 
I think sometimes we need to be careful what we wish for.

Can Kent improve? Yes. Are there changes within the department that can be made? Yes. Are there better AD candidates out there willing to come to Missoula? Maaayyyyybbeeee.

Kent clearly has passion for UM, and that matters in that position. I think it's certainly time to set some stretch goals, and make it a priority to meet them, and then have this conversation again in a couple of years. Change for change sakes isn't often the answer, though.
 
EverettGriz said:
Kent clearly has passion for UM, and that matters in that position. I think it's certainly time to set some stretch goals, and make it a priority to meet them, and then have this conversation again in a couple of years. Change for change sakes isn't often the answer, though.
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Hey Everett, with all respect, can you elaborate more on the clear passion Kent has? When I hear interviews or hear the rumors of future plans, I haven’t really came away with a sense of big goals and motivation for growth. In fact it’s seemed opposite, more of a sense of stability. No desperate urgency to unite the fans/alumni/community with a common goal. There’s more meat on the bone. And that’s a clear point of failure in my opinion.
 
EverettGriz said:
I think sometimes we need to be careful what we wish for.

Can Kent improve? Yes. Are there changes within the department that can be made? Yes. Are there better AD candidates out there willing to come to Missoula? Maaayyyyybbeeee.

Kent clearly has passion for UM, and that matters in that position. I think it's certainly time to set some stretch goals, and make it a priority to meet them, and then have this conversation again in a couple of years. Change for change sakes isn't often the answer, though.
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The guy clearly has no vision for UM athletics though. What is UM’s place in the new landscape of college athletics? It just seems like more treading water, and treading water doesn’t work long term when your rivals next door are hoisting hardware.

Haslam, god bless him for his time here in righting the ship, has been here too long and it’s clear UM’s athletic department is prehistoric right now based on the results in the revenue sports.
 
EverettGriz said:
I think sometimes we need to be careful what we wish for.

Can Kent improve? Yes. Are there changes within the department that can be made? Yes. Are there better AD candidates out there willing to come to Missoula? Maaayyyyybbeeee.

Kent clearly has passion for UM, and that matters in that position. I think it's certainly time to set some stretch goals, and make it a priority to meet them, and then have this conversation again in a couple of years. Change for change sakes isn't often the answer, though.
Click to expand...
Over the summer I probably would've agreed with you Everett, but I've had a change of heart now. Just watching how the last few months have gone and comparing and contrasting both AD's, I think it is time to move on from Haslam. Over the summer, the cats opened their IPF which looks way nicer than ours. They've also released their stadium expansion plans and will probably be able to get that done sooner rather then later. Meanwhile the Wa-Griz west side expansion has been all crickets like it's some big ass secret. Plus look at how our Soccer head coaching search is going right now and how freaking long it's taking. We're going on almost a month now since Citowicki was hired and there seems to be no hurry to make a hire despite the roster being completely gutted. Even go back to last year when Haslam initially said we weren't going to opt in to the house settlement but the cats were all in on opting in. I know we did eventually end up opting in but that's just bad optics.

Plus here's something else I wanna point out. I like the guys that work in Grizzly Athletics. I know most of them and they're all good guys. I mean this as no disrespect but look at their backgrounds and compare them to the cats. Almost of the guys that work in senior leadership roles for the Griz are alums and have been with the department for a decade plus. They're not bringing in any outsiders with any new ideas. Sundberg has worked for the Griz for like 2 decades. Guys like Dan Ingram, Jared Amoss, Chuck Maes, Ryan Martin, etc. They've all been with Athletics since the dawn of time. Look I think it's great that they hire alums and give people like that a chance, but it'd be nice to have a few people on staff who are outsiders and are coming from other places that have seen how other schools and AD's operate. The only guy I can think of that's an outsider in a major leadership role for UM is Coleson Randall. And that's really about it.

Point being, it's time to shake up the deck IMO. I kinda wish Haslam would've got the Utah State job. Change can be a good thing and right now I think change is warranted.
 
Griz til I die said:
Over the summer I probably would've agreed with you Everett, but I've had a change of heart now. Just watching how the last few months have gone and comparing and contrasting both AD's, I think it is time to move on from Haslam. Over the summer, the cats opened their IPF which looks way nicer than ours. They've also released their stadium expansion plans and will probably be able to get that done sooner rather then later. Meanwhile the Wa-Griz west side expansion has been all crickets like it's some big ass secret. Plus look at how our Soccer head coaching search is going right now and how freaking long it's taking. We're going on almost a month now since Citowicki was hired and there seems to be no hurry to make a hire despite the roster being completely gutted. Even go back to last year when Haslam initially said we weren't going to opt in to the house settlement but the cats were all in on opting in. I know we did eventually end up opting in but that's just bad optics.

