Walkon79 said:
I do have an observation about the president. He spoke at UM Days two Friday's ago, following a video presentation that featured UM athletics very prominently. I guess I didn't see that Engstrom was trying to kill a program. Just the opposite in that the staff and administration were heavily promoting athletics as part of the "college experience". Just my 2 cents.
Any president who doesn't realize what a great marketing tool a winning football program is for his/her school is stupid to deemphasize its football team. Gordon Gee, when pres. of U of CO, had winning teams, went to Ohio State & brought OS to where it is, now. Football puts the school on the map, better than any other marketing program.
Dennison knew this. I'm sure MSU Pres. Cruzado knows this. That's why MSU is where it is, now. I do not know Engstrom's position on the value of Griz football to the school. I believe he had to do something to clean up the program. One of the faults of a pres. who builds a football program for the top spot is bringing in players & coaches who bend the rules too much. I believe Gee had to retire at OS, due to problems in the football program during his tenure. Dennison retired at the right time. Engstrom had to do the dirty work.
I hope Engstrom is committed to keeping Griz football as not only a winning team, but a championship team. The test may be whether he can produce a championship team w/o headlines in the Missoulian of players & coaches appearing on police blotters. Cruzado seems to be doing ok. Nick Saban, too.