Spanky said:What is the insider scoop?
Looking at Royce's mission statement, it is very scary when you consider what "IS NOT" in it more than what "IS"~ http://www.umt.edu/planningassessmentcontinuum/plan/plandocs/2020stratplan.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;granitegriz said:Good points and analysis strikeangel. Seems obvious RE will name his own stooge or puppet. It is also obvious who needs to be "let go" without any reasons.
StrikeAngel said:I can't claim it's "insider scoop" but I do know and have talked with a number of folks around the Griz Nation and I can tell you what I do know.
1) There has been an overwhelming level of support in letters and other message delivery directly to Engstrom endorsing Kent for the job. This includes a letter from the GSA President endorsed by all 12 or 13 Montana GSA chapter Presidents, numerous letters from business leaders here in Missoula and around the state as well as significant alumni outside Montana. Rumor (and it is ONLY word of mouth so take with a grain of salt) is that these communications outnumber those on behalf of all other finalists something like 8 or 9 to 1.
2) There is a strong fear that King is Engstrom's "plant" finalist among the four. I have heard this voiced from many around the community who understand where Engstrom really comes from (mindset, intitutional politics views, etc...) What makes this a) plausible and b) terrifying is that King is a DII AD at a school (Pan Am) with NO FOOTBALL Program and b) that he is a "compliance" guy who held that asst. AD positions at Bama and, ironiclly, Liberty who we see Saturday.
Weak people in positions of authority (for which R.E. is a poster child) tend to invariably do two key things:
A) Place Personal Power and goals ahead of the best interest of the Insitution or Organization which they have been elected, appointed or chosen to lead; and,
B) Purge support senior leadership staff of strong personalities and core competencies while replacing them with "yes men/women".
Ring any bells?
Now, why would a DII AD make the finalist list from a school with no football program for a school whose new (and completely unqualified - never ran a soda stand) president who hates athletics and football in particular? If you think that to be unfair I will simply say my momma always said "actions speak louder than words". Also - because Jim O'Day was so well known and so very universally well liked among the NCAA AD community, word was definitely on the street that this was a pooftie University President who was so self absorbed and so anti-athletics that the pool of truly qualified applicants was pretty scant due to lack of interest. That word on the street didn't come from O'Day it came from all the big boy ADs out there who knew it to be true. Take my word.....King would be a disaster.
Kent Haslam is the only choice that can possibly help Griz Nation heal and move forward.
#1 he is a man of great personal integrity
#2 his whole career has prepared him to be a DI AD
#3 he KNOWS Griz Nation and, importantly, our donor pool and our communiy
#4 he has spent 12 years deeply involved in the BSC and is currently (unlike Johnson) working in an ADept. within the conference
I could go on but there is no need.
What to do?
Call, email, fax every Regent, Montana State Legislator and Montana Business leader you know and urge them to flood Main Hall with FEDEXED or personally delivered letters, emails or faxes in support of Kent addressed directly to R.E.
If he continues down this ruinous path I can assure you there will be an active effort next year when we have the legislature back in Session to force the regents to buy out Engstrom's contract and excise this cancer from Griz Nation. BUT - let's do the positive thing and make it clear to him that another bureacratic patsy is not the right solution.
Because of where we are now, Kent Haslam is.
Perfect!!!wbtfg said:StrikeAngel said:I can't claim it's "insider scoop" but I do know and have talked with a number of folks around the Griz Nation and I can tell you what I do know.
1) There has been an overwhelming level of support in letters and other message delivery directly to Engstrom endorsing Kent for the job. This includes a letter from the GSA President endorsed by all 12 or 13 Montana GSA chapter Presidents, numerous letters from business leaders here in Missoula and around the state as well as significant alumni outside Montana. Rumor (and it is ONLY word of mouth so take with a grain of salt) is that these communications outnumber those on behalf of all other finalists something like 8 or 9 to 1.
2) There is a strong fear that King is Engstrom's "plant" finalist among the four. I have heard this voiced from many around the community who understand where Engstrom really comes from (mindset, intitutional politics views, etc...) What makes this a) plausible and b) terrifying is that King is a DII AD at a school (Pan Am) with NO FOOTBALL Program and b) that he is a "compliance" guy who held that asst. AD positions at Bama and, ironiclly, Liberty who we see Saturday.
Weak people in positions of authority (for which R.E. is a poster child) tend to invariably do two key things:
A) Place Personal Power and goals ahead of the best interest of the Insitution or Organization which they have been elected, appointed or chosen to lead; and,
B) Purge support senior leadership staff of strong personalities and core competencies while replacing them with "yes men/women".
Ring any bells?
Now, why would a DII AD make the finalist list from a school with no football program for a school whose new (and completely unqualified - never ran a soda stand) president who hates athletics and football in particular? If you think that to be unfair I will simply say my momma always said "actions speak louder than words". Also - because Jim O'Day was so well known and so very universally well liked among the NCAA AD community, word was definitely on the street that this was a pooftie University President who was so self absorbed and so anti-athletics that the pool of truly qualified applicants was pretty scant due to lack of interest. That word on the street didn't come from O'Day it came from all the big boy ADs out there who knew it to be true. Take my word.....King would be a disaster.