Plus here's something else I wanna point out. I like the guys that work in Grizzly Athletics. I know most of them and they're all good guys. I mean this as no disrespect but look at their backgrounds and compare them to the cats. Almost of the guys that work in senior leadership roles for the Griz are alums and have been with the department for a decade plus. They're not bringing in any outsiders with any new ideas. Sundberg has worked for the Griz for like 2 decades. Guys like Dan Ingram, Jared Amoss, Chuck Maes, Ryan Martin, etc. They've all been with Athletics since the dawn of time. Look I think it's great that they hire alums and give people like that a chance, but it'd be nice to have a few people on staff who are outsiders and are coming from other places that have seen how other schools and AD's operate. The only guy I can think of that's an outsider in a major leadership role for UM is Coleson Randall. And that's really about it.

Point being, it's time to shake up the deck IMO. I kinda wish Haslam would've got the Utah State job. Change can be a good thing and right now I think change is warranted.
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Absolutely some rock solid points made here.
 
Griz til I die said:
Over the summer I probably would've agreed with you Everett, but I've had a change of heart now. Just watching how the last few months have gone and comparing and contrasting both AD's, I think it is time to move on from Haslam. Over the summer, the cats opened their IPF which looks way nicer than ours. They've also released their stadium expansion plans and will probably be able to get that done sooner rather then later. Meanwhile the Wa-Griz west side expansion has been all crickets like it's some big ass secret. Plus look at how our Soccer head coaching search is going right now and how freaking long it's taking. We're going on almost a month now since Citowicki was hired and there seems to be no hurry to make a hire despite the roster being completely gutted. Even go back to last year when Haslam initially said we weren't going to opt in to the house settlement but the cats were all in on opting in. I know we did eventually end up opting in but that's just bad optics.

Plus here's something else I wanna point out. I like the guys that work in Grizzly Athletics. I know most of them and they're all good guys. I mean this as no disrespect but look at their backgrounds and compare them to the cats. Almost of the guys that work in senior leadership roles for the Griz are alums and have been with the department for a decade plus. They're not bringing in any outsiders with any new ideas. Sundberg has worked for the Griz for like 2 decades. Guys like Dan Ingram, Jared Amoss, Chuck Maes, Ryan Martin, etc. They've all been with Athletics since the dawn of time. Look I think it's great that they hire alums and give people like that a chance, but it'd be nice to have a few people on staff who are outsiders and are coming from other places that have seen how other schools and AD's operate. The only guy I can think of that's an outsider in a major leadership role for UM is Coleson Randall. And that's really about it.

Point being, it's time to shake up the deck IMO. I kinda wish Haslam would've got the Utah State job. Change can be a good thing and right now I think change is warranted.
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What you’re seeing take place in Bozeman from the standpoint of athletic facilities improvements, massive fundraising and overall community support for their program, is nothing more than the replication of what Costello witnessed while working as an associate AD at SDSU. SDSU in effort to be competitive, was trying to replicate the NDSU blueprint that was used during their ascension to becoming the most dominant football program in the country.
 
grizfnz said:
What you’re seeing take place in Bozeman from the standpoint of athletic facilities improvements, massive fundraising and overall community support for their program, is nothing more than the replication of what Costello witnessed while working as an associate AD at SDSU. SDSU in effort to be competitive, was trying to replicate the NDSU blueprint that was used during their ascension to becoming the most dominant football program in the country.
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Exactly that's what I'm saying. Costello came from SDSU and oversaw both their new stadium and IPF projects and had a hand in the great pursuit of catching NDSU. So then he hires a Football coach who has NDSU roots because who knows better what it takes to be successful than a guy like that. The cats have been playing the long game.
 
When things don't go right with any of our teams, the easiest things to do is clean house from top to bottom. That is not necessarily the solution and who is to say we get someone better Do we want Stitt back or Schweyan. The real solution right now is money and lots of it. Bozeangeles is swimming in it right now and that makes a huge difference.
 
