Anybody who thinks Engstrom's athletic department escapades were actions carefully conceived over a lengthy period of time needs to reexamine the facts. There's no way to tell when he first got that bee in his bonnet, but the execution suggests an emotional epiphany run wild. (1) Nobody convenes a termination meeting with both parties in attendance, and (2) you don't execute it without one of your minions in attendance to verify details of the proceedings when your actions are destined to be questioned in court or in negotiations with the individuals involved. (3) The late timing, six months prior to fall practice, suggests that no thought was given to the need for an orderly posting of the vacant positions at a time when a meaningful search could have been effected closer to the conclusion of the just concluded football season when people are available (4) And how short-sighted was it ignore the reality of the rights of O'Day and Pflu who continue to receive pay for another year following termination. What we have is an accumulation of evidence, as if any more were needed, that Engstrom is a loose cannon who puts chippy personal emotion ahead of good sense.
And a lingering question, where was eagle beagle Aronofsky during all of this? Did Ol' Royce counsel with him before these fatal faux pas? It seems unlikely. And finally, several insiders confirm that Senor Presidente did not approach Mick Delaney until after the blood-letting. So was this all a temporary mental abberation or just a precursor of the kind of muddled action we can continue to see out of Main Hall? I think we all know the answer to that. And unfortunately we are looking at a badly-tainted BOR - which precipitated this mess - to right the badly listing UM ship. Till then Captain Queeg remains in command.