Kent Haslam is the only choice that can possibly help Griz Nation heal and move forward.
#1 he is a man of great personal integrity
#2 his whole career has prepared him to be a DI AD
#3 he KNOWS Griz Nation and, importantly, our donor pool and our communiy
#4 he has spent 12 years deeply involved in the BSC and is currently (unlike Johnson) working in an ADept. within the conference
I could go on but there is no need.
What to do?
Call, email, fax every Regent, Montana State Legislator and Montana Business leader you know and urge them to flood Main Hall with FEDEXED or personally delivered letters, emails or faxes in support of Kent addressed directly to R.E.
If he continues down this ruinous path I can assure you there will be an active effort next year when we have the legislature back in Session to force the regents to buy out Engstrom's contract and excise this cancer from Griz Nation. BUT - let's do the positive thing and make it clear to him that another bureacratic patsy is not the right solution.
Because of where we are now, Kent Haslam is.
"I'm Kent Haslam and I approve this message"
EverettGriz said:FWIW, UTPA is a DI program, and while they don't offer football, they offer more sports than Montana does. Of course, Kimg also spent a number of years at Alabama. As I recall, they play a little football there....
I'll leave the conspiracy theories to others, but can say with certainty that there should be an announcement very soon.
Spanky said:StrikeAngel....Considering the recent events and investigations, my view is the hiring of the AD should be delayed until the investigations are concluded. At that time, UM should re-open the national search which, hopefully, will attract additional qualified candidates. At this time, I am of the opinion that it will be regarded as business as usual at UM if Engstrom hires anyone currently employed within the athletic department. Otherwise, I agree with the general thrust of the comments in your post.
Spanky said:StrikeAngel....Considering the recent events and investigations, my view is the hiring of the AD should be delayed until the investigations are concluded. At that time, UM should re-open the national search which, hopefully, will attract additional qualified candidates. At this time, I am of the opinion that it will be regarded as business as usual at UM if Engstrom hires anyone currently employed within the athletic department. Otherwise, I agree with the general thrust of the comments in your post.
StrikeAngel said:I can't claim it's "insider scoop" but I do know and have talked with a number of folks around the Griz Nation and I can tell you what I do know.
1) There has been an overwhelming level of support in letters and other message delivery directly to Engstrom endorsing Kent for the job. This includes a letter from the GSA President endorsed by all 12 or 13 Montana GSA chapter Presidents, numerous letters from business leaders here in Missoula and around the state as well as significant alumni outside Montana. Rumor (and it is ONLY word of mouth so take with a grain of salt) is that these communications outnumber those on behalf of all other finalists something like 8 or 9 to 1.
2) There is a strong fear that King is Engstrom's "plant" finalist among the four. I have heard this voiced from many around the community who understand where Engstrom really comes from (mindset, intitutional politics views, etc...) What makes this a) plausible and b) terrifying is that King is a DII AD at a school (Pan Am) with NO FOOTBALL Program and b) that he is a "compliance" guy who held that asst. AD positions at Bama and, ironiclly, Liberty who we see Saturday.
Weak people in positions of authority (for which R.E. is a poster child) tend to invariably do two key things:
A) Place Personal Power and goals ahead of the best interest of the Insitution or Organization which they have been elected, appointed or chosen to lead; and,
B) Purge support senior leadership staff of strong personalities and core competencies while replacing them with "yes men/women".
Ring any bells?
Now, why would a DII AD make the finalist list from a school with no football program for a school whose new (and completely unqualified - never ran a soda stand) president who hates athletics and football in particular? If you think that to be unfair I will simply say my momma always said "actions speak louder than words". Also - because Jim O'Day was so well known and so very universally well liked among the NCAA AD community, word was definitely on the street that this was a pooftie University President who was so self absorbed and so anti-athletics that the pool of truly qualified applicants was pretty scant due to lack of interest. That word on the street didn't come from O'Day it came from all the big boy ADs out there who knew it to be true. Take my word.....King would be a disaster.
Kent Haslam is the only choice that can possibly help Griz Nation heal and move forward.
#1 he is a man of great personal integrity
#2 his whole career has prepared him to be a DI AD
#3 he KNOWS Griz Nation and, importantly, our donor pool and our communiy
#4 he has spent 12 years deeply involved in the BSC and is currently (unlike Johnson) working in an ADept. within the conference
I could go on but there is no need.
What to do?
Call, email, fax every Regent, Montana State Legislator and Montana Business leader you know and urge them to flood Main Hall with FEDEXED or personally delivered letters, emails or faxes in support of Kent addressed directly to R.E.
If he continues down this ruinous path I can assure you there will be an active effort next year when we have the legislature back in Session to force the regents to buy out Engstrom's contract and excise this cancer from Griz Nation. BUT - let's do the positive thing and make it clear to him that another bureacratic patsy is not the right solution.
Because of where we are now, Kent Haslam is.
grizpack said:I think it worked out better than that Kennedy (outsider) hire. And I am no Holst fan.