I sincerely appreciate all the feedback to my original post, Just Saying….. the feedback has been positive and the suggestions valid.
I’m not sure what constitutes as a major contributor to Grizzly sports but I do know that I give more than the average fan. Maybe that makes me a mid-major supporter? Regardless though, I’m one voice that’s not happy with the status quo. As I said I like Kent. He’s done an admirable job, we should all be thankful for his service.
My experience has been in the corporate world so I’m unfamiliar with the review process that takes place in the University system. I think there’s some kind of peer review system but I’m not sure? In my experience, once a year my boss would give me not only an evaluation on last years performance and expectations for the coming year. And believe me I had some bloody reviews. But it caused me some uncomfortable moments to reevaluate my priorities vs my overall contribution to my teams goals.
I only relate this as an example of what, if any expectations or criteria is placed on our coaching staffs?
Hypothetically, let’s, for shits and giggles, create a weighted evaluation for our head football coach. Based on a scale of 100 give a % for each criteria. For example,
Graduation rates 100%. 10%. Score
80%. 8%
70%. 0%
Season ticket sale
(As a % of capacity) 100%. 10%
Won-loss record. Undef. 25%
7-4. 63%. 15%
5-6. 45%. 5%
Public events, QB
Club, press relations subj. 15%
Griz/cat victory. 100%. 20%
Griz/cat loss. 0. 0%

100 out of 100. = 10% raise + 2 yr. Extension
60 out of 100 = No raise, 1 year to get 80%

To be honest I don’t know if any of this makes sense or works. All I do know is that there needs to be some measurement or goal set so everyone understands expectations. Does this happen, I have no clue.
 
Griz66 said:
When things don't go right with any of our teams, the easiest things to do is clean house from top to bottom. That is not necessarily the solution and who is to say we get someone better Do we want Stitt back or Schweyan. The real solution right now is money and lots of it. Bozeangeles is swimming in it right now and that makes a huge difference.
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Regarding the money piece, have you or anyone you know, ever been asked by the AD to contribute money to NIL, GSA, QB Club or “super-secret” facilities projects?
Sounds like in Bozeman, the AD is constantly soliciting for money and makes the entire donor base (not just the 7 figure annd up crowd) feel like they are part of something special. Kind of a “come one, come all, hop on this train while it’s gaining unstoppable momentum” message.
 
grizfnz said:
Regarding the money piece, have you or anyone you know, ever been asked by the AD to contribute money to NIL, GSA, QB Club or “super-secret” facilities projects?
Sounds like in Bozeman, the AD is constantly soliciting for money and makes the entire donor base (not just the 7 figure annd up crowd) feel like they are part of something special. Kind of a “come one, come all, hop on this train while it’s gaining unstoppable momentum” message.
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I do happen to know that Kent is very active in fund raising for the U. I know that he is actively engaged with the Washington boys for support. How successful, that remains to be seen. They were major donors to the Champions Center.
 
Sport said:
I do happen to know that Kent is very active in fund raising for the U. I know that he is actively engaged with the Washington boys for support. How successful, that remains to be seen. They were major donors to the Champions Center.
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That’s kind of the point. The department appears to be fundraising with big donors only. Sure they will take any money you throw at them, but they don’t actively court the little guy.
 
PDXGrizzly said:
That’s kind of the point. The department appears to be fundraising with big donors only. Sure they will take any money you throw at them, but they don’t actively court the little guy.
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The AD as a whole is mediocre at fundraising. I was talking to a wealthy booster a week ago and he basically said if they would just simply ask for a donation he’d make a sizable one, but they all seem to think people should be beating down the door to give UM money. If they want donations they need to work for nit and it just expect it. AD as a whole is amateur hour in comparison to bigger schools let along MSU. We call ourselves the Mecca of the FCS but I see that more of what we were than what we are now. Especially after last night.
 
grizfnz said:
What you’re seeing take place in Bozeman from the standpoint of athletic facilities improvements, massive fundraising and overall community support for their program, is nothing more than the replication of what Costello witnessed while working as an associate AD at SDSU. SDSU in effort to be competitive, was trying to replicate the NDSU blueprint that was used during their ascension to becoming the most dominant football program in the country.
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Correct. So why don’t we do the same?
 
When we built the Majestic Plaza I was contacted personally to help out and I obliged. I really don’t hear much now. I still give a bit but I know there has to be more of me out there. Hopefully things aren’t being taken for granted..
 
Haslam has kept the AD viable and with facility upgrades within a financially strapped University. Basically, the only support to the AD comes as scholarships. They book them at full value while they are incremental to make them look bigger. Lowest in the conference. Dennison set up the cooked books to pull money from the AD for his projects. Concession revenue goes to the food service, gear and logo revenue to the Bookstore. The AD has to provide the capital for facility upgrades and still pays some rents. The AD has avoided hard cost cuts like the rest of the University because its revenue stream is a key to its viability. This has not been easy to do, it's uncommon. Haslam's job has to be judged by more that wins and losses. And they are consistently very good.
 
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